Bruno Mars recently talked about his departure from Motown as a teenager. When this happened he felt like it was a major "step back" in his career.
With such a strong backing as Motown, to lose it, would definitely make any new, young musician feel discouraged. To have a dream become a reality and then have it taken away has a totally different effect on one's perception than someone who has never had it at all.
Mars, now 26, signed a deal with Motown at the tender age of 18, and when it failed, he was not only left without a contract, but with a lack of support as others questioned his credibility when he admitted that he was dropped from the label.
According to Contact Music, he tells U.S. talk show host Piers Morgan:
"It was taking a step back. I used to be able to walk into a room and say, 'Hey, I'm Bruno Mars, I'm signed with Motown Records.' Now I have to say, 'I got dropped from Motown Records.' You lose leverage. You lose people believing in you because, then, (they say) 'Why didn't it work?' It was like this... 'Hey, we don't want you anymore'. And you know what? It's not Motown's fault. I was too young. I didn't know what it was like. I knew I could sing... but there's so much more I had to learn. I didn't come from the recording background. I came from doing live shows and performing with bands and that was my craft. I didn't know what it took to become... to record and be a recording artist. Establish who you are... I don't know if anyone knows who they are at 18 years old."
There is no doubt that this was a time period of challenges as more and more obstacles were placed in the pathway to his dream. It becomes even more challenging when an artist lacks the experience and know-how to establish such a career as a recording artist.
The singer also admits that being dropped from Motown has taken a toll on his emotions more than anything. Despite this, it has ignited a passion that allowed him to strengthen his songwriting and producing skills.
Mars adds:
"I might have cried. I might have shed some tears. You definitely have those nights where you feel a little insecure, but I didn't want to give up. My goal was, 'I'm not going to go back home. I'm not going back to Hawaii and face my friends and my family saying it didn't pan out. I've got to do something.' I think I grew. I grew as an artist. I grew as a writer. I wrote songs every day. I started producing. And you know, practice is what you need."
This shows that a period of rejection can become the best time to develop oneself as an artist. Instead of it being a roadblock, it became an asset to his abilities.
Mars eventually bounced back and signed with Atlantic Records in 2009, showing that past rejection is never a confirmation to stop pursuing a dream. In many cases, when the eye remains on the goal, it only prepares one for more opportunities to come.
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