Tag: youtube

  • Censorship Of Music

    Censorship Of Music

    As an artist I’m really opposed to the idea of censorship, especially in music.

    Censorship History

    Recently there’s been a backlash against certain artists and styles of music. Actually there’s probably always been a backlash or at least groups of people wanting to prevent others from hearing music. The simple word for it is censorship. If music history memory serves me, there was a severe backlash by Christians against the music of artists like Buddy Holly and also Elvis. The humor of that is Buddy came from a religious family (unless I’ve been misinformed).

    Then in the 80’s there was the PMRC that used a censorship tactic to ban music thru the use of the government and silly stickers on physical releases.

    But now…

    YouTube

    This might be a first. There are police departments in the U.K. that are asking YouTube to forcibly remove music videos with violent lyrics. I don’t condone it, but I can understand the reasoning. Apparently these artists use the platform to tell rival artists what they plan on doing to them, when, and where. Think of it as a public musical version of the Firms that fight at Football / Soccer matches.

    That’s an interesting line to be drawing. On the one hand, if its legit musical expression, it shouldn’t be subject to censorship.

    On the other hand, if its gang messages disguised as music, then it constitutes as actual threats, hate speech and violence. That presents a problem. Might be reasonable to apply censorship to that.

    Drill Music

    This style of music is becoming known as Drill Music. Its new to my radar and I’m not gonna sit here and explain it like I’m well versed in it. I’m interested in videoing my first listen to a popular Drill Music video and taping my reaction, much like how the Lost In Vegas boys would do it. Enjoy as its my first reaction video.

    YouTube player

    Beefs

    Even in the early days of rap, which is the parent of Drill, there were rap battles. East coast, West coast blasts that apparently led to the deaths of Tupac and Biggie and likely others. At that point there was also a strong musical resistance that expressed life on the streets in the dark parts of major cities. Music was a great way to resonate that harsh reality.

    Drill music isn’t the first style to have a censorship request from law enforcement agencies. I’m specifically referencing N.W.A. as a group that got hit with warnings from the law, amongst others like Ice-T, KRS-One.

    As you can see/hear, I’m kinda clueless to the U.K. brand of street music with lyrics like this. But I can certainly imbibe the vibe that they’re laying down, musically speaking.

  • Touch Teaser Behind The Scenes

    Touch Teaser Behind The Scenes

    Touch-Behind-the-ScenesLate last week I got my first dose of shooting a music video where I’m being choreographed for movement. That was a very different experience. Yesterday afternoon I got a message from the video director that the footage came out ok. I was a little worried about it, but alas I’m likely worrying about nothing. One thing that was fun and hard was learning to do some dance moves and making it look like I’ve been doing for years – and singing at the same time. New experience.

    I’ve got a Touch teaser trailer for you as I’m excited for getting the song Touch out with a music video when the song launches. Thus if it ends up taking a little more time to get it all done, then the release date will wait until it’s all set. Until then, enjoy a little bit of video from the behind the scenes of the making of the Touch teaser music video.

    http://youtu.be/0galNOgvIiE

    Enjoy and stay tuned, more video and the release of the song is coming soon!

  • Till We Meet Again Teaser

    Till We Meet Again Teaser

    As I’m getting geared up and ready for a massive all night shoot for Touch. I’ve got a special little [Tweet “teaser trailer”] for you that gives a small taste of what’s coming next in the single “Till We Meet Again”.  There’s a new studio involved. New people are involved. Obviously it’s a new song.

    A trailer that will get your curiosity up. What did we talk about in studio? Are there technical difficulties? Simple instructions for awesome recording? What feelings are getting evoked?

    Till We Meet Again Teaser

    YouTube player

    Transcript:

    Whaaaa. Take off!
    Yeah.

    No, I don’t think I need the click. That’s why I put the two bars of the drums up front.

    Sing awesomely. Don’t suck.

    Ha. Simple instructions of course.

    This is not really a power ballad. How would we describe this song?

    Like a rock.

    I’m just trying to think of like. I’ve been trying to describe the song to people and I’m really not sure what to tell them.

    Oh it didn’t work there.

    It should get rid of the one that is solo’d if you…

    Exactly.

    But it didn’t.

    It’s not!

    BUG!

    Weird.

    We’ve just discovered a bug.

    I. I like it. Especially if I, if I, if I bring the low one in the beginning and kinda like shift the focus from the low one to the high one over the harmony.

    I go for the feel. Like whatever makes me feel something (YES!) or what makes me kinda feel like I, (yeah) I don’t have words anymore. (yeah yeah). That’s. That’s.

    You get that little buzz to. I get a buzz when it happens. It’s like I can feel it.

     

    Stay tuned!