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so...i was reading in the forums and a couple blogs that people aren't listening to the electronic music that they used to. somehow people are putting alot of groups into genres that i don't think even fit the music. i think this is a big problem in understanding what an artist is trying to do with their music. this got me thinking about some shit. my questions for anyone are: what are you looking for in music? is it to be on top of the trends, to know about all the newest shit? is it the melodies or sound itself? are you making music for yourself or other people? what makes a song with literally the same kick-snare-kick-snare-kick-kick-snare with a few buzzes and bleeps running for three minutes interesting? what makes the most complex beats and melodies not just seem too saturated? music is expression! i think many artists out there are being lumped into generic genres because the music is different...but it isn't experimental or idm, or this or that. people like what they like. why the fuck does music have to be generalized so much? if you like what you do or other people do...listen to it. expression shouldn't be something that is torn to pieces by us or labels. i'm really struggling at this point to decide if i'm going to make music full time or just drop it entirely. i'm serious about it, but to devote enough time and energy to reach the goal i want to achieve is a struggle. now i'm only admiting this because i know people don't take shit that seriously. they sit at home and fuck around with music but don't devote themselves to it. yet they seem to think they know so much about it that they can rip peoples music apart that have devoted their life to it. fuck it...if you want to do it just for kicks on the weekends, awesome...more power to ya. in no way am i trying to say that you have to devote your life to music to enjoy it. get a grip though if you sit with your ipod playing all the new "hot shit" or what pitchfork tells you is cool and think you can judge someones music. you can read all the medical literature in the world but that doesn't mean you can perform heart surgery.
this is where i apologize to anyone that read this...because really it's a bitch fest of my own frustration... | |
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06/19/07
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flies
web journalism = fine in principle
pitchfork = 84% excrement. FWIW, that link appollo posted is moderately amusing and kinda creative insofar as it actually does review the music.
There's a lot in your post poly, but since you don't seem to like my thread, that's what i'd like to respond to.
Genres can do damage to music, yes. Perhaps it was the number of people who thought "i want to make IDM" that made IDM suck. I don't think so. More often, people wanted to make "aphex beats" or []push or vsnares or what have you. So i think it was the fact that those artists were popular and spawned half-rate imitators that made the repertoire sound stale. The fact that this music has a name isn't irrelevant to this question, it's just not the major determining factor, tertiary at best.
I stopped listening to autechre and aphex twin and other bands who seem similar to me, whom i refer to collectively as making up the IDM, because I stopped being fascinated with intricate beats put over a boring melody.
06/19/07
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jsotelo
isnt that what all electronic music is anyway. Its funny how people knock the whole genre thing, but then use it to describe their music. I'll come out and say it, cause no one has the balls to. Yes, i like making music for myself and to please others. I get off on it. It makes me feel like ive accomplished something in my life! Just because aphex did it first doesnt mean that all others are copycats..
If thats the way you look at things, then yes, all have been plagarized. All are unoriginal. You wanna hear something different? Try and make it and guarunteed its been done..
I can try and make something new all day, but no ones gonna listen unless i push it. And even then, people wouldnt respect it because its not in line with their "whatever".
We sold out when we tried to survive. We sell ourselves daily to some piece of shit job, but then knock on trying to survive off of something we love.
Then get kicked in the balls for making something similar to popular artists.
Someone read the conquest of bread..
The culture is dead, not the artists
06/19/07
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gasper
"For me, its easy, I write music for the same reason I like to garden. You get to watch it grow. A careful hand and a constant appreciation for moments of patience and commitment seems to give me a journey. "
hell yeah!
06/19/07
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krestivo
"math funk" here
06/19/07
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AndrewBrewer
ok 50/50 bs/real response goes like this:
poly, i think you are hating the self-professed critics, esp the critics that have never had a good thing to say about a single band except for their precious hand-picked list. these people suck, and also kind of hurt because they exude a weird, false coolness pheromone.
on the other hand, it's pointless to expect the listener to understand you, the artist. most of the time, that's not how music is consumed. that is, with the objective of understanding or concentration.
as a muso, you just have to tune in to those people that are your wavelength, so to speak. they most likely don't like your work out of any deep understanding of how or why. it just sounds good to them.
06/19/07
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appollo51
jsotelo....i don't think it's all been done at all...especially with electronic music/the possibilities are as limitless as your imagination.
i do think that it's perhaps more difficult to release label based electronic music/(and make a living from it) because at this stage of the game, you probably have to create something truly unique to generate interest. people also tend to make the type of music that they really enjoy listening too/which can lead to the derivative effect.
06/19/07
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jsotelo
maybe i need better equipment.. tell me someone who is unique and not a derivative
06/20/07
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Jetsom
For some reason I feel that the two frames of mind about earning money from music (or the 'product') and the process of making it should probably be kept apart.
Now there's myspace & stuff, do people seem more focused on product? Not knocking the lovely place, it's useful for people who want to promote their music. But people who ordinarily wouldn't, seem to go to that stage really soon sometimes it seems, they can't wait.
Sorry, not really figured out what I want to say. Must go study that chart: brain first => then thread.
06/20/07
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mechp
In regards to originality: The music you listen to will undoubtedly have an effect on what you create, and I don't think that's bad per se. In the painting world people will say "Oh, you can tell he likes Picasso" but they don't knock you for it...it just is. I don't know why musicians (especially "electronic/experimental/idm" musicians) are so jealous about thier sound. It's not style that makes truly great music, it's emotional comtent or catchiness or something that other non-great people can't make no matter how many of your snare rushes they bite, SO.... stop worrying! If you are good people know it, end of story.
That being said, I think I've figured out how to be as derivative as you want to be and still sound fresh... the answer, ironically, is to listen to old, obscure music that is seemingly stylistically disparate from what you normally make. If no one under the age of 60 and outside of the Detroit area has ever heard of the band(s) that you draw insparation from, chances are it'll sound new to them. Look at Amy Winehouse, regardless of what you think of her music, you have to admit her producers did a damn fine job of bringing the Motown sound to a new generation of the masses.
06/20/07
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astroid
amy winehouse looks like she was kicked down a flight of stairs and i love her
06/20/07
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jdg
i really need to buy that album.
06/20/07
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Polyoddity
there is so much that has been said it's hard for me to narrow down any one reply. thanks for all the responses though, i'm glad i got some sort of discussion going.
i used to be such a music snob. i developed an openess for most art even if i didn't like it. i'm not saying i like the bands that i may have trash talked before...but i don't trash talk them anymore [some still deserve it].
in response to me quitting...i'm not quitting now. if eventually all the time i put into music doesn't at least keep me from starving to death...
i am happy to see such an open minded communtity of musicians/artists/enthusiasts here on the internet. i'm glad i stubbled upon this site. hopefully i will get some of my new tracks posted soon.
06/20/07
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astroid
it's a bad place to be to assume that you must "quit, starve or succeed". while fear and anger can be a good motivator for a while, it comes at the price of burying a white-hot ball of rage that comes out in weird places. it's better to make some music you love, get an easy job, and relax a little.
06/20/07
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monty
i see myself as fisherman sailing up the river, and genres are settlements dotted along the river's edge.
every so often i stop for a while and get some ideas, some genres are friendlier than others.
eventually i will carry on up stream.
one day i will find a good spot and claim it as my own.
i will trade trinkets of knowledge with the hardy traveller
but i will kill anyone who tries to steal my goats in the night.
06/20/07
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lunatinker
another fine scot-zen moment brought to you by monty!
also, yeah. winehouse. it a re-hash but damn. great voice. and
lewd, tattoed and cool....
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