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Holworks
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11/26/2008 7:16:19 AM
Is it Important to stick to one style?
I am having difficulties with how some songs come to my head but are not songs that I would normally play or sing. Is it better to stick to one style or allow songs like Slipper, Brown Goddess, and Spider Dance to be created? I know it would be easier to identify me as a Rock guy or Acoustic, Dance, etc if I did stick to one style yet I cannot help myself with how songs come to me, the beat, melody, or words. Can anyone help me with this?
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Tony Vani and Debbie Hoskin
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11/26/2008 7:54:44 AM
People have told me that I should stick to a gendre. I've written songs in all genres. I've had songs that have had a lot of radio play in Canada. The problem is, you develop a following on a certain genre and then disappoint people when you do something other than what they expect. Then you lose your following.
I have not been able to cater to this in my musical career. I can't be a slave to what people want, especially when I am creating. It's impossible for me to do. That is not what is going on in my head, when a song comes to me. Deb
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11/26/2008 8:29:00 AM
ok here's my answer to your question.
I personally let songs come out any way they want to. :) I had a song that sounded like a dance tune called Love is a Disease which later became Contagious. I got a song in my head that sounded like Mick Jagger singing country music and that became "Don't Be Tuggin' on my Heartstrings". Righteous Girl is obviously based on early 70s soul music.
Now, you have to have some boundaries though. I've done songs that were so far out they would be a bad fit on a record. If your muse takes you places that are more experimental and not for outside ears, keep those tunes for later, see if they end up popping back up down the road and use them then.
All my favorite artists do what they want to do and don't take requests.
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Andy Broad
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11/26/2008 8:29:19 AM
---- Updated 11/26/2008 8:32:00 AM
There no point putting artificial limits on your self. If you get an idea for a song that outside what you usually do and you like it persue it. You might need to perform it in different context, perhaps even pass it on to someone else to perform.
Some genres (mabe all genres) can take a lot of study and performance to understand, but that doesn't mean you should limit yourself to them. Don't limit your breadth but don't neglect the depths would be throwaway one liner for this topic I'd say.
If you check out my songs you'll find some very in my main genre (blues/jazz) some that strech a little way ("pretty nose") and some much more ("Vibe Hop" or "Three o'Clock").
Sticking to labels make selling yourself easier but the most succsessful createive artist define new labels (easier said than done unless your a genius :-))
[edit]fixed typos[/edit]
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Hop On Pop
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11/26/2008 8:34:39 AM
I hope it's not important.
Because I can't do it.
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Holworks
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11/26/2008 9:39:59 AM
Thanks every one of you foe helping. I guess I should have said genre instead of style as it makes more sense. Regardless, I appreciate YOU!!!!
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SILVERWOODSTUDIO
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11/26/2008 1:12:26 PM
Some good thoughts here!
We cover 13 different genres! yes it does annoy some folks but this is how music is going IMO----
the 'one style' certainly helps for marketing ---but our approach is from an "Arts" perpective---and it spreads a wider net----our true fans love specific songs, and that seems to be ok ---they just listen to their faves!!
Funny that our MOST popular song (number of plays over time) is our 4 track recording of "HAIRDRESSERS" even though we have a later digital version better recorded-----
but----- putting them on a CD, I would be careful to put similar genres together to get a flow----and use wav files not MP3s
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M.Steele
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11/27/2008 9:41:38 AM
what's important is YOUR style.
whatever's in you should be allowed to come out.
one's "genre" is one's self.
Myke
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Duane Flock
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11/27/2008 10:02:21 AM
I try to do everything differently because I think sounding the same gets to be too "cookie cutter". Kinda like the mainstream music you hear now on the Radio. We all have our own "styles" that will always mark your work as recognizably YOUR material. Your vocals, guitar settings, personal riffs, ect.
To me it's just boring to put out the same stuff over and over. Part of being an Indie is the freedom to experiment without being told what to play. Bending the rules and thinking "outside the box" makes for total self-expression and satisfaction. We are all our own worst critics just by being musicians, by it's always gratifying to get a few thumbs up from fellow artists. That's when you know you're doin' something right.
We'll be listening,
D.
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Conversation Suicide
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11/28/2008 12:52:42 AM
Just gotta echo it.
Larree's comment rules --- "My songs are ALL in the same style, MY style !!!!"
-pHLeGm < great thread, by the way... >
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Jesse Adams
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11/28/2008 9:12:49 PM
It's important to stay true to yourself.
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Jeff Allen Myers
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11/28/2008 11:09:22 PM
To me, the song Dictates the style, I never start from the position of writing in a particular style. I just posted an acoustic song that came out more of a 'singer songwriter" seventies type song. Not that I had that in mind. The acoustic, voice, and melody ended up taking it in that direction.
We are all made up of different influences that show up in our songs...Our influences are like our DNA. Even tho you are prone to being a certain way, your environment and circumstances influence what you become. The old "Nature versus Nurture" paradigm. I think it applies to music as well :)
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Beth Fridinger
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11/28/2008 11:25:51 PM
This is very difficult because I do a real mix of music, folk, rock, blues, country....I can't keep all my songs the same and in the same genre...what I think I might do is categorize them on different CDs...so I might put certain songs on certain CDs together...as well as having a CD with everything on it...I do have my own style apart for being in multiple genres. I think I would be bored to death to stay in one genre...but I hope that my fans tend to like the same group of genres that I like...and there is a certain flow to my voice that is consistent throughout.
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Holworks
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12/1/2008 10:27:02 AM
I had to say THANKS again for all of your wise old owl comments!
This is a tremendous validation of what I inherently knew was correct.
Whatever I think is me, . . .gracias.
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Black Velvet Lace
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12/1/2008 10:55:28 AM
I was thinking about the question and how it is probably different for original artists vs cover band musician/singers. For the former I would think one should let the creative juices flow in whatever manner they flow. If they cross genres, so be it. Just keep like genres with like when compiling CDs as Beth points out. For the latter, versatility across different genres can be your strength, as a night out listening to one band/artist performing in the same genre for several hours might get boring.
Just my 2 cents.
~Lace~
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