It's a really cool time for artists who want to strive for a

"It's a really cool time for artists who want to strive for a little more depth in what they want to say to come forward. We live in a very fast world right now. We've got all this media and music which is so accessible to us, it's here one minute gone the next." These words spoken by Kimbra speak to the fleeting nature of the modern world—a world brimming with media, music, and content that comes and goes in an instant. In this fast-paced age, where information is available at the tap of a button, the opportunity for artists to bring forward deeper messages, to transcend the moment, becomes both a challenge and an invitation. The true artist, in this age of instant gratification, must strive not only to capture attention, but to create meaning that endures beyond the fleeting trends of the moment.

In the ancient world, the great artists and thinkers understood that the power of their craft lay not in the immediacy of recognition but in the timelessness of the messages they conveyed. The Greeks, for example, did not create their great works of philosophy, theater, or art for immediate applause, but for the eternity of their ideas. Socrates, though never writing a word himself, created a legacy of thought that resonates today, over two thousand years later. His philosophical depth was not built on fleeting popularity, but on the enduring truths of the human condition. It was his dedication to the depth of thought, rather than the speed of recognition, that ensured his place in history.

Similarly, the Renaissance brought forth artists like Michelangelo and Leonardo da Vinci, whose masterpieces were not created for the swift approval of the crowd but for the future—works like the David, the Sistine Chapel, and the Vitruvian Man speak to the human spirit in ways that continue to move us. These men were not simply creating art to fit the trends of their time but were engaged in a profound exploration of humanity—its beauty, its suffering, its place in the universe. Their work was not just about the moment; it was about eternity.

Yet, in Kimbra's quote, we find a reflection of the modern world, where the pace of life, and the accessibility of content, can often leave little room for depth. We live in an age where attention spans are shrinking, and the media cycle moves so quickly that the weight of true artistic expression can feel diminished. In the world of streaming music and social media, the ephemeral nature of content means that today's hit song is tomorrow's forgotten melody. But this reality also presents an opportunity for artists to rise above the noise, to strive for depth in their work, and to speak to the soul of humanity rather than just chasing after transient trends.

Consider the example of Beethoven, whose symphonies and compositions, though initially met with mixed reviews, have stood the test of time. Beethoven was not an artist concerned with the approval of the moment; he was driven by an internal need to express the depths of his soul—his struggle with deafness, his pain, his joy, and his transcendence. It is his depth that has made his music immortal. Like Beethoven, modern artists who seek to create meaning beyond the ephemeral nature of current trends will leave a lasting mark on the world. The lesson here is clear: to create something truly great, one must be willing to invest in the depth of the message, not the speed of its reception.

The fast-moving world that Kimbra speaks of may often seem overwhelming, but it also offers a unique opportunity for those artists who dare to slow down and focus on the substance of their work. This is the challenge and the gift of our time—to create in a world of fleeting moments while still managing to infuse those moments with meaning. It is a challenge to resist the pull of instant success and instead commit to the work that will stand the test of time.

The lesson for all of us, then, is to focus on depth, even in the face of a world that constantly seeks the next quick fix. Whether in art, in relationships, or in the pursuit of our own personal goals, we must resist the urge to rush and instead dedicate ourselves to meaningful work—work that speaks to the deeper parts of the human experience, work that will resonate far beyond the moment. In a world that is ever-changing, it is the pursuit of depth that will carry us through, creating a legacy that remains long after the fleeting distractions of the present have passed.