I actually checked out your music a while back when you linked to it in a previous story. It's not something I would normally listen to or for that matter knew existed, but I found it really enjoyable for the mood I was in at the time. There are no radio stations in the area playing that genre of music so it's not something that I'd likely stumble across either. I definitely wouldn't mind throwing some money your way whenever you get finished. Thanks for putting it out there.
Thanks for the kind words, I appreciate it:-) I'm glad you enjoyed listening to it!
The only thing broken around here is the RIAA's business model. I imagine they're pissed that their money tree is dying.
It's strange...sometimes, the RIAA does things like trying to tighten their grip further (which makes them look completely oblivious), and then other times they do things that make it clear they understand what is happening, but just refuse to acknowledge it.
I think you misunderstood what I was getting at...allow me to explain.
My music is primarily made as an exploration of different textures...it also happens to be trippy as hell. Because of this, the cannabis subculture seemed like a great place to get exposure. So, for example, I've sent my music to the Dopecast, and the host has played every track I've sent him. He and his listeners have really enjoyed it, because it's the kind of stuff they would want to listen to. (The most recent episode my music has been played on was episode 223...I'm actually working on the finishing touches of another track I'm going to be sending him in a couple of days, so it will likely be on the show sometime in the next month.)
There are podcasts that focus on music, but I was mainly talking about submitting it to podcasts that play music, not necessarily podcasts that are about music. Match up the style music you are making with the style of music that a particular podcast generally plays in the background (or, like the Dopecast, as a musical interlude), and your exposure will increase. It will just be a little bit at a time, but if you send it to the right people, then the right people will be hearing your tunes:-)
Avatar as a film is so-so...it's entertaining enough, but it's fairly brainless. That being said, I don't think there has ever been a better movie to show off your home theater. The Blu-Ray looks and sounds amazing on a good TV/sound system.
The Fountain is also an amazing movie to show off your home theater.
I think that it is enough work that it is worth paying someone (like a record company) to do it for you. Other things involved include doing the accounts, keeping and maintaining industry contacts, all the way down to buying paper and other stationary. The record companies are perfectly capable of using these same internet resources too. (And often do without letting people know who is behind it!)
I agree! The guy that lives on the first floor of our apartment complex is a very successful local musician...he makes a lot of his living off his music, even though he hasn't gone big-time yet (he will though...his stuff is too good to be ignored for much longer. Not my kind of music, but it's really well done, especially considering what he has to work with from an equipment perspective.) His room mate basically takes care of the business stuff, so he is free to do the music thing.
I liked your music, even though ambient/electronic kind of stuff is not normally to my taste. There is movement and arrangement to it that stopped the more soundscapey stuff from becoming just wallpaper.
Thank you:-) That really does mean a lot to me. I do it just as a hobby, but having people enjoy it is one hell of a bonus!
Why do you want more people to discover it?
Mainly because I want people to listen to music differently. There are always at least 6-8 layers in all of my songs, and I want people to begin listening to music as individual sounds melded together to create a single experience, rather than just a "song".
If you had the time, money and inspiration, do you think you could create songs that would effectively communicate your joy and understanding about this kind of music?
Inspiration is everywhere for me...from pictures taken by the Hubble to the way it feels when you are halfway between sleeping and awake, I try to take inspiration from anything that evokes a response in me. When I layer together different responses (emotional, physical, and spiritual) from different experiences in my day to day life, out pops my music.
That being said, if more people would slow down and actually listen to music rather than just hear it, then they could pick any of my tracks and be able to feel what I feel. They're all an exploration of how multiple sounds (experiences) are completely different...yet, when put together, they create an entirely new sound (experience) that didn't exist before.::pause:: I guess kinda like finding your soul mate, in a way. You're both still separate and unique, yet combined you create something that didn't previously exist.
You are assuming that all types of music require a vocal booth and other such things. You would be amazed what someone can create using nothing more than a MIDI controller and some decent software. Again, though...it depends on the kind of music they are creating.
Hahahaha. No, advertising still costs just as much. If you mean having a myspace page, then good luck. Join the millions of other bands no one gives a shit about, and who make zero income from music.
There are methods other than just myspace, you know...and many of them are relatively inexpensive. For example, submitting your music to podcasts is a GREAT way to get exposure. True, you won't get the same kind of exposure as you would with a big record label putting your ads up in a Best Buy, but you also get to own your music...and it's free. There are other methods as well. Flyers, message boards, passing out burned CDs at concerts. It takes more work, but there are other avenues besides record labels.
99.9999999999% of the music people listen to did not come from a bedroom studio. People like this myth of the lone genius producing wonderful music and sharing it in the wonderful new internet age. But.. it just doesn't happen.
That's funny, because that's what I do. I will be the first to admit that the kind of music I make isn't for everyone...it's a very small niche. But that's exactly why I do it...it's a small niche. I want more people to discover it, and that can't happen without more of it being available. My contribution to the ambient and drone scenes may be small...but it's still a contribution.
Commercial music takes work, time and money, and the people making nothing from it do not have the incentive or the time to produce the kind of music of the standard the majority want to hear. Pop music is an arms race, everyone trying to out do each other, and compete against 100 years of existing back catalogue of pop music. It's very very hard to do that while managing a 9-5 job or a family at the same time.
Those people you refer to at the beginning of your quote aren't the kind of listeners I'm talking about though. Commercial music doesn't make itself, this is true...but it's mostly recycled crap.
That's great, but who is listening?
Again, I don't do music professionally...I release it for free, and expect to make zero money out of it. I do it because I love it. If even just a single person hears it and enjoys it, that's good enough for me.
I could produce a thousand pictures a day, but I would not be an artist.
That depends on your definition of art.
Examine closely the music you like and that your friends like, and see how much was made on zero budget, and does not have any paid advertising or a record company behind it.
The vast majority of the music I listen to is made by either unsigned people making music literally out of their bedrooms or home studios (ambient, chiptunes, etc)...or, it has small labels behind it (dubstep, death metal/black metal, etc.)
My wife, on the other hand...can't really say the same for her:-) She's a mix between bands that everyone has heard of, and bands almost no one has heard of.
Agreed. I've always enjoyed making music, but I didn't start really trying to make it until recently. What got me into it is that I like a specific type of music (spacey ambient) that isn't easily found. A lot of the stuff I have found has either been released for free or I've found through bluemars.org. I wanted to give something back to the community, so I release my stuff for free. When I finally finish one of the three projects I'm currently working on, I'll make them available for purchase...but they will always still be legally available for free.
Getting paid for it would be nice, but I'm more concerned with people actually hearing it rather than paying for it...like you, I'm not trying to make a career out of it. I do it simply because I enjoy it.
What the fuck are you talking about? Music as far back as I can remember has always been a commercial endeavor. From Bach to Chopin to Miley Cyrus. Pop music isn't new. It's just dumber
First, to start answering your question, I'm referring to the fact that you don't have to create "pop" music to become financially successful anymore. At this point, all it takes is talent and patience.
Secondly, to finish answering your question, I'm referring to the fact that one of the side-effects of the Internet (i.e. the ability to connect to everyone) means that someone over in Yugoslavia can hear my music now without the need of a record label or anything else.
It's such a shame that music has been ruined by money.
Oh wait, no it's not. Money and advertising are no longer difficult hurdles to overcome for a talented independent musician. True, modern technology is a big reason why so many musicians are able to get their work out in the wild now, but think how many of those people have been driven to do it on their own due to record companies' douchbaggery.
I'm extremely happy that most of the real talent comes from a random dude in a basement with a homemade vocal booth, or some chick jamming on a synth in a bedroom. Being able to get our own emotions and musical inspirations available to the public so easily (and cheaply!) is, in my opinion, one of the greatest side effects of the Internet.
I was just being funny:) A lot of my memories regarding what it was like when Windows 95 first came around also involve Hover (not because Hover was amazing or anything...just that I associate that game with that point in my inner nerd development)
Your post assumes that Republicans and Democrats aren't working together behind the scenes. I've long advocated that we don't have a two-party system, but a one-party system.
My proof? Whether a Republican or Democrat has been in charge, government has been slowly growing in power and size since this country was founded. In fact, show me how any president has measurably shrunk the overall size and scope of government after getting elected.
Let the citizens fight amongst themselves; it's the easiest way to keep people from actually paying attention.
The politicians couldn't, that I agree with you on...but it isn't the politicians who do these sorts of things. They are nothing but faces. You and I will never see the people who truly run things./tinfoil hat of truth
I understand where you're coming from, but I'm not so sure about the claim about the lack of conservative think tanks.
The Heritage Foundation and The Cato Institute are widely known and have a fairly abundant amount of pull in the conservative community. Those two alone are MASSIVE, and capable of more than most people realize.
All political parties utilize bloggers and forum posters to spread positive messages about their agenda (or negative messages about their "opponents" agenda.) Yup. Talking shit about ourselves...just one more way our country is doing its absolute hardest to fuck itself over from the inside.
PS: I realize that this sort of thing happens all over the world...but I was born, raised, and live in America, so I can only speak for my own country.
Slashdot Mirror
"Quick, Ned! He's comin' right for us!"
"NNNNNNNNOH-NO, OUT OF AMMO"
^^^^this. I was going to suggest taking it sledding, but I think hudson's got the right idea here :-)
I actually checked out your music a while back when you linked to it in a previous story. It's not something I would normally listen to or for that matter knew existed, but I found it really enjoyable for the mood I was in at the time. There are no radio stations in the area playing that genre of music so it's not something that I'd likely stumble across either. I definitely wouldn't mind throwing some money your way whenever you get finished. Thanks for putting it out there.
Thanks for the kind words, I appreciate it :-) I'm glad you enjoyed listening to it!
The only thing broken around here is the RIAA's business model. I imagine they're pissed that their money tree is dying.
It's strange...sometimes, the RIAA does things like trying to tighten their grip further (which makes them look completely oblivious), and then other times they do things that make it clear they understand what is happening, but just refuse to acknowledge it.
Really odd stuff.
I think you misunderstood what I was getting at...allow me to explain.
My music is primarily made as an exploration of different textures...it also happens to be trippy as hell. Because of this, the cannabis subculture seemed like a great place to get exposure. So, for example, I've sent my music to the Dopecast, and the host has played every track I've sent him. He and his listeners have really enjoyed it, because it's the kind of stuff they would want to listen to. (The most recent episode my music has been played on was episode 223...I'm actually working on the finishing touches of another track I'm going to be sending him in a couple of days, so it will likely be on the show sometime in the next month.)
There are podcasts that focus on music, but I was mainly talking about submitting it to podcasts that play music, not necessarily podcasts that are about music. Match up the style music you are making with the style of music that a particular podcast generally plays in the background (or, like the Dopecast, as a musical interlude), and your exposure will increase. It will just be a little bit at a time, but if you send it to the right people, then the right people will be hearing your tunes :-)
That would be an awesome name for an Apple-themed porno...
Why do you think I run Windows? ::rimshot::
Blasphemer!
Avatar as a film is so-so...it's entertaining enough, but it's fairly brainless. That being said, I don't think there has ever been a better movie to show off your home theater. The Blu-Ray looks and sounds amazing on a good TV/sound system.
The Fountain is also an amazing movie to show off your home theater.
That's how powerful the internet is as a distribution method...my music travels through time!
Thank you :-)
I think that it is enough work that it is worth paying someone (like a record company) to do it for you. Other things involved include doing the accounts, keeping and maintaining industry contacts, all the way down to buying paper and other stationary. The record companies are perfectly capable of using these same internet resources too. (And often do without letting people know who is behind it!)
I agree! The guy that lives on the first floor of our apartment complex is a very successful local musician...he makes a lot of his living off his music, even though he hasn't gone big-time yet (he will though...his stuff is too good to be ignored for much longer. Not my kind of music, but it's really well done, especially considering what he has to work with from an equipment perspective.) His room mate basically takes care of the business stuff, so he is free to do the music thing.
I liked your music, even though ambient/electronic kind of stuff is not normally to my taste. There is movement and arrangement to it that stopped the more soundscapey stuff from becoming just wallpaper.
Thank you :-) That really does mean a lot to me. I do it just as a hobby, but having people enjoy it is one hell of a bonus!
Why do you want more people to discover it?
Mainly because I want people to listen to music differently. There are always at least 6-8 layers in all of my songs, and I want people to begin listening to music as individual sounds melded together to create a single experience, rather than just a "song".
If you had the time, money and inspiration, do you think you could create songs that would effectively communicate your joy and understanding about this kind of music?
Inspiration is everywhere for me...from pictures taken by the Hubble to the way it feels when you are halfway between sleeping and awake, I try to take inspiration from anything that evokes a response in me. When I layer together different responses (emotional, physical, and spiritual) from different experiences in my day to day life, out pops my music.
That being said, if more people would slow down and actually listen to music rather than just hear it, then they could pick any of my tracks and be able to feel what I feel. They're all an exploration of how multiple sounds (experiences) are completely different...yet, when put together, they create an entirely new sound (experience) that didn't exist before. ::pause:: I guess kinda like finding your soul mate, in a way. You're both still separate and unique, yet combined you create something that didn't previously exist.
You are assuming that all types of music require a vocal booth and other such things. You would be amazed what someone can create using nothing more than a MIDI controller and some decent software. Again, though...it depends on the kind of music they are creating.
Hahahaha. No, advertising still costs just as much. If you mean having a myspace page, then good luck. Join the millions of other bands no one gives a shit about, and who make zero income from music.
There are methods other than just myspace, you know...and many of them are relatively inexpensive. For example, submitting your music to podcasts is a GREAT way to get exposure. True, you won't get the same kind of exposure as you would with a big record label putting your ads up in a Best Buy, but you also get to own your music...and it's free. There are other methods as well. Flyers, message boards, passing out burned CDs at concerts. It takes more work, but there are other avenues besides record labels.
99.9999999999% of the music people listen to did not come from a bedroom studio. People like this myth of the lone genius producing wonderful music and sharing it in the wonderful new internet age. But.. it just doesn't happen.
That's funny, because that's what I do. I will be the first to admit that the kind of music I make isn't for everyone...it's a very small niche. But that's exactly why I do it...it's a small niche. I want more people to discover it, and that can't happen without more of it being available. My contribution to the ambient and drone scenes may be small...but it's still a contribution.
Commercial music takes work, time and money, and the people making nothing from it do not have the incentive or the time to produce the kind of music of the standard the majority want to hear. Pop music is an arms race, everyone trying to out do each other, and compete against 100 years of existing back catalogue of pop music. It's very very hard to do that while managing a 9-5 job or a family at the same time.
Those people you refer to at the beginning of your quote aren't the kind of listeners I'm talking about though. Commercial music doesn't make itself, this is true...but it's mostly recycled crap.
That's great, but who is listening?
Again, I don't do music professionally...I release it for free, and expect to make zero money out of it. I do it because I love it. If even just a single person hears it and enjoys it, that's good enough for me.
I could produce a thousand pictures a day, but I would not be an artist.
That depends on your definition of art.
Examine closely the music you like and that your friends like, and see how much was made on zero budget, and does not have any paid advertising or a record company behind it.
The vast majority of the music I listen to is made by either unsigned people making music literally out of their bedrooms or home studios (ambient, chiptunes, etc)...or, it has small labels behind it (dubstep, death metal/black metal, etc.)
My wife, on the other hand...can't really say the same for her :-) She's a mix between bands that everyone has heard of, and bands almost no one has heard of.
Agreed. I've always enjoyed making music, but I didn't start really trying to make it until recently. What got me into it is that I like a specific type of music (spacey ambient) that isn't easily found. A lot of the stuff I have found has either been released for free or I've found through bluemars.org. I wanted to give something back to the community, so I release my stuff for free. When I finally finish one of the three projects I'm currently working on, I'll make them available for purchase...but they will always still be legally available for free.
Getting paid for it would be nice, but I'm more concerned with people actually hearing it rather than paying for it...like you, I'm not trying to make a career out of it. I do it simply because I enjoy it.
What the fuck are you talking about? Music as far back as I can remember has always been a commercial endeavor. From Bach to Chopin to Miley Cyrus. Pop music isn't new. It's just dumber
First, to start answering your question, I'm referring to the fact that you don't have to create "pop" music to become financially successful anymore. At this point, all it takes is talent and patience.
Secondly, to finish answering your question, I'm referring to the fact that one of the side-effects of the Internet (i.e. the ability to connect to everyone) means that someone over in Yugoslavia can hear my music now without the need of a record label or anything else.
It's such a shame that music has been ruined by money.
Oh wait, no it's not. Money and advertising are no longer difficult hurdles to overcome for a talented independent musician. True, modern technology is a big reason why so many musicians are able to get their work out in the wild now, but think how many of those people have been driven to do it on their own due to record companies' douchbaggery.
I'm extremely happy that most of the real talent comes from a random dude in a basement with a homemade vocal booth, or some chick jamming on a synth in a bedroom. Being able to get our own emotions and musical inspirations available to the public so easily (and cheaply!) is, in my opinion, one of the greatest side effects of the Internet.
I was just being funny :) A lot of my memories regarding what it was like when Windows 95 first came around also involve Hover (not because Hover was amazing or anything...just that I associate that game with that point in my inner nerd development)
Cool, thanks!
Can't wait to get home and read details about this. Can anyone tell me if they mentioned prices in TFA?
Your post assumes that Republicans and Democrats aren't working together behind the scenes. I've long advocated that we don't have a two-party system, but a one-party system.
My proof? Whether a Republican or Democrat has been in charge, government has been slowly growing in power and size since this country was founded. In fact, show me how any president has measurably shrunk the overall size and scope of government after getting elected.
Let the citizens fight amongst themselves; it's the easiest way to keep people from actually paying attention.
Sorry, should have been more clear: I'm disagreeing with this specific part of the article, not your relaying of its message :-)
The politicians couldn't, that I agree with you on...but it isn't the politicians who do these sorts of things. They are nothing but faces. You and I will never see the people who truly run things. /tinfoil hat of truth
I understand where you're coming from, but I'm not so sure about the claim about the lack of conservative think tanks.
The Heritage Foundation and The Cato Institute are widely known and have a fairly abundant amount of pull in the conservative community. Those two alone are MASSIVE, and capable of more than most people realize.
If one "side" is continues doing it because it has proven to be an effective practice, I can assure you the other "side" is doing it as well.
People seem to forget the way our one-party system works here in America.
All political parties utilize bloggers and forum posters to spread positive messages about their agenda (or negative messages about their "opponents" agenda.) Yup. Talking shit about ourselves...just one more way our country is doing its absolute hardest to fuck itself over from the inside.
PS: I realize that this sort of thing happens all over the world...but I was born, raised, and live in America, so I can only speak for my own country.