“I have decided to write a multi-chapter blog on this topic. In the first chapter, we discuss the changes in the music industry and how that has affected the quality of music through time.”
From Modern Music Sucks, an MPC blog by Alex Fiddes, Sept. 26, 2021.
Well, here we are in 2024, and your faithful MPC blog writer has convinced the very busy Alex and the equally busy Kelly McNamee (singer, composer, actor, filmmaker, mother of Goldie and wife of Alex) to have a conversation about the next topic Alex had planned for his “Modern Music Sucks” series.
“There are hundreds of thousands of incredible musicians out in the world, more than ever in fact; you just have to look for them. Artists are everywhere now, all thanks to the freedoms that come with digital distribution, and this will be the topic of my next blog.” Part 1 of “Modern Music Sucks”, 2021
Q: Where does the idea that modern music sucks come from?
Alex: It’s really very subjective. People hear the industry music, modern data research stars and they think that’s all there is. What’s on radio is the tiny tip of the iceberg about what’s available and what’s happening. There is so much more out there.
Years ago, the radio was one of the biggest sources of listening. Otherwise, it was newspapers, and word of mouth in order to find out local bands to go to see. Now Spotify has tens of millions of songs that you have instant access to.
Kelly: What we’re attuned to hearing makes a difference in how we interpret quality. There are certain sounds that become trendy that if you’re not used to hearing them, you’re just going to shut down.
We used to develop music just from a live performance perspective. In my band, Lunar Bloom, (www.lunarbloomband.com) we perform the songs live many times before recording. That’s when it settles in the body; that’s how we know how it’s reading and reaching. Music is often made now from a studio recording standpoint. Neither is good or bad but very different.
Q: So how have distribution methods changed what we listen to?
Alex: - Spotify plays everything that is related. I play album after album – then I hear something that really hits me and that’s how I discover a new artist.
Kelly: It’s easier to make music now. With Spotify and Apple Music you can get your music out there. In the radio days a very select few got their music heard.
Alex: And daily there are thousands of YouTube videos being uploaded. A handful of artists have their careers on YouTube. For example, check out musician and comedian, Bo Burnham, who became one of the first YouTube stars.
Kelly: The accessibility of social media has meant that artists have the ability to find really niche markets. Sometimes being super niche is really helpful as you can really connect with an audience.
Q: Do most of us tend to listen to what is familiar to us?
Kelly: Everyone likes a song that they know. Even if you don’t really like the song, you’ll sing it! The music you like most is likely to be from the time when you had the most space to take it in. (Not when raising young children, we all agree!)
Alex: But some of the best artistry defies genres or similarities with other artists. Sometimes what is special is something very new. For some people, new means instant rejection. I often hear: “I didn’t like it at first, but now I love it.”
Q: What can we do to lose our preconceptions about modern music?
Alex: My advice would be to check out streaming software and listen to an album you already know. Then just let your streaming software do its thing and keep listening. After the familiar album it will play other things that are connected and related to it in energy, in ambience. That’s my number one way that I connect to new artists.
Kelly: A good way to really appreciate music is to listen with the lyrics up. Then you will see the poetry, the artistry. Try different genres. And if you do like an artist, you could buy from the online store, Bandcamp, or buy vinyl.
Alex: Then you can try deep listening with headphones and no distractions. My recommendation when you hear a new song or new artist is to give it some time to process. Sit with it and you might surprise yourself how much it can impact you, especially if it is a newer song, and how much you can grow to love it. It’s a choice you have to make in your head.
Q: What’s your conclusion to this chapter of “Modern Music Sucks”?
Alex: Try not to be swayed. Find your own thoughts and keep an independent mind, so you can discover what the musician is trying to do.
Kelly: Be curious for another five minutes.
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