Saturday, December 17, 2011
References
References
Week 1 – www.wikipedia.com
http://web.me.com/fullsailmh2/Music_History_Repository/Info.htm l http://rockhall.com/inductees/the-beach-boys/bio/
Week 2 – www.youtube.com
http://web.me.com/fullsailmh2/Music_History_Repository/Info.htm l http://www.scaruffi.com/vol2/velvet.html
Week 3 -
http://web.me.com/fullsailmh2/Music_History_Repository/Info.html http://www.enotes.com/kraftwerk-reference/kraftwerk
Independent Research Project
The composer/producer I chose for my independent research entry is a man named Ollie Jones, better known as Skream. He is a Dubstep producer born in London, England based in Croydon, England. Ollie started his career at fourteen years old when he entered a very popular club for bass music in the early 2000s called FWD he then began his journey into music production, making tunes that weren’t quite a part of any genre, at the time his music was considered grime or garage but there was something about them that was different. Ollie began producing almost 20 tunes a week of this new genre that wasn’t really catching on until he met up with life long friend and partner in crime Benga the two Croydon based bass beasts then started DJing radio shows that were broadcasted around Europe and got them decent exposure, Ollie then made a tune that would change it all for him. This tune was called “Midnight Request Line” no one was familiar with the deep dark sub and the hair splitting reverberate snare, people fell in love with it. He then went on to become a hit crafting machine with tunes and remixes such La Roux – In for the kill, Rutten, Stagger and so on these tunes along with many others written by UK based producers really launched Dubstep on its world wide take over. Ollie paved the way for many producers approaching the scene nowadays, although some take the bass driven music a bit to far Ollie knows how fads spreads and he attends to stay on top of it and keep his music fresh with hits such as, “Exothermic Reaction”, “Shot yourself in the foot again”, “Phat Head” and “Anticipate”. Ollie also producers many pop singers based in the UK and releases disco and 130 BPM mixes, his musical knowledge is extremely extended and he attends to act upon that quite a lot not really worried about what others say he just wants to keep his mind open and the music flowing. Ollie is also a part of a group called Magnetic Man, which features 3 acts, Skream (Ollie Jones), Benga (Beni Uthman), and Artwork (name unknown) they are considered a dubstep “Super group” because of their hit after hit productions and outstanding live shows they are known for their hits such as “ I Need Air”, “MAD”, “Anthemic”, and “Fire”. Ollie Jones is an innovator and without a doubt paved the way for many musicians and producers coming up, he works harder than most and loves what he does he helped start a movement and inspired thousands people. In recent interviews he stated “I want to make sure once this fad dies out, I’m still standing” he wants to be known as more than just a Dubstep producer and stray from the darker side of things. He is a great musician and will go down in history as one, watch out for him in the near future possibly presented something brand new to a world of closed minded people.
Monday, December 12, 2011
Electronic Artist Entry
The artist I chose from the electronic music playlist is Bjork because she has a sound so original that is so well produced. Bjork has that very dark and dissonant feel to her music and the production behind is extremely eerie yet extremely clean. She brought her own feel into electronic music and really took the repetitive dancy side of it out and replaced it with weird FX and strong vocals that are produced extremely well backed by vocal fx such as reverse, stutters and delays. Her influence is big on electronic music and drives many artists to go to the darker side of things. Bjork has a track called “ Crystalline” which was produced by the UK dubstep duo “16 bit” who is know for they’re syncopated and dark heavy sound. The tune is extremely dark and at the end features a break-core beat which is completely unexpected, I feel this song really expanded Bjork’s horizons. She is up and coming this new age of electronic music and making all the right moves. Her love for being different will certainly make a stamp in time and she will go down in history as an amazing musician. Her voice is something that is recognized all over and stands out more than anybody else’s. Her productions are also outstanding and so much different of anything I have ever heard which really makes her sound, her sound. Her music makes me open my mind and search for new abstract talent from all over the world.
Sources : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4MHbfEcV1b8&feature=related
Electronic Music entry
Kraftwerk produced some of the strangest most abstract music for the time using drum machines and synthesizers hence the genre Electronic Music Kraftwerk’s music inspired many of the great electronic music producers today and the paved the way for generations of new musicians. Their music is very 8 bit sounding and futuristic sounding as if it is from the future. The synths are extremely crisp as well as their drums. Kraftwerk’s repetitive style really kept the dance floor moving. Without a doubt their poppy catchy vocals caught the ears of those who thought the instrumentation was just noise. They had a image that was almost nerdy which gave them their super futuristic feel. In 1974 they released Autobahn which was an instant hit album which reached number 25 on the US ”Billboard Hot 100 chart”. The track “Autobahn” was intended to have the listener feel as if they were driving on the autobahn on a long trip through beautiful landscapes, the entire album is completely electronic. In 1975 Exveller 8 and Radio-Activity were released Radio – Activity had an interesting theme, half being about radioactivity and he other half about activity on the radio the album was self produced by Hutter and Schneider. In 1977 they released Trans Europe Express, which themed in regards to the Trans Europe Express, it charted at 119 on the American charts. In 1978, the Man – Machine was released which charted at number 12 in Germany. And in 1981 Computer World was released all these album were major influences on the music scene today. Kraftwerk could quite possibly the most creative and daring thing I have ever heard, for that type of sound design and musical talent to be upon the ears of the population in the 70s and 80s and have a positive reaction is amazing. They were thinking of things nobody even thought were possible to do with music and put their ideas to work and created some of the most inspiring and creative music to date. Kraftwerk makes me want to try new things and explore everything until I find something no one else has done in this industry.
Sources :
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=va9ceJvdLdA
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bpjym1CfGZ0
www.wikipedia.com
Monday, December 5, 2011
Whats Going On Entry
Marvin Gaye’s image was rebellious, spiritual and smooth he was the voice of Motown and was one of the greatest musicians of all time. “Whats Goin On” was written in about young men being sent to Vietnam, race riots erupting in inner cities and college campuses. When they finally finished the album Gaye was ecstatic, as stated in “Whats Going On by Ben Edmonds” http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/2001/dec/08/extract “He’d succeeded in creating something that was unlike anything else spat out by the Motown machine.” It was one of the more interesting albums and tunes on the Motown label. Berry Gordy then told Marvin that he refused to release “What’s Going On” he then called the “The worst thing I’ve ever heard in my life” when he came to and decided to release “What’s Going On” Marvin Gaye was happy but then went on to never record for the company again. Marvin Gaye’s tunes were being turned down by Quality Control but had to be forced to release them by Motown. Whats going on became one of the most real and to date songs of the time it was about real things, coming off like a protest political song but underneath is a song about love and wanting change and that’s the true meaning of soul music, the production was crisp, the music was smooth and soulful and the lyrics were as real as could be, the song was a hit. It really hit the music industry hard and really opened up everyone’s mind, it inspired many musicians we know and love today and paved way for a new generation of great songs to take place. When I give this a listen what comes into my mind is a state of wanting peace and presenting to one the problems we refuse to look at and that’s something that needed to be presented in the that time and needs to be presented now
The Velvet Underground & Nico
The Velvet Underground’s image is defined clearly by there name they had the rebellious underground vibe going for themselves especially with the female singer. With the great amount of drugs sex and rock n roll they encountered they seemed to present their image fairly well. With their album The Velvet Underground and Nico making its stamp on history in the 1960’s being one of the first alternative rock albums ever they truly sky rocketed. Their music seems like pure genius, many think to seem it is just shock value because of the drug use and homo sexuality but when listened to actively and properly the instrumentation is absolutely incredible and they dared to do things no body has done in the 1960s their music was extremely controversial and risky but that’s exactly what the world needed at that time and some/most people loved it. Lou Reed was writing songs that no body would dare to write at that time. Such as “Heroin” which will shock the population in the 1960’s while John Cale was making sure the band was tight and their music was presentable, When they met in 1964 The Velvet Underground was formed. The Velvet Underground is noted as one of the most important bands in rock history. Brian Eno, Talking Heads, Sex Pistols, R.E.M. even u2 claim that the Velvet Underground is their most important influence. Without a doubt The Velvet Underground & Nico was one of the most original, interesting, and controversial albums in the 1960’s everything from its sound to their image was completely different than everyone else they sang about what they knew and sticking to your guns is always a good thing which is why I think they made such a stamp on the music industry, they show that you can do whatever you want as long as you have the knowledge, talent, and the guts.
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