I love seeing people who are genuinely buzzing from music. Here an old interview with Sasha from around the time GU13 Ibiza was released, I presume to promote that mix CD. You can see the passion he had at the time and in the conversation he’s having with Dom Philips, whose book ‘Superstar DJ’s Here We Go’ I read a few months ago (a recommended light read!). The late 99’s were an awesome time for the progressive sound he’s discussing and was about the time I was getting into clubbing etc. Definitely my honeymoon period. There was also the getting away with it documentary around this time that went out on channel 4 but I don’t think this interview formed part of that. I could be wrong though.
Category: Other music
Posts relating to all music other than ES Waves.
Staying visible?
I’ve just read an interview with Swayzak from the RA site which rang true with me. They talk of the accepted norm nowadays of having to stay visible to stay in touch with your market. I’ve read so many sources which parrot that in this long tail digital musical marketplace the only way to stay visible to the ever decreasing audience is to provide it with a constant stream of material. This may be true but it has a sobering effect on the product that is churned out as if by rote.
Music is an inspiration. As Swayzak say in their interview if you don’t have anything to say there’s no point in putting something out. Presumably the people that do so do so to make a living or presumably in an attempt to make a living. I’d like to try falling into the former but the burden of completing and releasing material by rote would, as things stand, be beyond me.
Like I’m sure many other musicians it takes me an age to start, consider, stop, resume, edit, discard, continue, arrange and then polish a piece of music and then commit to an end to this process. I would seriously have to consider streamlining my workflow if I were to up the productivity.
Nice 80s soundtrack music
Evil Nine, who I can’t say I’ve listened to a lot of, have put together a mix of music ostensibly from horror / Halloween / slasher film soundtracks. There’s some really nice 80s synth sounds and production going on here.
Awesome 80s mix
Another seriously awesome mix I’ve found on soundcloud.
http://soundcloud.com/mrkrokett/rayko-miami-vice-feel-my-bicep-dj-set
I absolutely love the 80s production. I’d love to put some tracks together like this at some point when I get the time.
Proper quality mix
http://www.bleep43.com/podcast/2010/4/14/podcast-165-the-roots-of-trance.html
Check this podcast out and read the accompanying story. Wicked bass as they say round these parts.
Sounding off – why make music when you won’t ever be paid for it?
In this months edition of Sound on Sound the ‘Sounding Off’ article on the last page of the magazine discusses the fact that, in reality, today’s musicians spend a great deal of money, time and effort on making music in full knowledge that they will never be paid for doing so. Effectively the vast majority of today’s musicians are effectively hobbyists no matter how polished or ‘professional’ their technical skills are or how satisfying the end product is. The article goes on to justify why people armed with this knowledge still devote a great deal of time and money to create music and then attempt to sell it in some way. The article’s author’s justification for this is that the thrill of making and listening to music still remains.
As a committed ‘hobbyist’ (see above) I agree with his conclusion to an extent. The love of music still remains for me. The passion I had when I was younger to seek out and purchase exciting new music in vast quantities has to an extent left me. I see this partly as an age thing but the main reason I feel is because I’ve spent so much time actually making music in the studio that to then spend what free time I have to listen to a lot more music would be extremely fatiguing. That’s not to say that I can’t take a break from the studio to enjoy other music. Putting together the first podcast was fun and I’ll be putting together another in the near future (and hopefully another after that time permitting (hence the reason why it’s the first in an occasional series of podcasts)).
My qualification to his argument is the perception that given by the traditional media, well all media I guess, is that the people that are releasing records and, on occasion either touring or playing dj dates, do so as their only source of income. That the myth of the carrot of a professional career is still pushed into the enthusiasts consciousness. I have no idea what take home income a middle ranking artist receives but I can believe it’s not great. I’d be really interested to find out just how people who are marketed as professional electronic musicians really make their living. Money is of course one thing and soul is another but still.
Do I believe that a viable system will be stumbled upon the monetise the sale of music? With present day consumer electronics this dream is unlikely but who knows what’s coming in the future. It’s clear that the success of music is linked to the platform by which it’s consumed.
I should also say that like the author of the article in sound on sound I am thousands of pounds down in respect of the amount of money I have spent on musical equipment, music, music lessons etc set against the amount of money I have actually made from music…
Podcast 1 Player
Electronic – Getting Away With It
What an inspiringly awesome tune. I remember really wanting to buy this when it came out and fingering the 7 inch in our local boots. I never bought it and that memory of not buying it has stayed with me. I remember being slightly perplexed that Jonny Marr was only playing a poppy rhythm guitar on it. It does a great job of carrying the tune though and the rhythm solo at 3:50 just before the fade out is gorgeous.
While we’re on the subject
of amazing R & S Records listen to this. Perhaps my favourite of those I own. A real liquid record. Sublime.
Almost ready with contemporary sounds
I haven’t blogged for while so I thought I would. The album and singles are pretty much finished up now. I’ll be sending them out to be mastered this week. I’ll update this site when I’ve put in place when and where the music will be available. In the interim check out the sensational music in this vid. Awe-inspiring.
ES Waves 