Creator Spotlight with Singer/Songwriter Rivita
This week, we are pleased to introduce you to singer/songwriter Rivita. After you read her spotlight blog, be sure to follow her on Instagram and check out her music on Spotify.
What was the inspiration behind becoming a creator? What do you enjoy most about the creative process?
I grew up writing songs and being on the internet. Once the time came to release them, the natural course of action was to distribute them on platforms like Spotify, Apple Music, SoundCloud, etc. and soon, I started looking into making music videos and sharing them on YouTube and other social media platforms. My inspiration to create comes from the music I write mostly! Of late, I have been creating more short form content which gives me the flexibility to participate in social media trends. I enjoy the actual creation process. If I am writing a song then the actual writing and figuring out the song are what I enjoy; and if I am creating a video, then it’s the filming and editing. I believe that you don’t know what you’ll enjoy until you do it as it’s really easy to get intimidated by the process and if you start thinking too much about it, you may not even get started. What I’ve experienced is, if you just set aside some time and start working on it, the project normally falls into place.
Can you talk through your creative process? How long does it take? Does everything you produce make money?
Usually writing songs does not take that long. I could finish writing a song in 30 minutes or an hour, but there have been songs which I have finished writing over a course of time, for example, my song “Is there anybody out there” from my album “Snow Angels.” I began writing this song when I was a teenager, and I finished it almost 15 years later. This song became a conversation between me and my younger self. As far as production goes, it usually does take some time. Sure, I can produce a song over a course of a few days, but I’ve noticed that it depends on the genre and the style of music as well! I can write a short cue for a film or movie in a couple of hours, produce a song in a week or two, but some of my more reflective and personal songs have taken about two years to finish producing. Then there is other media, such as artwork, content for social media, and music videos. Honestly, each project has to be treated as its own entity and it’s hard to always put a timeline on the creative process.
No, not everything I produce makes money instantly, but money is not an absolute way to measure success when you are a creator. Sometimes, you learn a valuable skill while working on a piece of art, some open new doors for you, some go viral on social media and gain you new followers. It’s a qualitative process and not a quantitative process. Creating is like investing in stocks, you do it for long term returns.
What do you think is the biggest misconception about your line of work?
That it’s easy and fun. A lot of people seem to believe that writing songs, producing music, or creating content must be extremely easy and it’s so easy to be judged as a creator. After all, a lot of work is visible. But one only understands just how much labor goes into creating when they sit down to create something.
When did you first become aware of copyright, and why?
At university during a music business lecture. If you are going to be creating original works, copyright is the easiest way to protect yourself and your work.
Have you experienced copyright infringement and, if so, how has it affected you personally and financially?
Well, thankfully, I have not. But for years, I was afraid of sharing my work online because “what if someone steals it or copies it” did go through my mind. I think a lot of creators have this fear, and it holds them back.
What do you do when you encounter someone stealing something you’ve invested your intellect, time, and money into?
This has been a super valid concern over the last few years with AI coming into play. I have been looking into changing settings for my social media and email accounts so that my content is not used to train AI models. I am also the kind of person who thinks about crossing a bridge when I get to it. I do my best work, put my name on it, file for copyright protection, and then hope for the best.
What is the best piece of advice that you would give other creators in your field about copyright and how to protect themselves?
Protect your works with copyright if at all possible, and especially on bigger projects. Get work for hire forms for the musicians and collaborators you work with. Try to be clear in writing on the expectations of those you are working with from the beginning. If you are co-writing a song, be clear from the start, fill out a split sheet and register on your respective PROs.
What is your biggest copyright-related challenge?
The cost because the more songs you create, the more copyright registrations you need to file. And it can also be hard to batch things together in one application. The process of filing for copyright, while easy, can be time consuming as well. I wish filing copyright had a one time or annual fee and we could upload as many pieces of work per year as needed.
How has AI technology impacted your works and career?
It has inspired me to be more authentic and raw. I remember spending hours trying to perfect little things in my mix and production, but flaws are human. I leave more breathy sounds into my songs. I take more colorful and creative stances. It’s so important to show up as yourself now more than ever, because that’s something AI can’t do, it can’t be you.
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