Just say NO!

In the music industry, it doesn’t matter who your audience is, old, single, married, young, broke, etc. There are moments in your career where you need to say no. Can you sing on this track? NO. Can you play at my club? NO. Can you…? NO.

However, this is not to just be a jerk and act like you’re bigger than you really are. I’m speaking to people who have done their time singing at the birthdays, the dive bars, the talent shows and have good practice on stage presence and performance. This is for the musician who is building a brand. For the newly seasoned musician, it’s time to start building your image in the public eye. Cause remember, once you start accepting the scraps that you’re giving, then that’s what people will believe you’re worth. So, when you’re trying to develop who you are as an artist, ask yourself two simple starter questions.

What does my music sound like?

I mean, this may seem like too simple of a question, but it’s seriously one of the best to ask. I remember a friend of mine, who’s very successful in the industry now as an A&R, tells me all the time, “It starts with the music”. So, close your eyes, listen to one of your finished songs, and develop an image of the creator in your mind. How does that person talk? What does that person personify? What is he/she wearing? …No, not like that. This is not supposed to turn you on. I tell you, some of you vain people. You look in the mirror and start getting all hot…. Anyway…

The image is very important, but it needs to be in line with what you sound like, even if you create a variety of music. Wear that music in your walk, your talk, your words, your clothes, your everything. That music is supposed to be you. Think about every time you hear a voice before you see a person. Then how jarring it is when that person doesn’t match that voice. Then think about how relieved when the person does match the voice. It all starts with music, the marketing, the look, the presentation, etc.

Does this fit my standard?

Ok, as musicians, yea, we all get those opportunities to play. And if you haven’t learned by now, all venues are not created equal. I have literally played at places where there are man-sized holes in the floor. If someone fell through, I’m not sure who would’ve gotten sued. Also, the sound is an issue too. I’ve played at places where the PA system would die, with only three microphones running through it. Talk about a set-killer.

After you’ve listened to your music, develop your standards with your audience in mind. Realize that you, as an artist, need to perpetuate a standard. Have something in your production or presentation that is steady. Make that something about the quality, the quirkiness, the whatever, but make sure your standard is set. However, also ensure that your standard is realistic and fair to venue owners. You need their support as much as you need the fans. And if you have to compromise that fair standard, then… JUST SAY NO!

Three to the chest

Written: Oct 29, 2011

So, I was on grooveshark this morning, after finding out that the songs from my former band, Juanita Place, was on there… awesome… I decided to go to Billboard and see what is on the Billboard singles charts. I am in the process of writing several songs and making more connections in the industry. It’s going well so far. However, in my morning study of the music industry, I noticed several similarities in the music. This isn’t to say that it’s a bad thing, but it is very interesting when putting music together and in composing. Today, October 29, 2011, included in the Billboard R&B/Hip-Hop singles charts is Beyonce “Party”, Lil Wayne “She Will”, Big Sean “Marvin Gaye & Chardonnay”, and Jay-Z & Kanye “Ni**as in Paris”, among others. This is not a comprehensive list, nor is it in order, but that’s not the point of this post. The common denominator in the music it appears is three things.

The first of these things is the kick drum being big enough to hit you in the chest. The kick drum on these songs knocks the wind out of you if you have a woofer. It’s the kind of kick that will blow the clothes off a woman, which I guess is the point of some of this music. It’s used obvious in control with one of the songs on the top 10, Wale featuring Jeremih and Rick Ross “That Way”. In this song, they pull the kick back in certain spots to add contrast and give the song more musical life. This is also true for the urban ballad, “Wet the Bed” by Chris Brown featuring Ludacris. One thing is for sure, to truly enjoy the musical value of this music, you need to have a system that can belt out the bass so your soul can feel it.

The next common aspect of the song is the snare. The snares in these songs are pretty a uniform high pitch piccolo. This is the snare you normally here in the marching bands, but a synthesized sample of course. The snare is the typical hip-hop snare. The songs don’t sound the same without this type of sound. The difference can be heard when you listen to something like “Poison” by Bell Biv Devoe. The snare is “Poison” is considerably lower in pitch and can change the tone of the song entirely. A low snare is also used in “Love Bomb” by N.E.R.D. Pharell has a tendency to mix styles and use different sounds when creating his music, hence how his sound stands out among other producers so well. A person can almost turn on any song produced by The Neptunes and immediately recognize that it is his team.

The last of the three is that the main melody is usually played by a synthesized brass or string section. This stands out to me because I am a pianist first. So, my mind automatically plays everything on the keys. The other instruments come second. However, when creating music, I have to translate the music from the piano to sounding good on the brass or the strings. So, its best when creating music, to think of the melody first, then think of the underlying chords to embellish this melody with some thickness. This is hard for people who learn music through chords (piano players), versus people who learned music through rhythms or melody (drummers, DJs, horn players, etc).

So, those are the common elements, the foundations for the popular R&B/Hip-Hop music of the millennium. You need to have that kick that’s going to knock you down; the snare that makes you move as the main rhythm embellishment and being very high pitched. Finally, the melody is typically played on some string or brass section. For all you producers, make sure these elements are in your music, if you’re making urban music. These will the backbone for your songs. Everything is another topic, because the other things are just as important as these elements. Until next time, kick it hard enough for me and you. Axé.

Pop Music is like a Prostitute

So, in the world of music, the question is always being asked in the car, at the house, or at any time we’re just listening to someone who, let’s face it… sucks, and how in the world they seem to be successful. Why is it that music that sucks does so well, and music that is great does so bad? That is the question in life that involves many more topics than I can elaborate in a blog, well, at least in a single blog. However, we’re going to hit on a few topics that will highlight some of the answer.

On all Fours!

First, let’s start on why people listen to music in the first place. If you look at the Top 100 of Billboard today, February 7^th, 2012, you’ll see Katy Perry, Rihanna, Adele, and some other artists. But I can tell you that 70% of the artist in the top 10 of the Billboard 100 have what are called “Four on the Floor” beats. These are used primarily in club songs. They’re easy to mix and people can move almost any way they want to, and still be on something close to the beat. In everyday terms, we can call this “good drunk-dancing music”. If you blushed, then that’s probably you. The girl, or guy, who is too scared to dance because you feel like a fool, because you probably mostly look like a fool. But oh when you’re drunk, that liquid courage flows through your veins and gives the feeling that everyone else around you is too drunk to notice that you suck at dancing. That’s okay. Everyone needs to be freed of inhibition every once in a while.

So, why is it that this music is so popular now? Well, just like the beat commands your butt to move, it’s easy music to listen to. There’s not much in it. Most of the songs have no metaphors, or very flat metaphors that use popular terms that people can get. Also, let’s face it, the people who are buying this music are young, and love fun. So, even if you hate the song, you’ll find yourself singing the catchy “oh-oo-oh-oo-oh” of Katy Perry songs. It’s okay, I do it too. You’ll notice that the “thump-thump-thump-thump” and overly synthesized 1980’s brass sounds are all over the music nowadays. It rules the radio charts and the top singles. What was once the stomping grounds of ecstasy popping, neon light wielding, rhythm-less ravers is the sought after sound for pop stars the world over. Yup, the pop music today is built for clubbers and DJs, it’s an expert when it gets down on all fours! I’m surprised no one has made it into a dance where girls get down on their hands and knees. When they do, lord save us all.

Where did all the singers go?

However, there is hope for you lovers of “good” music. Adele, the sumptuous songstress, gives the charts voices that are missing in the industry, with her “Set Fire to the Rain”. I’m sure if you think about it, there are very few actual great voices in pop nowadays. It was easy for Adele to slide right in, because the voices are missing, in the major label pop realm. However, if you listen closely, you’ll also recognize that this song is made for the radio. Even the pop stars that can sing have to play by the rules of commercial success. This song follows the rules of catchy melodies, and repeatable sections. Things that repeat stay in your head easier and melodies that are simple to sing are songwriting gold. You will most likely remember the melody before you pick up any of the words. So, to make the song catchy, it will stick to your soul and never let go… well, at least until the next melody hijacks the space.

But to end all, we won’t only use Billboard as our end all, be all on music success. Let’s take a look at another artist in another genre, Ms. Janelle Monae. Janelle has been active for quite some time in music, and came out with an album that was a follow up to her EP, and continued the story she began in this EP. It was a story of an android who fell in love with a human, a reference to an old film called “Metropolis”. Janelle released two singles from this album “Cold War” and “Tightrope”, the latter featuring Big Boi from Outkast. Janelle performed in the 2010 Grammys, and had many performances of these two songs on various shows like So You Think You Can Dance and The Ellen DeGeneres Show. As of February 2011, Janelle Monae has sold 141,000 copies of the album. Depending on the promotional budget, advance and several other budget factors, those missing figures will determine whether or not the album was actually a success to the artist and team themselves. However, the response, in the music critic world was very positive.

The factor that I would like to point out is that out of 18 tracks, 15 full songs, only 2 were released as singles. This is rather curious, don’t you think? But when you listen to the album you will see that the concepts in most songs past the seventh track, are deep musically and are too in depth for a radio audience. In the first seven tracks, “Cold War”, “Tightrope”, and “Locked Inside” are probably the only tracks that are SFR (Safe for Radio) on the entire album. However, the other tracks deliver deep musicality that lacks the simple easy to swallow format like the majority of popular music nowadays.

So, remember, next time you ask the question, “why is this horrible song so popular?” You only have to have to listen for the pattern, and I’m sure it won’t take long to discover. Popular music that sucks is easy to listen to. It does what you want, to help you move your butt. In short, it gets down on all fours, and does it well.