How to Cope with Insecurity as an Artist, Thanks to Ray Chen’s IGTV Series

Ray Chen is redefining what it means to be a classical musician in the 21st Century. The 30-year-old violinist was profiled as “one to watch” by The Strad and Gramophone magazines, and his profile includes a feature in the Forbes list of 30 most influential Asians under 30, appearing in the major “Mozart in the Jungle,” and even a multi-year partnership with Giorgio Armani. 

But TV shows and collaborations with fashion’s top designers aren’t the only way Chen is making waves outside of his performances. The critically acclaimed violinist boasts a media presence, reaching out to millions through his unprecedented online following. His presence on social media makes Chen a pioneer in an artist’s interaction with their audience, utilising the new opportunities of modern technology. 

He is the first musician to write a lifestyle blog for the largest Italian publishing house, RCS Rizzoli, has been featured in Vogue magazine, and is currently releasing his own design of violin case for the industry manufacturer GEWA. It’s these online outlets and interactions that make fans go crazy for Chen — and his appearances regularly sell out and draw an entirely new demographic to the concert hall.

Now, Chen takes his internet-stardom to the next level with a new IGTV Series. Part 1, online now, talks about dealing with insecurity as an artist. Here are the pearls of wisdom that we drew from Chen’s video, but you can watch the whole episode here.  

1. Chen understands the pressures of growing artists. He admits that as artists evolve and improve, playing music becomes “less fun.” Because of mounting pressures and expectations, it’s difficult to just let loose and enjoy playing the music. Always worrying about being perfect and being admired plays a huge role in the stress of insecurity.
   

2. His emotions are often tied to his success. Much like the sentiment that professional athletes have shared, Chen says that when you play well, you’re happier overall. But when there’s a bad performance? It affects the artists' whole mood and can seriously impact their happiness — to the point where it starts to affect who they are and how they live their life.
   

3. He’s trying to break down the spiral of insecurity and urge artists to separate “the musician you” from the “you you.” When he was younger, Chen was afraid of being judged, of being left out of chamber music, of disappointing his teacher, and of failing as a career musician. He encourages artists to write their fears down and throw them out!
   

4. Music is about so much more than being perfect. It’s about carrying on the will of the composers, it’s about expressing emotion, it’s about communicating, and it’s about accumulating as many special moments as possible.
   

5. You’re not alone. Your friends and family believe in you and hey, Ray Chen believes in you, too!

---

Explore More