Local musician Ely Cartwright is in the music-making business. But he’s not in the music “business.”
He’s not tied into a contract that requires him to move musical units or sell tickets. He’s not locked into dropping a certain number of records a year to fulfill record label obligations, nor does he have to partake in the business practices that take the fun out of making music. Those business practices can drive people away from the art, as the business dealings around any art ultimately becomes more industry than creation.
Cartwright does, however, continue to make music for a living. As the music director of Summit Church in Durango, Cartwright performs at weekly services as well as working with the church’s young adult ministry.
When he’s not at his day job, he’s writing and recording, with his last record “There Is Hope” dropping in 2019. That release, and his overall sound, falls somewhere between indie-folk and the singer-songwriter sounds of 1970s Laurel Canyon. Call it laid-back rock music influenced by Bruce Cockburn, Patty Griffin and Taylor Goldsmith of Dawes.
Cartwright will perform Friday (July 9) at 11th Street Station.
He’s rolled along at his own musical pace since he first expressed a musical interest as a kid. He writes and records when he wants, and now, after six years in Durango, is getting back into playing out live.
if you go
What: Folk rock with Ely Cartwright.
When: 5 p.m. Friday (July 9).
Where: 11th Street Station, 1101 Main Ave.
Tickets: No cover.
More information: Call 422-8482.
“I was never forced into it, both of my folks are musicians, my dad was a music teacher in schools when I was a kid,” Cartwright said. “So I kind of grew up around music, and then I think I didn’t really start playing anything until I was in sixth grade when I got a trumpet for band. But by the time my 13th birthday rolled around in seventh grade, I desperately wanted a guitar just to be cool, and then I fell in love with it. It’s been a central passion of my life since that time.”
While he’s attempted to learn the ins and outs of playing music, he has paid attention to the industry side as well. The changes, unpredictability and mood swings have all been considered by Cartwright with regards to pursuing music as a livelihood.
“I remember back in college thinking that’s what I wanted to do, and I started to pursue some things not really seriously, just more like at a learning level,” he said. “And at that time, that was like 2008 or 2009 and some of the music industry stuff was changing dramatically. So there were a lot of people who had a previous model of what it’s like to be successful in the music industry, while the industry was changing. Somehow or other I’ve still been able to have music as a huge part of my work but not be so subject to some of those whims of the industry.”
Cartwright is currently writing new songs for a potential end-of-the-year release. Of all of the elements that go into navigating a DIY, arts-based career that includes self-promotion and event booking, recording sessions and shows, it’s the creation aspect that keeps him grounded. That’s a common bond between most artists.
“One of the things I know about myself is if I’m not writing songs, I may not be in a great space personally, and if I am that’s a sign that I’m in a pretty good space,” he said. “That’s something I have to do. If I’m not doing it, it’s not quite right. I don’t care if you’re making money with it or not, being an artist is a compulsion, I think. If we’re not creating, there’s some part of us that’s feeling incomplete.”
Bryant Liggett is a freelance writer and KDUR station manager. Reach him at liggett_b@fortlewis.edu.
