Universal Music

Music should be a Universal.  Instead we have this conception of labeling things by "Genre".  A "Genre" is a way to classify songs accordingly.  It's similar to using "Black or White", "Gay or Straight" and "Catholic or Muslim".  How did I come to this correlation and is this true?

I see "Genre" as form of segregation/discrimination.  Any type of labeling system people use to classify a person, a persons works or a persons ideas/thinking is a form of labeling.  Labeling can have more cons than pros.  For instance, most view R&B (Rhythm & Blues) as a Black type of sound.  Most view Rock as a White type of sound.  When a person view Iggy Azalea, they view her as a wigger (a person trying to be Black or do a Black thing).  The same goes for artists like Lenny Kravitz.  His style of music is rock and most will view him as a Black artists trying to be White.

This endless classification can do more harm than good.  It also can create a phobia or dislike.  One artist that comes to mind is George Michaels.  After his forced coming out party...GM hasn't been able to produce a hit record.  The view of George Michaels is a Gay man faking to be straight.  These are some example of how an added stereotype of Age, Religion, Sex, Sexual Preference, Race or Origin can affect an artist.

While this has affected some artists, others have found growth.  A great example of this is RuPaul or Adam Lambert.  Neither artist lied about their sexuality, yet neither artist has been affected much.  RuPaul has aligned herself with a huge gay following, but RuPaul is also a Dance artist.  Adam Lambert doesn't rely on his gay sexual preference nor does he express that out loud.  Adam Lambert and his fans know.  His genre is an open genre (POP).  Because Adam Lambert's choice of genre is POP, he is in a genre that doesn't critic your sexual choice.

Now some will try to contradict this entire post with examples of Gay/Rap artist, Straight/Gay Music Artist and so on.   Just keep in mind, a Gay/Rap artist such as Frank Ocean, isn't as famous as Lil Wayne.  The same can be said about Barbra Streisand.  She is the worlds highest selling Female Artist and gays flock to her like a moth to a fame, yet you rarely her music in a gay club unless it's a drag performance.  Even Madonna has taken heat because of her age and her main genre Dance/Club doesn't care to view a grandma on stage. (oops)

Added stereotypes of Age, Religion, Sex, Sexual Preference, Race, Origin, personal attitudes, speech impairments, negative/positive word usage and dress attire have factored into the idea "Is this artist an artist I want to here or an artist I will never care to here".  To live life on a stereotype is to block yourself from learning and enjoying the fruits this life can offer.  The world is a diverse place why should anyone segregate it any further with the classification called a "Genre".

On a side note... there are other things that complication the thought:  Music should be Universal.  The debates of live Instruments vs. Computer Made VST/AU's, the Loops and Samples debate, the Performer and Ghost Performer, the Stage Performer and the Stay at Home Performer, The Bar Performer and the Club Performer, the Lip Sync Performer and the Actual Performer and on and on.

I thought Music was Universal, but it's not.  To N'joy a sound is to accept the sound for being what it is...a sound.

The lonely road

It's been almost 5 years (as per RouteNote) since I ventured into music on my own [now this does not include the 2 years of photography and video of events].  In these years i've had my ups and i've had my downs.  As an independent artist, 521 Tracks in a catalog may seem like an achievement, but in the real world...it's nothing more than a hobby-a junk draw of failed attempts to build a stable career.

I've been asked "What do you want?"  Are you doing this for Fame?  Are you doing this for Money? Are you doing this to live a dream?  Are you doing this to waist time?  What goals do you have in mind when you create a song and release a song?

To settle the endless people that refuse to pay attention to what I say and what they hear:  I am doing this because "I want to succeed in all the above".  I've never stated one answer over the other.

At one time, there was this playlist I created called "Save The Next Person".  It was an idea given to me by a business partner.  The focus of this 4 year old playlist was to generate enough money to save my home.  As a result, it too became a huge failure in it's own right.  I didn't have the knowhow to make it successful nor did I have the support needed for this playlist to gain traction.

Like most my attempts in music...A song is released, gains momentum, I hit a few minor charts and then the drop.  I've listened closely for feedback, but every person has something hypocritical to say or the direction they are giving will lead to the same dead end.

Five years later, I learned a lot about sound, about music and about those around me.  Sound is extremely diverse and unlike the naysayers sound can be intrepid differently person to person.  Music is extremely universal and diverse.  There isn't a right or wrong way to create a song.  There isn't a set of instructions that one must follow.  Some songs can be 30 seconds long while others can be over 20 minutes long.  I learned they are undependable and would rather help a total stranger than myself.

If this make me sound bitter, ungrateful, needy or like a quitter...  who gives a F*** what you think. In the end...I am the only one traveling this road.

It's been a long time since my last post.  So much has happened.  From being in the top 10 placement on DJ Alesso's Worldwide "Collaborative" Playlist.  I've also been promoting a good friend and fellow Artist: AJ Evans smash HIT, "Lifted".  Check it out.  It's on your left side of this page.  Also remember to follow my hugely successful and original playlist "M-entals".