It amazes me to read the polar opposite opinions about all this "idm" music
reaching more people. On one hand, we have those who think positively in
that the more people exposed to good music, especially techno, ambient,
etc, the better all music will be (consider the amount of "normal" artists
being influenced by electronics, jungle, ambient, etc). On the other hand,
we have the shallow geeks who are unwilling to imagine that others could
possibly open their minds and find for themselves something in "their
music" to like. I have been deejaying, writing, producing, promoting, and
basically exposing as many people as I can to what I consider "my music",
in the hopes that less crap will get the exposure that better music
deserves, and that I will sense a wider appreciation of originality, as
opposed to blind acceptance of commercial garbage.
Many times in the past decade I have been absolutely amazed and inspired
when a friend or acquaintance finally "gets it", in that they can hear for
themselves the brilliance and originality of artists not swimming in the
mainstream. Music is to be shared, not hoarded; artists deserve to make a
living from their work, and people who lack the ability or wherewithall to
find out what is good and original and beautiful in all this new stuff
deserve a chance to find out what makes us all so interested in it.
The issue of mainstream acceptance and corporate bastardization is too
touchy to get into here, but having worked in the industry AND
independently, I can see it from both sides. Maybe if more people start
appreciating Aphex, Autechre, Alter Ego, Global Comm, U-zig, etc. etc. then
maybe the labels who deal with this kind of music will flourish as they
should and not get swallowed up by majors, who don't have a clue when it
comes to the fast moving world of new music. Cheers to Peter Wohelski in
his attempt to state his side, obviously he benefits career-wise by wider
acceptance of this music, but I am sure he is there in the first place
because of his desire to share and promote what he considers "his music".
Who cares what MTV does otherwise, if they are going to start to give "our
music" a chance, they should be told that it is a good thing. If you don't
agree, then stay in your dark rooms. The world is a big place, with many
people, and many points of view, and music can be appreciated in many many
ways.
It is true that "music hath charms to soothe the savage beast", with that
in mind try to think that wider interest in IDM and related sounds might
change the people, not the music. Positive attitudes must prevail. Let the
flaming begin....
Robert Shea
MAP RECORDS
Fax: 604-872-8058
Email: mapmusic@portal.ca
Web:
http://www.coming.soon/
acting locally - thinking globally
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