Embracing the Change: How Going Solo Freed Me to Explore New Passions | Pivots with Swardy

Swardy reflects on one of his biggest career pivots—putting his band The M Machine on hiatus, starting a solo career, and realizing that traditional live performances weren’t fulfilling. Instead of touring constantly, he embraced new creative outlets like animation, videography, and even embroidery. Can a musician thrive without being on the road? Watch as Swardy shares his journey of reinvention and creative freedom.

Key Topics:

• Making the transition from band member to solo artist
• Realizing that performing live isn’t essential for success
• The freedom of building a music career without constant touring
• Exploring new creative passions like animation and videography
• The challenges and opportunities of forging a non-traditional music path

Quotes:

• "The constant pivot—leaving my band, going solo, and rethinking everything."
• "I realized I could run a music career without booking as many shows—or even any at all."
• "Focusing on other creative skills has been one of the best parts of my career shift."
• "There might be a ceiling for a musician who doesn’t tour, but I don’t think I’ve hit it yet."