Dominic Fike Still Makes Me Happy
Dominic Fike's "Chicken Tenders" follows in the footsteps of "Phone Numbers" and "3 Nights" as a portrait of soft summer sun.
On Music…
I’ve long believed the songs you feel giddy getting ready to are the songs you’re going to love for life. There’s something special about dancing in the mirror while you button up your shirt or put on your make up. It’s like pre-gaming the happiness of a day or night out with someone you love.
On the 28th of June, I celebrated my first anniversary with my girlfriend by going to a socially distanced picnic with her family to celebrate her grandparents’ 65th wedding anniversary. Funny how these things line up.
As I watched my girlfriend get ready in the mirror, snapping a picture, I had the wonderful Dominic Fike in my head. His latest single, “Chicken Tenders,” is a danceable tune in the same vein as his breakout “3 Nights” and one of the sizable follow-ups, “Phone Numbers.” The way Fike uses space and the two breaks, paired with inflecting his voice and the syncopation of the backing chimes… It’s a pleasure to hear this song, which inspires nothing short of pure joy. It helps the lyrics are the furthest from self-serious: “The best part of my day is / When I get to see you naked” is a natural extension of the “naked pictures” of “3 Nights.”
“Chicken Tenders” is an excursion through summer. It is the sonic equivalent of the harsh summer sunlight softening as the day goes on, illuminating the trees and filtering down onto crowded back patios and heating up cans of craft beer. Dominic Fike has the uncanny ability to take the tinny summer sky and turn it into a lifelong favorite song. Back in March of 2019, I penned “Why Dominic Fike Makes Me Happy.” At the time, I wrote:
“His quick hits of rapping have just the right amount of swing to them, making it easy to snap along and swing your arms—yes, the songs feel that classic in approach. Dominic Fike sounds familiar with his gentle flirting with doo-wop structures. The records are built to make you feel free and jolted, absolutely jazzed. Fike takes the skittish and gives it life, damns the connotation, and makes the jittery a romp.”
I stand by these words. After a big hit like “3 Nights,” Dominic Fike could’ve rested on his laurels—instead, he decided to continue developing his “3 Nights” sound. He could’ve released 10 more “3 Nights” and called it the album. Instead, he’s taken his time to craft singles telegraphing his growth. With “Chicken Tenders,” Fike has won me over once again. It’s a plus, too, that my girlfriend is a fan. Here’s to many years dancing in the mirror together, getting ready for various anniversaries, singing along to Dom’s playful melodies.
On Craft…
Sometimes, the hardest thing to do is begin. Once the ball is rolling, the momentum should be natural, and carry me to the end of a project. Sadly, that’s not always true.
So, let’s talk about maintaining creativity and motivation. I’ve worked on numerous long-term projects, and the biggest lesson learned from these projects is to pace yourself. As tempting as it is to dive into your long-term project and expend all your energy at once, the far smarter thing to do is portion out your energy. This helps you avoid burning out. If you want to stay creative over a long span of time, don’t work in crazy bursts. Allow your process to be a comfortable and slow burn.
Too, the trick to maintaining creativity over time is to settle into a routine. You train your brain to be up and running at very specific times, and it will oblige. It helps to have a dedicated time and environment to do at least one portion of your project. We don’t all have the luxury of an office space, but if you can at least work out a routine of jotting ideas at your kitchen table in the morning, you’ll have a leg up on your project. A long-term project is really a test of your discipline more than it is a test of your ability to create. Moreover, that routine I always talk about helps you set hard boundaries so you can have a life separate from your project. Remember to still be a person even while you pour yourself into your craft.
And don’t forget to have wiggle room with your project. If you get too rigid with the details of your work, you won’t allow it to grow naturally as you grow over the course of the work itself. It’s very unlikely you’ll be the same person at the beginning of the project as at the end of the project. Give yourself the space to change your mind and toy with your ideas. Don’t be scared to re-do and re-write certain things as your goals evolve.
Long-term work can feel daunting and unforgiving—and lacks the immediate dope shot of sharing right away—but it’s also some of the most fulfilling work, once you see an end point and cross the finish line. It’s a test of your intentions, too. Do you fulfill yourself with your work, or have you been relying on external validation for your fuel? Start something big, and you’ll have the answer to that question immediately.
Staying creative often feels like a double-edged sword. Don’t force it, but don’t slack. Don’t get too locked in, but don’t lose focus. Don’t work too much, but don’t forget your routine. Really, the best advice I have here is to simply do and let be. The work will become what it needs to. As for you? Be like water. Remember to flow.