Ditching ‘professional’ job options to follow an artistic route isn’t easy

Choosing to follow a career in creative industries isn’t easy, being torn between others’ opinions, job security worries and wanting to do what they love, but this Brisbane muso is pushing through.

WHETHER your artistic eye favours a paintbrush, camera, or guitar, choosing to follow a creative career instead of a traditional “Monday to Friday,” isn’t easy.

Some say their heads are in the clouds, but they say they’re just following their dreams, as arts industry workers feel pressure piling to think twice about pursuing passions.

Leaving law studies and his father’s path, as his university notes and song lyrics started to mesh, Brisbane Music Producer Magnus Murphy, 27, decided to walk another – less travelled – road.

Brisbane Music Producer Magnus Murphy, 27, decided following a law career wasn‘t for him, putting down textbooks and picking up a guitar.Picture: Nigel Hallett

“It was definitely not easy to stop studying law, knowing the risks in pursuing a creative music career, leaving behind a ‘more secure’ job option,” Mr Murphy told The Sunday-Mail.

“My parents weren’t very understanding … Reactions were a mix of support for passion-pursuing and not understanding why I’d risk everything for a creative career with no safety of success,

“All my family have more mainstream careers – law, social work and medicine – reminding me over and over I still needed a ‘professional career’ option”.

Mr Murphy says he will never give up on his passion, as he shifts his focus helping other upcoming local artists follow their voice visions.Picture: Isabella Magee

However, the broken record advice from peers couldn’t stop the voice in Mr Murphy’s head, singing words he’s “someone else”.

“Studying law, I was losing myself, worried I was becoming someone else, I felt I wasn’t growing into the person I’m meant to be,” Mr Murphy said.

“I vividly remember sitting in the law library before an exam trying to cram as much study in as I could and all I could think about was a new song melody that had flown into my mind.”

And contributing $12.3 billion into the state’s economy, Queensland Minister for the Arts Leeanne Enoch thinks it’s time we face the music, realising the importance of local artists.

“A career in the creative industries is a not only a legitimate profession but for so many artists and arts workers, it can be their great passion in life,” Ms Enoch said.

“(Artists) make our society better, they help us to understand and navigate an increasingly complex world, provide hope, and are always among the first to offer their time and talents when times are tough.”

Musical instrument in hand, Mr Murphy feels most at home despite where he is.Picture: Isabella Magee

Despite feeling “stressed by the insecurity” of following music, Mr Murphy has one thing reminding him to stick to songs.

“Not a day goes by I don’t get stressed by the insecurity of following music but what keeps me going is the fact I can impact people in such a positive way – I’ve always been a performer craving the stage, it never gets old,” Mr Murphy said.