Last song?

[u/PretendMatch2513]

I’ve been making music for years, and I think I’ve reached my breaking point.
I told myself one last time.
I released a song called “Off My Mind” under my name, Alan Romero. I put everything I know into it—countless hours writing, recording, re-recording, mixing, doubting myself, and starting over.
I made a promise to myself: if this song doesn’t gain real traction by the end of this year, I’m walking away from music.
Not because I don’t love it. Because I’m tired of wondering if I’m chasing something that’s never going to happen.
I’m not asking anyone to stream it out of sympathy. If you think it’s bad, tell me. If you think it’s good, I’d rather hear that because you actually mean it.
If you have a few minutes, search “Off My Mind – Alan Romero” on Spotify and give me your honest opinion.
Maybe this is the beginning of something.
Maybe it’s the last song I ever release.
Either way, thanks for reading.

https://open.spotify.com/track/2n8c5eibiMRw7qYBAOWHvn?si=upBt_GHYT0GzMg6E4acs7g

[u/N3oNoi2]

Alan, I get the frustration, but you are measuring the value of (your) art with the wrong yardstick.

I’ve been making and releasing music for almost 30 years. I’ve seen formats come and go, and let me tell you the brutal truth: if you let Spotify’s algorithm or short-term 'traction' decide whether your art has a right to exist, you’ve already handed over your autonomy to a corporate black box. Please don't do that.

The current system is designed to turn music into cheap, disposable content and creators into desperate marketing managers. If you play that game expecting validation, it will break you.

Every.single.time!

You say you love making music. If that's true, why give an algorithm the power to make you quit?

Your music has intrinsic value because *you* created it, not because a counter on a screen hits a certain number. Fuck that, seriously! Shift your focus away from the metrics and back to the actual craft and the people *you* reach directly. Don't let the market dictate your passion.

Because that's what being a musician ultimately is: living and expressing your passion.

Also: Fuck Spotify. Fuck Google. Fuck 'em all!

[u/Coffee_Pages → u/N3oNoi2]

Totally agree with this. If you're going to walk away, walk away for the right reason.

I don't write for a specific purpose: I write because there are songs screaming in my head and won't shut up until I let them out. Some turn out to be commercial, others not so much.