Feb 03 2009
Five Thoughts On Making Electronic Music
So a few months ago I served as a panelist for an electroacoustic music competition. It was fun, and quite revealing, and I found myself oscillating (ahem) between joyful giddiness and abject horror as I listened to a big pile of recordings. I’ve been trying to concoct a witty, Letterman-style top ten list that would do justice to my swirling thoughts on composing electronic music that actually works, but I just keep returning to the same five key points:
- Got form and structure?
- Step away from the synth preset! Unless you can employ it with as much panache as Corey.
- Be yourself! I adore Radiohead (*insert band or composer of choice here*) just as much as the next person, but the only ones who will ever really sound like Radiohead are, um….Radiohead.
- Drugs don’t make the music better. At least not while you’re actually creating it, that is. Just say no. Seriously.
- A really awesome idea is a million times better than really awesome gear.
4 responses so far
Excellent list! #5 is applicable widely. So true… and more important than ever. As technology gets cheaper and more widely available gear becomes more plentiful and good ideas remain scarce.
5 is overarching. I knew a guy in atlanta that had a fostex eight track and a bucket of 57s that turned out amazing recordings. It’s not what ya got but getting what you need out what you have.
Wise list! I find 3 the most difficult to achieve. Do you have any receipt?
I agree fully! LEARN the tools inside out and you will be a master in music