It just surprises me when it happens via occasional album sales. Any concerted effort to monetise on a regular basis usually falls flat for me

Honestly monetising has made it more enjoyable for me. I feel like my time is valuable, so being able to create art as not just a hobby but also a productive use of my time is really exciting. I’m also motivated by success so I guess that has something to do with it, and once the wins start coming, knowing I have a lot more (time, resources, etc) I can put back into my craft is the cherry on top 😊