Video Blog!!

Vlogging Pt. 1

R-E-S-P-E-C-T

I swear I’m an open-minded person, especially when it comes to Music. I think that it is vitally important to at least give new music a CHANCE. But despite all my politically correct, unbiased efforts I find my self still turning away from certain styles that simply do not resonate with me. In turn, I would definitely be less likely to listen, and more-over ‘discover’ new music in some genres. Also it is important not to confuse this idea with not having respect for what these incredibly talented artists are doing, I hold the highest regard for those who put forth the effort to take initiative and master their craft. Also, of course, there is nothing personal against any of these artists. It comes down to a missed connection between what message and music they are trying to share, compared to the music that has the power to effect me in a positive and engaging manner.

A public, more acceptable example of this to talk about could even be the recent ‘Grammy Drama’ featuring Kanye West and Beck. Okay, Kanye, listen you’ve made some great music. Beyonce has certainly SUNG some great songs, however it is no secret that she has a team, a small army even of people that work to perfect that album. Although you may not be a fan of Beck, (I'm calling you out ‘Yeezus’) You have to respect, give credit, and accept that he deserved album of the year because that was entirely HIS album, his creative vision, and him playing the instruments. No, I’m not going to be purchasing a new Beck album anytime soon, its not my cup of tea. But at least you can see the respect I have for the guy.

This seems to be more of a rant than a blog post, but I’m curious to know what my readers think of this as well.

Is this an acceptable opinion? Not necessarily about the Beck situation in particular, rather the idea that we have to accept that we will not like all the music we here. If someone claims “they like everything” they are either lying or only referring to the whole world of music they know from Kiss FM and B96….. Everyone has tastes. We should all be able to agree however, that everyone deserves a chance to be heard, and who knows it may resonate and make a difference. The important thing, and perhaps my main message for this post, is that respect is massively important. Show respect, you’ll get respect back.

Let’s all just agree Music is the best!

Leave your thoughts, opinions, Fav genres, genres you don’t like, etc…!

I will never forget... [Pt. 1]

Hey friends and lovers-

So I always catch myself looking at old Youtube videos of concerts I attended while trying to relive the epic moments that I have witnessed. In this new mini-inner-blog-mini-series, I'll randomly be posting some of the most memorable live events I've ever attended.

It would be awesome if you share your insane concert moments too! Leave a comment!!!!

To kick things off, we're going back to when I was entirely immersed in electro EDM. Sure I might have been under the influence of who knows what.... But this specific moment is engrained in my mind forever..

PT. 1 - KNIFE PARTY - NORTH COAST MUSIC FESTIVAL 2012 - CHICAGO, IL

If you are really that impatient, THE moment I'm referring too goes down at 1:05. Enjoy!

Maintain Your Vision

In high school I became fascinated with electronic music, and began DJ-ing. Over the next four years I had played multiple parties around the area. I became bored with simply mixing songs together, so I bought Ableton to allow me to better express my creativity. In the three years I have moved into the production side, and have been creating tracks and growing my collection of music. I have gained a following through social media and soundcloud (ayyyy lmao). One of the biggest achievements of this project was that all equipment, software, and other materials I use have been paid for by money earned from playing shows. One of the most rewarding parts of this experience has been seeing and hearing the enjoyment of my fans and listeners. Music is undoubtedly my passion, and I am proud that I became active and involved myself in it. I feel most engaged when I am able to express creativity and think outside the box.

Here is what I believe to be the keys to becoming successful in this industry:

In order to obtain the goal of becoming a successful artist in the industry, build off your existing strengths first and foremost and use these as a ladder to climb ahead. Having open creativity and social skills are vital and only add to the ability of being groundbreaking, while still remaining professional. Its also important to seriously have an in depth understanding of your tools in order to maximize your capabilities. Don’t be afraid to address your weaknesses and continue striving to improve your overall knowledge of music, as well as industry current events. Be fearless, be dedicated, and confront and eliminate any threats presented to the goal or vision you have. The more time you invest, the better the outcome and results will be. Your vision lies in a plane of opportunity, endless possibilities are awaiting the creative and innovative.

Digital Vs. Analog?

The “Digital vs. Analog” question has divided the Audio Industry since the rise of Pro Tools.

Analogue audio equipment designed and built during the 1950s to 1970s golden age used the highest quality components to construct the most strong and reliable outboard device that delivers the supreme sonic result. The result of this approach was such striking devices as the Fairchild 670 dynamic-ratio stereo compressor/limiter, used on countless Beatles recordings, and used 14 separate transformers and 20 vacuum tubes inside. All that transformer iron and valve warmth is what enables a Fairchild to impart its signature ‘golden glow’ to any sound passed through it. Another advantage vintage gear has, and a challenge for today’s manufacturers, is that certain components that helped create the classic sound simply aren’t available any more. The way transformers were wound, the metals used, the choice of transistors: much of it is no longer available or permissible for use in manufacture. Can modern analogue gear therefore hope to compare and compete? Many manufacturers are still designing their products for high-end analogue audio use, but still haven’t fully emulated the giants of the past because of economics.  Manley says “Commercially speaking, due to rising materials costs it is very difficult to be able to charge the prices that we should be charging. These days when doing a new product design, we are looking to build to a cost. To achieve that we will shave off features and keep focused on efficiency of the build. Years ago, the final selling price was almost not contemplated during the design process, so our classic gear was designed and built ‘cost no object’.”

It certainly took some time, but today I believe that even the most skeptical audio specialists with trained ears have trouble distinguishing between the two. In a user-oriented sense, its logical that Digital Audio will continue its dominance. It is more accessible, and certainly more affordable. Today’s consumer doesn’t seem too concerned with fidelity considering the most popular, widely used, and widely spread format is an mp3. I would like to imagine that better quality, more loss-less compression will be a possibility in the near future.

Industry Innovators Pt. 1: Lorin Ashton

Lorin Ashton, most commonly known by his stage name “Bassnectar”, has become one with the science and technicality of audio. Growing up in California provided him with his biggest influence, and perhaps one of the most unique: earthquakes. Lorin became fascinated with the powerful, low frequency rumbles produced by these natural phenomenon’s. He fueled his creativity with the sounds

 of ‘Mother Nature’, and then applied himself to his academics to gain the knowledge required to translate the music in his mind into a digital format. Now a world-renowned DJ/Producer, Bassnectar has gained the reputation as a mad man with the ability to rock a crowd of thousands of people. The inspiration to become a musician was something embedded deep inside him. His dedication, perseverance and hard work prove that anything can be possible in today’s industry. With the skills acquired, Lorin then applied his outside of the box method of thinking to turn essentially any sound in to something beautiful with the ability to resonate with listeners. Bassnectar is now an icon in the music world, and is a model for any artist looking to hone in their creativity into something wonderful. By simply being absorptive of his surroundings, he can allow his creativity to flourish, especially because of his technical base of knowledge. His reliance on a wide range of influences, as well as his deep technical knowledge of audio, has allowed him to become a model for all music producers to emulate to.

Who do you look up to for being an Innovator in the Industry?

Who else do you think deserves to be included in this mini-series?

D'Angelo Helps Bring it Back to the Music

I have come to realize, it will always come back to the music, the meaning, and the experience. I feel as if now more than ever these crucial and fundamental elements are somewhat difficult to find in what we consider to be mainstream and garnered the confidence and energy to set my self up for a reality. The world seems to be moving 10 steps ahead of its self, and listening to an album (I mean actually giving it your undivided attention) is a dying art. I’m not innocent in this neglect, for a while I was so caught up in everything else I was doing that “discovering new music” was downloading random singles or listening to my current “go-to’s”. But music has that power to pull us back to it I believe. It’s just a matter of hearing something good, something that actually connects with you. My recent example is D’Angelo’s new semi-unexpected release of Black Messiah. It’s a Funk / R&B revival and revolution. That familiar (maybe not too familiar since his last release well over a decade ago) sound of the singer songwriter returns on a dense pallet of well-thought, unique progressive tracks. This was an album where I started right from the beginning and had no choice but to listen through it’s entirety. It was an experience that I had missed so much, and it was refreshing to do it again on such a powerful album that pushes the boundaries of my normal realm of that genre. Check it out, maybe it will connect with you too. What is the last album you’ve listened to all the way through?