senzafineedm

[senzafineedm]

EDM and Monotony: We're at it. Again.

Just having my daily read-through one of my favorite electronic music forums, EDMDistrict, and came across this topic titled, "Why are people liking this?".  Embed in the opening post is Au5's "Singularity" - an artist I do enjoy particularly for his collaborations with Fractal - so my attention is immediately captured and I start reading.

The opening post says (keep in mind this is also from someone who enjoys Au5's work): 

All tracks have its own topic or reason based on which it was created. Now, all genres send us different messages. Trance for example, its message can vary from sadness to happiness, cheerful, motivating and all other sorts of feelings. How about the EDM? A lot of genres are categorized as part of the EDM. I know about moombahton, hardstyle, dubstep, drumstep, drum & bass, big room, chillstep. I can give the same example here as above, but that's not what I intended. EDM genres should be unique for its content, but besides the few artists I really appreciate and this community, everything I heard on the Internet is just monotony. The same track construction technique, everyone is aiming to have a really hard, and I mean, HARD and annoying track with all the credit for its melodicity going to the riff machine and not the artist, and besides this, a lot of illogical high pitched sounds as each track drop (except for some genres which don't have a drop of course) because it's cool. The only artists I appreciate for those high pitched sounds are Knife Party, now THAT sounds decent! Recently every artist is aiming for those characteristics and this is really bad because people actually are searching for those type of tracks! I mean what the hell?! Is the melodic sub-division slowly dying? Where are the good people that enjoy a good melody that turns their skin upside down then bang their head madly to a good bass drop? Let's say there is no bass drop (to stop the generalization) so people would just enter a state of trance because of the awesome track that's playing in the background. [...]

Replied to with:

Now, I barely know Au5's work as an artist but I can safely say that he's good enough to make a track without relying on these cliched features to make it sound 'good'. Ergo, the top producers are realising that it's more profitable to appeal to the lowest common denominator, so they make boring stuff like this. Then, the smaller, less experienced artists think it's ok to do the same because making stuff like this or big room is easier and hey, it's popular right?

It's always fickle saying anything concrete about anything in the artistic field since everything under the rainbow is subjective to taste.  If you tried to voice an opinion as fact about a song, genre, or what have you to someone who didn't see eye-to-eye with you, most likely the other person would have a good laugh at you and walk away.  So what's the problem? Well, the concern here is that EDM is becoming saturated with artists throwing away the value of melody and variety in favor of repetitive, unoriginal bass drops.  While not directly related, it's the same "causation-correlation" stuff that reminds me of the infamous Loudness War.  Feel free to click on that if you don't know what that is.  

And then we have this:

In response to another post made by the topic-starter, this time featuring Au5's "The Reason II":

Clearly the production quality is good, but cmon this is just a rehash of everything that's already been done. Absolutely generic structure. It's a fucking 3 chord song for crying out loud (Ebm Gb Ab). Again, the production is on point; way beyond what I can do. But to say that he is the one to follow for dubstep, glitch, etc is missing the point. We should be aspiring to make great music. Production has already been made as shiny as it can go. The next wave of talent is gonna be the ones that have outstanding production quality with actual musicality. [...] You won't find it in people who got big because they copied what was already big.

I'll risk going off-topic to point out briefly - I've felt more emotion in some three and four-chord songs than I ever have in eight chords or more, and while I'm not personally a fan of songs that utilize the epic chord progression, I'm proud to admit of a few that have used it well enough and still be very engaging, just like the Ebm, Gb, Ab structure mentioned above.  And, seriously? What makes "great music"? That's not for me, or anyone else, to say in absolution, but I do know music without emotion is like a sky void of blue.  

But I'd also like to clarify that there is nothing wrong with drawing inspiration from an artist that heavily influences you and then adding your own style.  When he calls out people who "got big because they copied what was already big", what we're talking about here is outright mimicry, mostly seen in mainstream media.  This isn't surprising, since there's been a stigma associated with most mainstream media for as long as I can remember.  Now, there's another stigma that's been simmering for a little while now.

Most of the more experimental and unique artists that I see now don't even both calling their music "EDM" now, many of them actively claim that their music is not "EDM", even if it technically could be considered EDM.

Why? Because when people think mainstream "EDM" they think of "irrelevant melody lines" leading up to that "epic drop" - the two slices of 30~45 intense seconds in a 5:00 long song that serves as the only reason anyone is willing to listen to it for that long.  Every pop celebrity under the sun is hopping on the EDM band-wagon now, and Trap has also entered the fray, with or without the "whoop-whoop" leads.  The "experimental and unique artists" really do not prefer to be associated with that.  I myself have EDM in my name, but I don't give a damn because electronic dance music is what it is.  It's not electronic TRAP music, or electronic BIG ROOM music, or electronic DUBSTEP music; it is electronic dance music, everything in between.  You can move your body to it, right? Yes, head-bobbing counts.

If I were someone else, I could have written a more extensive rant about this, but my thoughts at the end of the day? Another post -

i never understood why people would even cry a river about this topic. If you don't like it move on and keep an eye out there for the music you like. 

[...]

I seriously do not know why we even waste the energy to talk about this.  Music will continue to do what it always has been since the beginning of time - evolve: it's going to keep transitioning whether or not we like it, in a direction that we may or may not approve of, but there will always be the underground artists trekking on uncommon ground and a mainstream industry that, for the most part, will be looked at with scorn regardless of where they came from or where they're going.  All this discussion about melody & emotion VS. the noise/loudness, the Loudness War excluded, is reminiscent  of situations where you'd turn on your favorite electronic track and have someone such as your grandparents ask you "what that atrocious noise" was. Today's underground may be the next mainstream, for all we know, then what will people think, I wonder?  With the ever-growing popularity of UK Garage duo Disclosure, I've seen absurd comments about a fan expressing their dislike that they were going mainstream, even though they were nowhere near losing their trademark style.  "Big" does not equate to "bad" - Above & Beyond and BT, in my opinion, are two notable examples of this, as they do excellently at making emotionally-driven tracks regardless of their popularity and exposure.  Au5 & Fractal have easily combined an overflow of emotion in their hard bass drops, particularly in their remix of Singularity's "Alone."  This feat isn't even difficult assuming you're serious and sincere in what you do.

We may feel that people are losing sight of what music is/should be, overexposed to songs that consist of one kick drum, a bass, and a synth wailing wildly that makes us ask questions like "Why are people liking this?".  As genuine as that question may be, it's getting nobody anywhere.  Music begins to die when you spit at someone for their taste.  Just keep making what you love and listening to what you love: that's where your message is best portrayed.  The underground is silent but in many cases eloquent when you do hear its voice.  I like to think of the Law of the Conservation of Energy when it comes to musical evolution - the total energy of of an isolated system cannot change, but it is conserved.  Emotion will not die, and neither will the bass drop.  Frankly, I think it's better off that way.  That way everyone will be able to enjoy his own thing.  

I personally adore the likes of Mango, Shingo Nakamura, Dinka, Sergey Alekseev and Valentin, but I love a good drop every now and then.

And I'll end this with this tidbit of info that applies here.

[senzafineedm]

Link for Instrumental DL: https://sandbox.mediafire.com/?veesh52pz7vbe2v

Lyrics (feat: https://soundcloud.com/oceanically):

As the mirror turns,

Watch and learn. 

Colors don't run this way,

Patterns don't fade.

Empires glisten,

but don't dark.

For my mind's sake,

Take my hand.

Eastern rising sun,

Show me where I belong.

Make me feel whole,

wishing dust of gold.

Let's build our own,

of fairy lights are thread.

and if there's nothing left -

Castle ruins,

lost lived dreams.

fill my soul.

Give me strength,

heaven sent.

I have risen, 

I am free

I am free.

_____

_____

SenzaFine

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/SenzaFine/389515471083035?ref=hl

YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/user/AbstractEclipse?feature=mhee

Twitter: http://twitter.com/senzafineedm

[senzafineedm]

I'm breathing in, and slowing down.

______________

Free Download: 

https://soundcloud.com/abstracteclipse/forget-me-not-original-mix

[senzafineedm]

Tracklist:

1. Hatsune Miku -- Star Story (SenzaFine Remix) 2. Daydreaming the Muffled Noises Away (Original Mix) 3. Tiger Striped Cat (Original Mix)

There were two other tracks I meant to be released as well, but one I'm waiting for vocals and other I'm saving for someone else, as well.

SenzaFine YouTube: tinyurl.com/p678qza Tumblr: senzafineedm.tumblr.com/ Twitter: twitter.com/senzafineedm Facebook: www.facebook.com/pages/SenzaFine/…471083035?ref=hl

FutureAnalysis (credit for a lot of the ambiance on track 2!) @futureanalysis

[senzafineedm]

Awesome props to Kaskade for releasing the stems to this track for all to use and have fun with!

This is my take.

SenzaFine

YouTube: http://tinyurl.com/p678qza

SoundCloud: http://soundcloud.com/abstracteclipse

Twitter: http://twitter.com/senzafineedm

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/SenzaFine/389515471083035?ref=hl

Kaskade

www.kaskademusic.com

Remix the soulful original yourself! :]

www.kaskademusic.com/AintGottaLieRemixParts/

[senzafineedm]

Direct DL: https://www.mediafire.com/?egiioigk0hc0ngj

I feel it.  I'm boiling in the heat as we speak.

I have been busy working on the Recolor EP.  One more track left to mix, and it will be up on Soundcloud soonish.

This is a laidback mash-up of two awesome artists.

Happy listening.

Picture Artist: http://www.rebeccamock.com/

Songs used:

Roald Velden -- Dreams (Original Mix) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W5RLElvgm3s

Above & Beyond -- Sun & Moon (Original Mix)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qEa5C3P_GIY

SenzaFine

YOUTUBE: http://tinyurl.com/p678qza

TUMBLR: http://senzafineedm.tumblr.com/

TWITTER: http://twitter.com/senzafineedm

FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/pages/SenzaFine/389515471083035?ref=hl

[senzafineedm]

Itbegins.jpg -- This hybrid EP of Progressive House, Ambient and some combination of the two, is slowly but steadily nearing completion throughout the weeks.

It's dubbed "Recolor." Soundcloud explains it all; I type too much for my own good.

Two track previews are up right now.

[senzafineedm]

I'm still taken aback every day at the amazing support that my remix of JubyPhonic's "Summertime Record" has been given (https://soundcloud.com/abstracteclipse/kagerouproject-summertime).

Today's no different.  I literally just woke up 20 minutes ago, but wao!  With my half-zombified brain, I thank you guys. :]

[senzafineedm]

Recently a reporter asked me how it felt to be returning to the original ground of Woodstock for Mysteryland festival. It caught me off guard a bit and I had to take a moment to think about it.

Electronic Music is having a moment. And we are living in it.

THIS is why it’s so exciting to be...

[senzafineedm]

An uplifting spin on a usually melancholy subject.

DOWNLOAD: https://soundcloud.com/abstracteclipse/shai-dawn-24th-element-go-on-senzafine-remix

ShAi Dawn

https://soundcloud.com/shaidawn

http://www.facebook.com/shaidawnsound

http://www.twitter.com/shaidawn

http://www.youtube.com/shaidawn

24th Element

https://www.facebook.com/pages/24thelement/175679445975604

https://soundcloud.com/24thelement

SenzaFine

YOUTUBE: http://tinyurl.com/p678qza

TWITTER: http://twitter.com/senzafineedm

FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/pages/SenzaFine/389515471083035?ref=hl

SOUNDCLOUD: https://soundcloud.com/abstracteclipse

[senzafineedm]

I spent a little quality time with my favorite Vocaloid, Miku Hatsune.  As the producer of the original version of Packaged is LiveTune.kz, this also turned out to be a remix of one of my favorite artists.

Two birds with one stone. :3

______________

______________

Livetune

http://livetune.jp/

http://livetune.syncl.jp/

SenzaFine

YouTube: http://tinyurl.com/p678qza

http://senzafineedm.tumblr.com/

http://twitter.com/senzafineedm

https://www.facebook.com/pages/SenzaFine/389515471083035?ref=hl

[senzafineedm]

Hi there! I've just recently started a blog, and I intend to post reviews of lesser known producers and their works. I was wondering if you'd like to be the first to be featured.

It's an intriguing idea, Yoshi. Go for it! Just give me a heads up if you can when you get it up and running so I can follow that ish.~

[senzafineedm]

SenzaFine -- Make Me Alive feat. RomyHarmony (Original Mix)

Check out what's new (or, kinda...)!  

I feel like I waited too long to set this track free, but I can't go back in time and change things.  It's up and alive on SoundCloud, finally, my latest featuring RomyHarmony (who also sang in Time Has Come) on the vocals. :]

Links to both Romy's and my stuff are on the SoundCloud page (just click the song title).

As always, happy listening.  Hope everyone has a good week.~

[senzafineedm]

My internet was down for a day . . .

. . . and it felt like a week.  This is probably some kind of sign.  Not sure if good or bad.

I'm sitting on a couple mixes before I throw them onto SoundCloud and/or YouTube, but they'll be out in the open really soon.  Okay, well, maybe not that soon, considering it takes me two days (I'm not joking) to download a 10MB file.  Thankfully, upload speeds seem to be normal.

Fact is, until the technician guys are through with fixing kinks in the wiring, I'm practically on dial-up. :c

[senzafineedm]

SenzaFine -- Time Has Come feat. RomyHarmony (Original Mix) is now a Beatport Exclusive track.  

PHW & Friends 004 is the 4th installment of ProgressiveHouseWorldwide's release of aspiring Progressive House artists all over the world.  Time Has Come's Beatport page and other artist's contributions to the compilation are linked below.  Time Has Come has also been remastered, which means HIGH. DEFINITION. QUALITY! d(O_O)b

To all my fans, the beauty of being an underground artist is that it's that much easier to get in touch with each of you.  It's a pretty awesome thing to be able to do.  Thank you guys, and thanks as always for listening in. :]

PHW & Friends 004

http://www.beatport.com/release/phw-and-friends-004/1261118

SenzaFine -- Time Has Come feat. RomyHarmony (Original Mix)

http://www.beatport.com/track/time-has-come-original-mix/5234379

RomyHarmony (Vocalist)

http://www.romyharmony.com/

https://soundcloud.com/romyharmony

SenzaFine

https://soundcloud.com/abstracteclipse

ProgressiveHouseWorldwide

http://progressivehouseworldwide.com/

https://soundcloud.com/progressivehouseworldwide

[senzafineedm]

SenzaFine -- Sapiophile (Original Mix)

Sapiophile (n.) A neologism that defines unusually strong attraction toward intelligence or intelligent people.

SenzaFine YouTube: tinyurl.com/p678qza Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/abstracteclipse Twitter: twitter.com/senzafineedm Facebook: www.facebook.com/pages/SenzaFine/…471083035?ref=hl

[senzafineedm]

SenzaFine -- Once In Our Blue Moon This isn't what I expected to push me out of writer's block, but hey, I'll take it! I was working off of some #Nujabes (R.I.P.) influence with this track... Sit back, relax, and happy listening.

SenzaFine YouTube: tinyurl.com/p678qza Soundcloud: www.soundcloud.com/abstracteclipse Twitter: twitter.com/senzafineedm Facebook: www.facebook.com/pages/SenzaFine/…471083035?ref=hl