Consume #2
From What to Listen for in Music by Aaron Copland, (New York: Penguin, 1939), pp. 23:
A musical idea is not the same as a piece of music. It only induces a piece of music. The composer knows very well that something else is needed in order to create the finished composition.
I am catholic-ish in my music preference. It’s a shame that I didn’t save my 2022 wrapped stats but I remember it profiled me as a sonic adventurer because I had listened to over 90 genres of music from over a 100 countries. When I find a difficult-to-list song or album, I turn down the volume and play it repeatedly until it becomes familiar. They say noise is just music you don't like, but what really makes a song difficult to listen to? First, it might be missing familiar elements like a catchy melody. Second, the type of instruments used can affect how much we enjoy a song – some sounds are stranger than others. For instance, if you're used to R&B, you might struggle with death metal, and vice versa. Third, songs with elements arranged in an unexpected order can be off-putting. Our brains are used to certain song structures, so when a song deviates from this, it can feel jarring. Each genre has its unique characteristics. Take Amapiano, for instance, which is known for its signature log drums and other unique elements. When a song from this genre lacks these recognisable features, our brain quickly detects the absence. It then tries to categorise the song into a different genre. If it fails to match it with any genre we know, we might dislike the song. We might, however, reconsider our opinion in the future. Anyway, when my teacher said, ‘make a three-minute long song in any genre,’ I knew I was in for trouble. We each had to deliver our project in two weeks. Freedom is great and all, but having some limits can be helpful too. Selecting one genre from the many I enjoy was quite a challenge. I spent about a week deciding on which genre to pick while taking into account my technical ability, which was close to non-existent at that point. The song also had to stand on its two feet because I wasn’t planning to include vocals. I like synth-pop, synth-wave, dance-pop, and euro-disco, among others. I find it easier to dance to these genres or sub-genres. Just swing your body in any direction, and you’ll still be on the beat. I eventually settled on synth-wave for my project. 🔋
Anyway, those types of music often use synthesizers. The word ‘synthesizer’ includes ‘synthetic’ in it which is fitting because synthesizers are electronic instruments that can create artificial sounds. They can mimic other instruments or produce completely new and unique sounds that don’t even exist in nature. Given my inability to play traditional instruments, it's understandable why I'm drawn to the possibilities that synthesizers offer. I often think about a statement made by Armand Pierre Fernandez in an interview I read, where he said that the next Beethoven won't be playing the piano. T-pain shared similar sentiments in a documentary, expressing that he has always been a firm believer in the idea that the next biggest hit song could be locked inside someone who ‘doesn’t know how to play keys’ and that the ‘next person who is going to change music has no idea how to play the guitar.’ If he or she found a way to get that song out of their head, ‘it’s a wrap.’ I suppose that’s why young people are often the ones who invent new genres. Often times they are either unaware of certain musical rules or simply don’t care about them. They have something to say, and they go about finding ways or tools to help them say it. Meanwhile, older generations often find themselves stuck in prisons of their own making, overly focused on virtuosity or adhering to certain musical standards. In my view, virtuosity should be in the service of expression, not dominate it. Oftentimes, if there's any new technology, young people will be the first to use it. Older generations, which I am now a part of — being in my 30s, I am no longer considered a youth — will initially mock the technology, dismissing it as a fad, only to later realize that they have been left behind because they didn’t adopt it soon enough. The questions then are: what am I trying to say, and what tools are available to help me say it? With digital music-making software, you can create all kinds of music from the comfort of your living room. As technologies evolve, so too will music-making. 🔌
A key feature of technology is its ability to help us achieve more in less time and with less effort. I can somewhat understand the feeling of spending 10 years learning something, only to see new tools enable someone else achieve that same feat in a fraction of that time. It can make you question if you did the right thing with your life. Assuming a country is free from wars or conflicts, it's a given that younger generations or your successors will have an easier path than you did — that's just the nature of progress. Also think about it, tools have made it easier for us to accomplish in days what might have taken our parents months, or even years. Did we think that we would be exempt from this natural flow of things? All I'm suggesting is that you should use every tool at your disposal for self-expression, and this includes using AI to make music if that's what you want to do. Besides, AI is not new in the music industry. For instance, if singing isn't your strong suit and you really want to sing, you can use Auto-tune to help correct your off-key voice. You might say, ‘no I don’t want to do that.’ Let me offer you some free advice: be careful about the standards you hold yourself to because they might not be relevant in the future. Lip-syncing is frowned upon for singers, yet hip-hop artists often have no issue with it. While singers often have songwriters, which is generally accepted, it's frowned upon in hip-hop. Drake doesn’t seem to hold himself strictly to any of these standards. He works with numerous ghostwriters and is quite fluid in his music practice. One day he might work on Afrobeats song, and the next day switch to UK Drill. I might not like his music, but I can’t deny his staying power. I think the same could be said for Beyonce. She can be versatile often collaborating with emerging artists and incorporating music and art from various cultures into her work. 📡
I take issue with her failure to sometimes credit or acknowledge her influences. She also hasn’t gone on an African tour. The Global Citizen Festival in Johannesburg doesn’t count in this context because it wasn’t exclusively her tour. You might be wondering, did he use AI for his project? The answer is NO. I haven’t explored developments in AI for music-making yet, but I suspect that in a few months, I definitely will dive into it. I wasn't satisfied with how the project turned out, but I found comfort in the fact that it was my first attempt and I wasn't expecting to produce a well-polished song. There are many aspects of song-making that I still need to learn and understand, but all in all, I was pleased with myself. I even sampled sounds from movies from the 50s and a 3 second speech by Steve Jobs. I also added sirens for effect. You can think of it as a sonic collage. I titled the song ‘Including the Kitchen Sink’. I had always wanted to title my first song that. Critics often use the phrase ‘everything except the kitchen sink’ to mock songs that have more sonic elements than necessary. So, I thought to myself, why not include the kitchen sink too, just out of spite. Anyway, three people gave their thoughts on the song when it was played in class. One said it sounded both futuristic and retro at the same time. Another commented that the song reflected its title, imagining herself in her kitchen doing dishes while police cars drove past outside occasionally — sirens blaring. The sound of modern living you’d say. The third person agreed with the first. I preferred the second opinion more because I think I always want to reflect my time, but that’s just me. I plan to keep working on the song, even though it has already been submitted. 🎙️
Thanks for reading. If there’s anything you’d like to chat about, or if you have any questions, feel free to shoot me an email. I’d love to hear from you. 🍿