I haven't been posting here much the past few month because, to be honest, I've gotten pretty bored of trance and other forms of dance music. I still listen to it every so often, but for some reason nothing really captivates me much anymore because mostly all genres have gotten to that point where innovation is minimal.
Which leads me to my three gripes with the industry right now and the way it's run. I'm wondering what some of the long timer guys on here have to say about these points (guys like System-J, EddieZilker, etc.)...if they ever raised these same thoughts as I'm doing right now.
1) Across all genres there is no quality control at all.
And this is not because Beatport and Trackitdown post up loads of garbage every day for sale by default -- it's because it seems like every producer is in a race to release as many tracks as possible without giving a about their quality.
Instead, I browse Beatport sometimes and notice that some of my favorite producers have thrown out forgettable remixes re-released on 20 different no-name labels between their original songs. Why can't producers just take their time and put out QUALITY music every couple months instead of just throwing as much as they can at a wall and hoping it sticks? Slow things down...
The only guy I can think of who actually takes his time between tracks is Lee Foss, and he has done some good work over the past year or so. But everyone else just releases way too much all the time, and it's impossible to keep up with. Labels can't even promote that well this way. Instead of "here's the build up for so and so's latest single, which is coming next month", it's "quick download _____ OUT NOW!!! with support by Tiesto and Armin". Then the next day they post the same promotional flyer but swap the name out with another track.
2) Dance music has become too predictable in terms of song structure.
This isn't as much of a problem in some of the more freeform genres like ambient and tech-house, but does every other genre have to follow such strict guidelines? Every trance song goes like this:
intro
build
breakdown/build
mainlead
outro
**Additional note: must be 6-7 minutes in length **
Why can't producers make short 3-4 minute songs? Why can't they make songs with different chorus structures or intro and outro parts?
The reason why I think this is a problem is because producers just don't think people listen to dance music outside of a club environment. This is why every trance song is written like some hands-in-the-air anthem...they think that DJ's will only use their track when it's done to captivate arenas. It doesn't always work that way. What ends up happening is that people don't play these songs in big rooms and the masses get a glut of boring, predictable anthems to listen to in their bedrooms or while commuting.
Some of my favorite dance music songs the past few years are the rare ones that are written as if they're intended not to be played in clubs.
3) Producers are too scared to use different sounds.
This is a problem in all genres. Trance is boring right now because there's nothing left you can really do with a synth setup, so you hear the same pluck/saw melodies and background material. I'm noticing this happening in other genres too...dance music needs to become less electronic in parts. God forbid, someone could actually:
- Use bass percussion that doesn't sound so synthetic. Every bass kick in trance sounds like someone is hitting a stick on a block of wood. Maybe we could see some new drum sounds performed by live in-studio drummers?
- Use different vocal or sampling styles. No more generic female voices or chopped up ah-ah-ah-a-a-a-a samples in trance breakdowns. Write lyrics that are about things other than love, or in tech-house, ing someone.
- Use different instruments on top of synth patterns, angelic voices, orchestral chords, etc in trance. Tech-house could try to be more electronic or something. But as a whole everyone is afraid to try something different.
Tech-house uses too many deep male vocal samples and claps/finger snaps. Every wobble in dubstep sounds the same. Every chunky synth pattern in house sounds the same...and few actually think outside the box. Part of the reason why mainstream rap is so hated today is because the genre is suffering from this exact problem...every rap producer keeps putting their hands into the same rusty toolbox...so you end up getting the same dull beats over and over again.
Thanks for reading my long, rambling rant. Agree/disagree with any of the points?
enydo
I agree that you should write a novel.
Possibly a blog.
Blogvel, start a trend. Be a leader.
Guest
I read the whole post, that must count for something
This doesn't really bother me anymore because I've learned to find good music that is largely free of such problems.
montana
i'm not disagreeing with you osterzone but here is a newsflash for you: people have been saying this about every genre and subgenre.
people even said that rock and roll was getting to formulaic. some of motowns biggest hits use the same chords, almost the same melodies, the same harmonies and same lyrics. and i'm not talking about when they did versions of songs, just proper lazy songwording by holland/dozier/holland and whatnot.
but about the trackstructure in electronic music, that is what happens when you have non-musician and djs making music, they want a track that starts with raw beats, have a meaty melodic middle and end with raw beats and then when trained musicians started music that was melodic you had lazy djs not supporting that and complaining about the lack of mixability or that they cant work it or whatever ing reason.
Trance-MB
quote:
Originally posted by osterzone
I haven't been posting here much the past few month because, to be honest, I've gotten pretty bored of trance and other forms of dance music. I still listen to it every so often, but for some reason nothing really captivates me much anymore because mostly all genres have gotten to that point where innovation is minimal.
Your not even a real TA, why the hell did you post that much over here?
quote:
And this is not because Beatport and Trackitdown post up loads of garbage every day for sale by default -- it's because it seems like every producer is in a race to release as many tracks as possible without giving a about their quality.
I know for sure that producers who try and are very serious about their work won't be recognized to be. See below the track my friend made. He worked at this one "for years" and now has managed a release. I bet comments would be like many other recent tracks. So it doesn't really make a difference what the producers do. And like I mentioned many times over here, about everything already has been tried or done, there is nothing new to expect.
quote:
Instead, I browse Beatport sometimes and notice that some of my favorite producers have thrown out forgettable remixes re-released on 20 different no-name labels between their original songs. Why can't producers just take their time and put out QUALITY music every couple months instead of just throwing as much as they can at a wall and hoping it sticks? Slow things down...
Welcome in 2011. Noticed who fast new cellphones or smartphones are made?
quote:
The only guy I can think of who actually takes his time between tracks is Lee Foss, and he has done some good work over the past year or so. But everyone else just releases way too much all the time, and it's impossible to keep up with. Labels can't even promote that well this way. Instead of "here's the build up for so and so's latest single, which is coming next month", it's "quick download _____ OUT NOW!!! with support by Tiesto and Armin". Then the next day they post the same promotional flyer but swap the name out with another track.
Bull and you know it. Plenty producers who don't make new tracks every month or get famous DJ support.
quote:
This isn't as much of a problem in some of the more freeform genres like ambient and tech-house, but does every other genre have to follow such strict guidelines?
Why can't producers make short 3-4 minute songs? Why can't they make songs with different chorus structures or intro and outro parts?
Easy, radio version often sound like they are chopped. Ever noticed many people search for long versions? I used to make short tracks longer because I thought they were too short, wanted the enjoy it much longer.
quote:
The reason why I think this is a problem is because producers just don't think people listen to dance music outside of a club environment. This is why every trance song is written like some hands-in-the-air anthem...they think that DJ's will only use their track when it's done to captivate arenas. It doesn't always work that way. What ends up happening is that people don't play these songs in big rooms and the masses get a glut of boring, predictable anthems to listen to in their bedrooms or while commuting.
Some of my favorite dance music songs the past few years are the rare ones that are written as if they're intended not to be played in clubs.
Most trance is listened outside clubs, always has been like that. Pure trance clubs still are difficult to find.
"Seven days and one week" or "Children" don't sound like they were intended to be played in clubs, but it in the clubs where they were played first.
quote:
This is a problem in all genres. Trance is boring right now because there's nothing left you can really do with a synth setup, so you hear the same pluck/saw melodies and background material. I'm noticing this happening in other genres too...dance music needs to become less electronic in parts.
Strange, as my friend still puts a lot of his spare time in making music next to his daily job and now being a father. As far as I know he still is enjoying what he's doing and I'm pretty sure he has been listing trance much longer than you. So if producers like him still aren't bored yet....
quote:
Thanks for reading my long, rambling rant. Agree/disagree with any of the points?
It's not that I totally disagree, but it's not all black or white.
I just used my friend as example as I can't speak for other producers. Here is his latest track which I think would meet your arguments for complaining, but if you would know more about him and the track you maybe would have another opinion, regardless that it still sounds like it does.
I think you can compare it to a painters work. It's much more interesting when you know the story behind it.
By the way, he also made a chillout remix with a live guitar. How many producers do make chillout remixes of their own tracks?
, I'm in a way too serious mood today...
nefardec
quote:
Originally posted by osterzone
The only guy I can think of who actually takes his time between tracks is Lee Foss
LOL
how many producers do you know? 10? 15?
I think that's your problem.
bas
I agree with a lot of what you say, but if you think this is unique to dance music you're sorely mistaken.
