Right now my gear status is in a state of limbo, and I'm about to
(finally) mix down my album, so my thoughts turn to a change in
music-making protocol, the necessity of which I have become increasingly
aware. Basically, I've refined my formula for making (putative) drum 'n'
bass, and I've learned a lot in doing so, but it's time for me to move
on, and use what I've learned to make more accessible music. I'm no
stranger to conscious changes in musical direction,-- three years ago I
consciously decided to veer away from the (putative) hip-hop I was
making and focus my efforts on drum 'n' bass. Only problem was, I didn't
go to parties and there weren't and dnb record shops in my area; all I
had were a handful of eclectic cds and my own ersatz opinions on what
drum 'n' bass *should* sound like. This changed almost exactly one year
ago when I first had access to internet radio, and was able to hear what
mainstream, contemporary dnb actually *sounded* like.
The main problem most people have with my music is the rhythm, and
as little desire as I have to bend over backwards to satisfy these
people, my rhythms are nearly unmixable. Today I listened to Konflict's
"Messiah,"- I would say that this and my own "If Soul Is Strong Enough"
are equally drum-programming intensive, but are worlds apart in the
aural effect they create. What I need to do is harness and distill my
syncopation into something more palatable to the general public
(although I maintain they sound fine to me.) If I can maintain the same
rhythmic interest and at the same time use squarer, more "on-the-grid"
rhythms, I'll have succeeded. There's also another technological aspect
to my music that needs to be addressed, and that's the fact that my
music making hasn't gotten out of the '80s. I had a record label owner
come over to my house, and his main problem with the way I make music
(besides the fact I still use sample disks) was that it was 99% MIDI,
with the audio component relegated to mixdown stage decision-making. He
basically said "You've gone as far as you can with MIDI, now it's time
to tackle audio." I imagine this way of working would have far-reaching
consequences for my music.
My own insouciance about what other people thought about my music
and how it qualifies as drum 'n' bass has gotten me in trouble on this
very mailing list. As proud as I am of the material I've created
heretofore (collected in the 2xcd "Linear Response,") I am equally fond
of the sounds of current dnb. Basically, it's time for me to stop making
solipsistic jungle and start making *drum 'n' bass*.
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