Well, you have to start somewhere, and I think I shall start right here with these words to you.
In the modern, cynical, commercialized world of contemporary music, It’s becoming harder to define music from the common categories of ‘Good’ and ‘Bad’, because of course, everything is subjective to the individual listener. But no longer will good music be defined by it’s popularity and funding alone, as we are in an age where bands can be found with ease, via the ever unveiling mediums and websites of the internet and we can pick and choose between the bands we are fed, and the bands of which we find. Also, say goodbye to the large majority of obscure, yet gem-like bands being discovered through supporting major, or independent acts; the domain of new, thriving talent can be located online.
MySpace has been a large contributer to the ever growing world of unsigned and unfunded music with fresh, new bands being heard by audiences quickly, and on demand. With the ease of simply setting up a music profile, uploading any forms of garageband type music you feel you should share with the world, advertising by such means as simply the adding of other MySpace users and within a few hours, that music is heard, and your fans are found, without the need of trawling clubs, securing record deals and gaining fans ‘the hard way’.
Such an example is one Jeffree Star; internet musician, model, ‘boyfriend stealer’, who has made his name across the internet, particularly on MySpace and Buzznet. Self-proclaimed ‘Queen Of The Internet’, Star has made a name for himself, promoting his own brand of sexually invested dark and sultry electro rap, gaining him more fans than a majority of chart topping artists. Predominately an internet craze icon, and only known by the fortunately enticed ‘internet people’, he is not wider known off the internet, probably branded too outlandish for the common, commercial audience due to a distinctive attraction, celebration and boasting of mannequin-like beauty and the macabre, with songs entitled such as ‘Heart Surgery Isn’t That Bad’, ‘Eye-Lash Curlers And Butcher Knives (What’s The Difference?)’, ‘Plastic Surgery Slumber Party’ and ‘We Want Cunt’, it’s clear Star is intent on creating an image of himself that is clearly for an eclectic taste, down to creating crude images, spelling out an image, as if to say ‘I’m here to make you open your mouth, be that shock, or awe, I’m just here to create a fuss’. This of which, he is definitely doing with over 40 million streams of his MySpace profile daily, you can tell, that this man has a more loyal fan-base than any attempted fad of the viewable modern day. And you have to hand it to him, he does deserve it, whether you enjoy his brand of music, or not, you can not deny it’s originality and respective quirks, even if you refuse to stand for such blatant emboldening of homosexuality and transvestitism.
Jeffree Star is just another clear example of an ever changing and exciting branch of the music scene, thriving on pure individualism and eclectic-taste, making a new world of sound for the new generation of music lovers, such as I.
I am simply saying that there is a world of music waiting for you to hear it across the internet, all it takes is a few Google searches and hyper-linking to find artists that you could grow to love, just purely for the fact that you discovered this act by yourself, without a need of adverts and ideas of others as to what they think you should be listening to. Most commercialized bands are too worried about straying from a social norm of unexciting, boring and ‘inoffensive’ sounds similar to every other artist in their field, competing for money and not credibility, hoping the two will combine one day. Do not take your music from the radio, the television, or the advert because they are just products trying to be sold, with pretty people wearing tight clothing just to entice you. Most modern ‘indie’ bands are today’s equivalent of the pop band, so over-shadowed by appealing to as many people as possible, to which all creativity is lost, and they are less a band, and more a product.
Only a few, rare artists have achieved fame, and yet are more content on their music than anything else; Panic At The Disco are a perfect example of this. Possibly one of the most interesting and inspiring bands in a long time, Panic have gained a following for just being that popular band who have had something different and quite brilliantly original to offer. Their first effort ‘A Fever You Can’t Sweat Out’ brought a new sound to the ears of many, with a bitter spin on romance, taking a route of burlesque and dirty, yet highly erotic charm, echoing a ’50s Las Vegas strip club feel. Such a sound had never been achieved previously, and rightly so they received a quickly growing following. With divine lyrics of vintage decadence, wit and malice, to go with a completely suiting musical style, it is not a surprise such a sound has had such a following as this rare piece of originality had finally an audience to grab ahold of it. When PATD returned, dropping an exclamation mark (Panic!), they seemed to be followed by a similar sound as before, but now a sound that had clearly matured and apparently over come severe depression and alcohol, and had masked it with high intakes of hallucinogenic toxins. This huge change in a sound has divided many a fan, yet keeping the loyal and the susceptible to change and experimentation. Panic are a clear exception to a rule, proving that some true gems can rise above the mundane and safe-playing if the right promoters are in power, who care more about distributing eclectic music than making as much money as possible, by cashing in a dead sound. Incidentally, the founder of Panic’s current and primary record label (Decaydance), Peter Wentz is the bassist of popular band Fall Out Boy, which gives him an insight into modern music, rather than being a money-hungry businessman, with little else to worry his mind.
I advise you to simply not be content with the second best and to say that there are many a highly talented band about that you will grow to love, you’ve just not looked for them yet.
