Should an artist pick, and stick to one genre, or is diversity acceptable to an artists identity? by HunkaFunk on The Pipeline at IndieMusicPeople

Should an artist pick, and stick to one genre, or is diversity acceptable to an artists identity?
I despise pigeonholing, and resist picking one genre, and sticking to it. I love many types of music, and therefore, am influenced by jazz, R&B, funk, Reggae, jamband, acoustic, soft rock, classic rock, etc. I am starting to think that this approach is hurting me, more than helping me. I write in every genre, from funk to emo (not really sure what emo is), and used to think that this was an admirable trait.

Some genres are so vague in their description. Take jazz, for instance. The local 'smooth jazz' station in Seattle plays songs like "Use me" by Bill Withers, and Santana's version of Tito Puente's "Oye como va". Are these jazz? I've never considered them jazz, but someone does. I think what I'll do is call all my music jazz, then I will stay true to one genre, and not spread myself all over the place, or God forbid, misclassify any of my tunes...(not that I'm comparing my music to the aforementioned tunes). I'd love to hear your thoughts on the matter.

TF

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Hop On Pop

7/27/2009 9:56:51 PM

I am a songwriter.
Not a "pop" songwriter.
Not a "punk" songwriter.
Not a "country songwriter.

I write songs, the songs, themselves determine what kind of songs they are, not me.

If you know anything about me and my music, from hanging around here, and my incessant self-promotion, you know that my upcoming album was going to be called MIXTAPE (recently changed to Chicken On a Bicycle) because of the willful genre-hopping that I do.

So, I guess the short answer to your question is:
Just play, and let the listener sort it out.

It may not get you a record contract, but it will make you happier.

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SILVERWOODSTUDIO

7/27/2009 11:25:29 PM

Hi Tim an' Todd

That makes 3 genre benders---

the industry is really based around stereotypes and even i admit I'd be shocked to hear, say Tom Waits doing 'Pop' or Carol King covering Metallica---

but you are right Tim---it is a put off for most audiences to have their expectations
thwarted by too many genres from an artist---we have 13 genres that we have explored ----this is too much spread for folks who like say folk or country or world music-----but it seems to be where us "cutting edge" musos are heading-----

Maybe in time it will gather momentum as a plus-- and a new genre bender, genre will be born!!!!!

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Jesse Adams

7/27/2009 11:58:43 PM

I used to think the same thing, about having too many different styles of music for people to follow. But now I'm cool with it, and you should be too. It's a GOOD thing. Variety is the spice of life, and it's only going to make listening to your stuff more exciting for a longer period of time... because it changes up a lot and keeps things fresh, as opposed to the same thing over and over that would wear out more quickly most likely.

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Tom O'Brien

7/28/2009 12:00:38 AM

Right on genre benders! I admire folks like Elvis Costello who can be punk one year and classical the next and then work with Burt Bacharach (sp?). Picasso was someone who not only bent genres, but invented new ones, and many would call him the greatest artist of the 20th century.

I think if money is your object, however, then by all means, make yourself into a product that sells consistently and keep doing the same thing forever. It works for some.

But I'm never going to be spiritually, emotional, intellectually moved by those people. We are artists, and we are after a fulfilling experience and communication of what it means to be human, in all its forms. Leave the classification to the critics and just write. Good songs are good songs.

I will be moved by a true song, an honest song.

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Andy Broad

7/28/2009 2:03:30 AM

You shouldn't apply artificial limits, if you write a song and doesn't fit you usual genre so be it. But to truly get good and understand a genre you really need to delve deeply into to it. Live it so to speak.

I mainly into blues and jazz the songs I write fit mostly in those camps, but my definition of blues is alot wider than some peoples, it a music style which absorbs other genres (and spawned many as well). But my other musical interests do flavour my blues, at least I like to think they do.

The greatest songwriter undertsnad their genre so well they can reinvent it and make it there own, so that they define the genre not the genre them.

I'm thinking of people like Robert Johnson, Muddy Waters, Robert Cray on the blues side myabe Miles Davis and so on on the jazz side.

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weAponX

7/29/2009 7:16:48 AM ---- Updated 7/29/2009 5:35:08 PM

If I write a song outside of the normal genres I usually write for, I research it a bit.

I did research on country music and it paid off, I got a song in the top 25 of country here, which is pretty amazing.

But although it has got the country elements in it, and it was mostly getting the slide guitar to sound right, it still has my own style, and so it is unique in that way.

Lately I've been writing more Folk and simpler things, but once in a while, I'll sit down and work out songs with really crazy changes, just for the fook of it.

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Beth Fridinger

7/29/2009 7:43:48 AM

I am all over the place and couldn't imagine sticking to one genre. Maybe in marketing yourself you have to be in different bands for each genre, or put out CDs with different genres...my CDs have different genres altogether...I would be BORED sticking to one genre.

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Sly Witt

7/29/2009 3:04:02 PM

I write 'slysongs' .. the genre's always baffle me.

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Tony Vani and Debbie Hoskin

7/29/2009 3:16:25 PM

The fact that I/we dabble in various genres has been a hinderance. People hear a song they love, buy the CD only to find that there are genres on there that they don't particularly like. Often people stick to a certain genre. I have never been able to marry and maintain monogamy with one genre. It makes for a smaller following. Or you get a mix of folks with different tastes and someone is always unhappy.

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The Man With No Band

7/29/2009 3:27:02 PM

I had one of them thar genre things try to attach itself to me once ...

I shot the bastid !

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never never band

7/29/2009 10:21:31 PM

I write mediocre nonsense in just about every style...

I think it's because I listen to just about everything.
I do think that a Band should investigate and develop a style. That's one of the cool things about a great band is their overall sound. Not that a band cant evolved or change that vision, but certainly each Record should have a theme and sound that ties the pieces together.

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Joe Dumpe

7/29/2009 11:25:31 PM

I think it's hard to stick to one genre, honestly. The two songs on my page are completely different than most of my other songs I've written. It's just so easy to be influenced to write something different.

But I'd say it's a safer bet to stick with one genre if you're trying to make a living off music.

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justjessie

7/30/2009 12:33:46 AM

They call us music artist's because that's what we are... artists! Thank you to everyone who writes what they feel. I hope none of us ever attempt to stay within the guidelines of one genre. True music lovers love all music. I think it just depends on the mood we are in at that particular moment.

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KAW Creation

7/30/2009 5:18:20 AM

After i've finished a song, I'll purposely switch style to another. Genres ? Nah, leave it to the cookie cutters.

cheers, niteshift

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