Week 4 Podcast

Week 4 Podcast

Week 4 Entry-Kanye West

I chose to profile Kanye West for this blog.  Kanye West is a mainstream hip-hop producer.  While Kanye West has had a huge influence on music, he is known for being controversial.  Kanye West got his start local and soon caught the attention of iconic rapper Jay Z. In 2000 Kanye produced an instrumental for Jay Z and was called back there after to produce more of his music.  Kanye is known to sample classic R&B and has established this style as his own brand. Kanye West is the sampling king. This signature sound earned him production credits on a lot of artist albums. He produced for many names in hip-hop.  His establishments and Grammys is a very long list. Kanye wanted to rap, but his boss who was Jay Z didn’t think that Kanye fit the description of what a rapper should be. Kanye was from the suburbs. Kanye West finally released his own album and changed the face of hip-hop. He impacted hip-hop by making it ok for non-gangsters to do. He rapped about controversial issues in society.  I have a lot of respect for him because when I listen to his music I can hear the hard work and effort that he put into it.  I think that he has added culture and variety to hip-hop. His sampling style is what makes him such a big role player in hip-hop music.  The way he puts music together is astounding to me.  I actually like him when he is rapping as well. As a listener I have all of his albums and I wish to maybe one-day work with him. I love his style and I love the fact that he says what he wants, even though it may cause controversy. As an industry professional I like his current movement with his label G.O.O.D. Music, but I like what it stands for more Getting Out Our Dreams. 

Electronic Music Innovation

I am blown away by all musical innovations. There are some really hi tech, useful, and great innovations to electronic music. The one I feel that is most important to my career and future in music production is MIDI. I know cliché, but it is true. I want to produce Hip Hop and R&B and I also want to possibly produce sounds for video games. I make beats and I don’t play any instruments except digitally. I know music and I play by ear and what I learned in Music Theories courses. MIDI makes it possible for me to play music digitally and use a library of instrument from one controller. I find that not only important to my future music profession, but also really amazing. It is intriguing.  It has evolved the way we record music.  It molded a new era in music recording. In 1982 MIDI was announced but appeared on an actual instrument in 1983. The instrument that was first used with MIDI was the Sequential Prophet-600, and then came the Roland JX3P. Not only does MIDI have an impact on recording but also on stage performances. I love studio musicians as well but MIDI opens up opportunity for producers of today to have a chance to make beautiful music without being a musical geniuses. Music is feeling and expression and everyone expresses different.  As a user of MIDI it directly impacts me. If I did not have this wonderful innovation to electric music I could not produce my own beats in my home. I probably wouldn’t be taking online courses for music production. My creativity would also be limited.  As an industry professional this innovation affects me even more because this is my job, MIDI is how I am learning, how I make music for passion and hopefully will assist my attempt to procreate revenue. 

Electronic Music

The music of Kraftwerk is innovative. They used electronic instruments to produce a futuristic robot sounding music. Their image was very clean cut and one would call them professionals. Kraftwerk dressed in suits with their hair slick backed. In my personal opinion they lacked commercial or mainstream appeal.  Regardless of their physical appearance, their electronic music innovations left a footprint in the music industry, and paved the way for use of synthesizers and electronic instruments to be utilized today. Their first notable album Autobahn was successful for their 22 minute single in which they composed electronic instruments with incorporation of lyrics in German. This album was conceptual. The concept was travel on the highway in an automobile.  I personally can see the work they put into the musical composition but the lyrics were very basic and lacked substance. I believe that their songwriting could have used a little work.  Their second album was Radioactivity based on radioactive energy and the radio. Then there after was the release of Trans-Europe Express, which was also a conceptual album. Trans-Europe Express was based on travel through Europe by train. Some of the instruments even mimicked the sound of a train.  Kraftwerk is the biggest influence on electronic music because they were not afraid to step out of the box. Their use of synth and electronic instruments and album concepts make them the biggest influence.  They often had custom electronic instruments made specifically for them. I believe that this factor gave them one up to be innovators as well.  The impact that Kraftwerk has left on me as a listener is very small. I love the fact that they were true to the music that they wanted to do but beside the experimentation with electronic instruments, I do not like nor understand the music they made. As an industry professional on the other hand, I appreciate their innovation of electronic music. Without Kraftwerk I probably wouldn’t be an industry professional dealing with synths, ambient sounds, and electronic instrumentation. So there is a level of respect that I pay to Kraftwerk for their innovations and impact on not only electronic music but also any music made electronically. 

What's Going On Podcast- Marvin Gaye

Campbell Shayna Podcast Project 1

Whats Going On

Marvin Gaye’s music and image before was less political before he recorded What’s Going On. He mostly was involved with loving R&B style music. There were so many bad things that influenced this album. The influences for What’s Going On were the war, police beatings, and violence.  Frankie Gaye who was Marvin Gaye’s brother had survived 3 years of active duty in the military. After Frankie Gaye returned home from war he spoke of his terrors that he had dealt with during the war with his brother Marvin Gaye.  Marvin Gaye was haunted by the stories, but was also compassionate and empathetic for the sufferings of people. When Marvin Gaye was finally finished recording What’s Going On, then he ran into big problems when it came to releasing the album. Berry Gordy his brother in law who was Quality Control said the album was the worst and refused to release it. Marvin Gaye then refused to make any more records until What’s Going on is released.  He even attempted to play professional football in the meantime.  I think that the lyrics along with the studio musicians made this album the success it was. The sound of this album is incredible. The music that is played not only beautifully but also in some cases effortlessly according to the alto sax player that was sent home after Marvin Gay recorded his warm up. The lyrics sound really good with the musical compositions. The lyrics meant something and were heart felt and true. Seeing that the lyrics were all too real is probably the controversy that Berry Gordy was trying to avoid. Instead people actually loved the album. As a listener this album is very mellow and right up my alley. I love the sound and instrumentations. I also wish that his music would have more impact. We could use the love and peace that was put into this album, in the world today. As an industry professional I am inspired that my music can mean something and to never be afraid to stand up for what is right. 

The Velvet Underground & Nico

The music that was created by the band The Velvet Underground & Nico created a rebellious image. They were in my opinion the image of what rock and roll artist would eventually embrace. Their lyrics and song were unorthodox as they usually included lyrics about topics such as drug use/abuse, sex and prostitution. I think that their intention was mostly self-expression, but they also wanted to make an outstanding statement by going against the grain in their music. Some of their songs often clashed instrumentally, but I can most definitely understand how they can be considered amongst the most influential rock bands to date. They made it not so unorthodox to speak about subjects that were also experiences of theirs that involved topics that pertained to the evils of the world, so to speak. Group founders John Cale and Lou Reed had no intentions to make people happy in their music. Cale actually had the intention of the exact opposite. Lou Reed was more of the songwriter storyteller. John Cale being music major was more aware of the actual sound of the music or as some would say lack thereof. They were the obvious leaders of The Velvet Underground & Nico.  Both Cale and Reed had a sense of musical talent. Andy Warhol is the guy that pretty much mad them happen financially. His role was sponsor. He paid for their recording sessions. He also helped out on the artistic aspect featuring the band in his multiple visual arts ventures. Making their musical image seen visually. I believe the Velvet Underground’s lyrical themes and pairing of art and music is what set the Velvet Underground apart from other bands in the 1960’s. Their music was not rapidly understood, therefore contributing to the lack of commercial popularity at first. When listeners that could relate gave their support, they achieved more success. This band may have opened the door for uncensored music. As a listener I don’t care for the sound but I can appreciate the lyrics. As an industry professional Velvet Underground was necessary for progression of rock and roll rebellion.