A couple hours ago I got done working on a song for the night. I got online and found myself listening to some songs Sarah Grether wrote. Her stuff is fantastic. Completely different from what I write. The style, at least to my ears, is unique, and that is what makes it so awesome. Then I got on youtube and searched "grand pianos live byui". A lot of results that turned up was of this young man that goes to byui, Nik Day. I don't recall ever seeing him perform live but I checked out some of his videos and his stuff is also great! He has an album out. His music is kind of like Jason Maraz with the piano. Of course, I also have to mention Keisha McCarthy "The Chocolate Train". Here we have yet another amazing musician with her own feel to her music. Her album just came out recently! These are some talented individuals that all have a love for music.
It's amazing to think that music is the universal language. Yet, if you were to give an individual the tools they needed to write their own songs, they would come up with something that reflects their personality, their tastes, and what is inside them. Sure, music works a certain way and somethings just sound good together, but I don't think that limits the possibilities at all.
I remember a few years ago someone asked me if I thought it was amazing that millions of songs can be written with just 12 notes. (12 notes are repeated at different octaves.) I didn't think it was that amazing, if you think about the basic theory, yes, it is amazing. But there are so many options! Middle C is different from the C an octave above it, but yet, it isn't! You can have a song containing just two notes, three notes. Your song can be 1 measure. It can be 400 measures. It can be simple, or complex. It can have words, it can have different instrumentation. The possibilities seem endless.
I have been wondering. Why does my music sound the way it does? I am not good at writing lyrics at all so mine are mostly instrumental. I have never been too fond of singing, yet in the past 6 months some songs have called for some kind of voice, which in a way forces me to sing. Lack of vocal skill narrows the possible genres down if you really wanted to start classifying. Hmm. I've to listened to tons of Enya stuff ever since Summer 08. Does that have an effect on my style? DEFINITELY. I don't listen to it as much as I used to, but that doesn't mean my brain hasn't absorbed her techniques and personal style.
(Side note: I believe that the music we listen to has a great impact on our lives. We may not realize it at first but it is kind of like a sponge. You listen to a lot of something, you start soaking it up and it becomes a part of you. It influences your spirit for the better or for worse. The lyrics affect you. They get stuck in your head. They lead you to different trains of thought. The melodies and harmonies can create certain atmospheres. You are what you... listen to.)
What instruments can I play? I can play the piano. The guitar I am not super good at but I can play it. What can I do with those two instruments? It limits my options again for what my music will sound like but it won't necessarily take away from it. The melodies can be played on any instrument. Of course, the voice you give the melody is also important, so in a way it does limit again. Does it matter though? Sometimes.
I guess what I am trying to get across is.. you can pick at it and see the little things that influence someone's songs. But where does the really original stuff all start? I am not talking about some of the main stream stuff you hear on the radio. Not the music they are write for money and fame. (But it's interesting that at the same time, they are expressing themselves and who they are..) When people really write music from their soul. When they are expressing themselves or writing to convey a sincere message- It comes from deep within. It's true. You can have a knowledge of what's going on theoretically when writing, it does help if you get stuck. But those moments where "pure intelligence" flows into you and the melodies come out? It's coming from somewhere. :)
This took a different turn then what I was originally going for. I guess I will try and shortly explain the original intent. Sarah's music, I haven't really heard a lot like it. I'm sure if I listened to some of the music she does then it will be more familiar. Right now it seems like her own genre. Maybe you could classify it as Indie, but she takes her own spin on it, and she is the only one with her voice so it really is hers.
Nik's music is classified as pop, but those are his lyrics. He even has his own way of writing the piano part. He has his own voice.
Keisha's music is soulful with an acoustic twist. I haven't had the chance to listen to her album yet, but I have listened to her stuff on myspace. She has her own voice.
One person I didn't mention earlier is Eric Nielsen. He writes electric music. I've watched him mess with the controls to tweek everything to his liking. It makes it his. Electronica might sound the same no matter the artist to those that don't listen to it that often, each artist gives it their own voice.
My music is a mix of New Age and Electronica I think. It just kind of happens. I don't usually sit down and plan the whole song before I start recording. I come up with a little hook record it, then keep recording over and deleting until I come up with something I like. Melodies and ideas pop into my head and somehow they seem to work. I'm sure others that write music experiences that in their own way. I have my own voice.
Music is awesome. I've learned not to try and sound like a certain person, just let their stuff have a side influence. They have their own voice, and I have mine.
Sarah Grether: ? But here is this.. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZreXCckluws
Nik Day: http://www.youtube.com/user/sctctr
Keisha McCarthy: http://www.myspace.com/keishianna
Eric Nielsen "Air Mail": http://www.myspace.com/airmailid
Chelsey Joy: http://www.myspace.com/chelseythebagel
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