Cultural Production Project Part 2

“Music is in life. It occurs everywhere – at any moment in time, in every place” (Page 2010)

Continuing on from last month’s Cultural Production Project – Part 1 [January 2010], I will focus this month on a description and analysis of the three musical styles that I am choosing to fuse together in this creative production project – a soundscape that expresses myself musically and sonically.

Musical Style Analysis

To be an effective music producer, one needs to have a wide knowledge of musical styles and forms. The musical styles I have selected to draw on for my fusion-musical style are:

• Rock n’ Soul/Neo Soul;

• World Fusion/New Age;

• Country Folk/Indie Rock.

I believe that these three (3 )musical styles are quite disparate musical styles. I will investigate these 3 musical styles of music using all available resources to me, such as the internet, magazines, books, dvd’s, documentaries, cd’s/albums/records. I will ensure I reference all resources used, and list these in the bibliography at the end of this document. As part of my analysis, I will firstly introduce the context of each of the three (3) musical styles in detail. I will then go through each of these against specific criteria.

Musical Style Analysis #1

Rock n’ Soul/Neo Soul context

Some contemporary examples of the Rock n’ Soul/Neo Soul musical style of music are:

• Bruce Springsteen; Bryan Adams; U2; Hothouse Flowers; INXS; Michael Jackson.

-When did the Rock n’ Soul/Neo Soul musical style first appear (and if applicable the end date);

• late 1960’s/early 1970’s Britain;

-Who were the founding artists of the Rock n’ Soul/Neo Soul musical style?

• British Soul-Rock performers such as Joe Cocker; Procul Harum; Eric Burdon & The Animals; US Soul performers such as James Brown.

-What artists inspired the Rock n’ Soul/Neo Soul musical style?

• US Rock n Roll such as Jerry Lee Lewis; Billy Hailey; Elvis Presley;

• Afro-American Soul Rock such as James Brown; Freddie King; Booker T & The MG’s;

• Motown/R+B/Soul Performers such a Curtis Mayfield; Eddie Floyd; Sam & Dave; Sam Cooke; Otis Redding; Wilson Picket; The 4 Tops; Bill Withers; Jackson Five; Michael Jackson; Alicia Keys.

-What records/albums/songs would be considered prime examples of the Rock n’ Soul/Neo Soul musical style?

• Bruce Springsteen ‘The River’; Bryan Adams ‘Cuts Like A Knife’ ; U2 ‘Joshua Tree’; Hothouse Flowers ‘I Can See Clearly Now’; INXS ‘By My Side’; Michael Jackson ‘Stranger In Moscow’ + ‘Billie Jean’.

-What other musical styles inspired this Rock n’ Soul/Neo Soul musical style (What came before)?

• Rock n’ Roll; Soul; R+B; Post-Dylan American Heroes; Pop-Rock.

– What Prominent Producers & Engineers work within this Rock n’ Soul/Neo Soul musical style?

• Brian Eno; Daniel Lanois; Steve Lilywhite.

-How commercial successful and how popularly known is the Rock n’ Soul/Neo Soul musical style and why?

• very successful in contemporary commercial/pop circles;

-What musical style and artists has this Rock n’ Soul/Neo Soul musical style inspired (What came after)?

–     Rock n’ Soul – U2; Simple Minds; Little Steven; INXS; Matchbox 20; Rob Thomas; Jeff Buckley; Government Mule; Hootie & The Blowfish; Coldplay.

–     Neo Soul; Amos Lee; Alicia Keys.

Musical Style Analysis #2

World Fusion/New Age context

 Some contemporary examples of the World Fusion/New Age musical style of music are:

• Peter Gabriel; Amr Diab; Enigma; Deep Forest; Oliver Shanti; Nakai & Khecog; Sacred Earth; Moby; Sina Vodjani;

-When did the World Fusion/New Age musical style first appear (and if applicable the end date);

• mid 1990’s Europe;

 -Who were the founding artists of the World Fusion/New Age musical style?

• performers such as Deep Forest; Enigma;

-What artists inspired the World Fusion/New Age musical style?

• Spiritual Performers such as Buddhist Monks; Gregorian Chants;

• Traditional/Ethnic Performers; Ennio Morricone; Jai Uttal;

• Disenchanted Successful ‘Rockstars looking for Spiritual/Life guidance such as The Beatles – John Lennon & George Harrison; Eric Clapton, Santana; Cat Stevens;

• British Art Rock Performers such as Pink Floyd; Alan Parsons; Brian Eno; Roxy Music; Mike Oldfield;

• British Progressive Rock Performers such as King Crimson; Genesis; YES;

• Technopop Performers such as Kraftwerk; Jean-Michel Jarre;

• New Age Performers such as Eric Serra; Oliver Shanti; Sacred Earth;

-What records/albums/songs would be considered prime examples of the World Fusion/New Age musical style?

• Peter Gabriel ‘Biko’; Amr Diab ‘Tamally Maak’; Enigma ‘The Cross Of Changes’; Deep Forest ‘Sweet Lullaby’; Oliver Shanti + Friends ‘Donovan My Timeless’; Nakai & Khecog ‘Winds Of Devotion’; Sacred Earth ‘Dancing Shiva’; Sina Vodjani ‘Straight To The Heart’; Moby ‘Look Back In’;

-What other musical styles inspired this World Fusion/New Age musical style (What came before)?

• Traditional Christian Religion/Music; Traditional Hindu Religion/Music; Traditional/Ethnic Performers; British Art Rock; British Progressive Rock; Technopop/Technodance (with synthesizer-based instrumentals); New Age;

– What Prominent Producers & Engineers work within this World Fusion/New Age musical style?

• Alan Parsons; Brian Eno; Mike Oldfield; Ennio Morricone; Eric Serra;

-How commercial successful and how popularly known is the World Fusion/New Age musical style and why?

• became popular within the new age/alternative therapy industry in the mid 1990’s, following a need for more instrumental’ based music that maintained a spiritual-base/spiritual connection, relevant to a peaceful, meditative environment for the therapy sessions and/or activities

-What musical style and artists has this World Fusion/New Age musical style inspired (What came after)?

–     World Fusion/New Age – The Buddha bar series; Enya;

–     Nature New age – Tony O’Connor;

–     Ambient Music – Brian Eno

–     Disco – Donna Summer; Bee Gees;

–     Dance – many forms, but including Moby as eg;

–     Nouveau Lounge Jazz – Billy Thunder;

–     Contemporary Visual performances such as Cirque de Solei;

–     EMP – the many and varied forms of electronic music and electronic dance music, such as chill, trance to name a few

Musical Style Analysis #3

Country Folk/Indie Rock context

Some contemporary examples of the Country Folk/Indie Rock musical style of music are:

• Bob Dylan; Tom Petty; Travelling Wilburys; Alanis Morissette; Paul Kelly; Linda Ronstadt;

-When did the Country Folk/Indie Rock musical style first appear (and if applicable the end date);

•  late 1960’s US;

 -Who were the founding artists of the Country Folk/Indie Rock musical style?

• US Electric Country Folk Performers such as Buffalo Springfield; The Stone Ponies;

• US Country Rock Performers such as The Flying Burrito Brothers; CCR;

• US Electric Folk Performers such as The Byrds;

• British Electric Folk/Folk Rock Performers such as Van Morrison; Pete Townsend

-What artists inspired the Country Folk/Indie Rock musical style?

• US Folk Performers such as Woody Guthrie;

• Country Performers such as Hank Williams; Patsy Cline;

• Confessional Singer-Songwriters (drawing both on country and folk influences) such as Bob Dylan; Carole King; James Taylor; Joni Mitchell; Pete Townsend; Tim Buckley; Cat Stevens; Neil Young; Bruce Springsteen;

• US Rock n Roll such as Jerry Lee Lewis; Billy Hailey;

• US Country Rock Performers such as CCR;

• US Folk Rock Performers such as The Byrds;

• Rock Performers such as Rolling Stones; Jimi Hendrix; The Who;

-What records/albums/songs would be considered prime examples of the Country Folk/Indie Rock musical style?

• Bob Dylan ‘I Shall Be Released’; Tom Petty ‘Learning To Fly’; Travelling Wilburys ‘I Was So Much Older Then…’; Alanis Morrisette ‘Ironic’; Paul Kelly ‘Leaps & Bounds’; Linda Ronstadt ‘The Blue Train’;

-What other musical styles inspired this Country Folk/Indie Rock musical style (What came before)?

• Country; Folk; Country Rock; Folk Rock; Confessional singer-songwriter base; Rock n’ Roll; Rock; Pop-Rock

– What Prominent Producers & Engineers work within this Country Folk/Indie Rock musical style?

• Jaques Levy; Daniel Lanois; Brendan O’Brien; Jeff Lynne; Glen Ballard; Scott Litt;

-How commercial successful and how popularly known is the Country Folk/Indie Rock musical style and why?

• has perhaps had its main day in the 1980’s and 1990’s, but remains relevant, and ‘constant’, despite giving market share away to more current trends at the moment

-What musical style and artists has this Country Folk/Indie Rock musical style inspired (What came after)?

–     Country Folk/Indie Rock – Buckingham/Nicks; Suzanne Vega; Paul Kelly; Tracey Chapman; Alanis Morissette; Cracker;

–    Alternative Rock;

–    Indie Rock (Independent Rock) – REM, The Killers

Musical Style Analysis – Summary of the 3 Musical styles context

I will continue next month with Cultural Production Project Part 3 [March 2010], focussing on a description and analysis of the three musical styles that I am choosing to fuse together in this creative production project – a soundscape that expresses myself musically and sonically. I have referred throughout my music analysis to relevant audio examples of each of three musical styles, and summarized these in the references below.

References – Print Examples – Books/Magazines/Internet Sites

References – Audio Examples – CD/MP3

References

Analysis image courtesy of:  Analysis  Accessed 6th February 2010

DLP  image courtesy of: DLP Accessed 6th February 2010

Logic Pro 8 image courtesy of:  Logic Pro 8 Accessed 6th February 2010

Page, David L. 2010  DLP Quote  Accessed 10th January, 2010

Planetary fusion image courtesy of: Planet Fusion Accessed 6th February 2010

– ©David L Page 06/02/2010

Copyright: No aspect of the content of this blog or blog site is to be reprinted or used within any practice without strict permission directly from David L Page.

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