When it comes to creating music, I cannot stress how important it is to know your influences and your taste. Not only that, but it’s even more important to explore and constantly expand your influences and taste.
Last week, I was having a conversation with a producer/composer about his music and what I felt influenced his style. It’s always good to get an objective opinion on your music from someone you trust and I really appreciated him coming to me for that advice. It also creates a potentially amazing discussion about a world of influences that you didn’t know was open to you.
And with that said, I have 10 more tracks that I’d love for you to listen to this week. There could be a hidden gem in there that influences your taste and style forever more.
If you still want to listen to last week’s tracks, you can see what was included here.
If you like what you hear, then please hit that ‘Follow’ button on the playlist on Spotify and follow along!
Remember – I’ll also happily include your music, so please send links my way!
Now, without further ado, here’s the breakdown of Stephen’s Selects #9: November 25th – December 1st…
- Rush – ‘YYZ’
From the panning at the very start to epic riffs and constantly changing time signatures… ‘YYZ’ is a prog rock classic. There are so many ideas in this track that can be easily borrowed, improvised on and developed further. - Hot Chip – ‘Over And Over’
Speaking of borrowing ideas… don’t you think the start of ‘Over and Over’ sounds a little bit like the start of ‘YYZ’? The genre is completely different but it goes to show you that ideas can stick in your head and manifest in other ways through your influences. I especially like the claps and bass in ‘Over and Over’. They really help to keep the song driving forward. - King Crimson – ’21st Century Schizoid Man’
When I was chatting with my friend during the week about his music, King Crimson were one of the influences that popped up. Rush are already in the list but King Crimson are also legends of prog rock. I had never really listened to them until I discovered the sample in Kanye West’s ‘Power’ was from ’21st Century Schizoid Man’. Once I did start exploring their music, I discovered how heavily they influenced other musicians. Without Robert Fripp, there would be no ‘Heroes’ by David Bowie and John Frusciante’s guitar playing would have sounded completely different. - KIDS SEE GHOSTS, Louis Prima – ‘4th Dimension’
More samples and once again it’s Kanye West. This time it’s Louis Prima’s ‘What Will Santa Claus Say’. This is an example of being completely overt with your influences and developing them into a new song. I really love how this track starts with the pure sample of the original song and then develops into something completely new and fresh. This is a huge beat and should give you some ideas of how to incorporate samples and older, classic ideas into something original. - Strawberry Girls – ‘Moonwalker’
So much to love. Mostly that monster riff! You don’t hear too many wah pedals and Shaft style guitars from 2019 music but ‘Moonwalker’ has both in abundance! - Foals – ‘The Runner’
Speaking of riffs… the bass and guitar here are blended beautifully to give you a kick in the face right from the get go. But guitar music is dead… yeah right! How about that snare sound too? I would be perfectly happy with the riff in the intro and verse of this song but it also has a MASSIVE chorus. The pre-chorus does enough to build tension and provide a much more open chorus with more of a focus on the synth/key elements of the track. Very clever. - Max Cooper – ‘Perpetual Motion’
Now for something completely different. ‘Perpetual Motion’ is a synth-led track with a very lovely soundscape. The kick is ‘clicky’ and has a strong metronome feel to it – setting the tempo the whole way through with the four on the floor vibe. This is another slowly evolving piece that I seem to be loving a lot at the moment. The synths and textures involved in this track provide lots of inspiration on how to build new sounds and elements into your own music. - SebAstian, Gallant – ‘Run For Me’
The intro chorus of this track sounds like something I’ve heard a thousand times before yet it’s brand new. It feels like ‘Diamonds’ and many other classics but it is still original. The vocals are buried deep and heavily tuned until the verse kicks in. They’re then up front and in your face. The second half of the verse sounds like Justice’s ‘Civilization’ but in a completely different style. There are so many ideas, both unique and borrowed, within this track. They all work incredibly well to create something beautiful. As with Frank Ocean’s ‘Nights’ last week, this track also evolves over time to sound like it’s a number of distinct songs but unlike ‘Nights’, it always returns “home”. - Coldplay – ‘Champion Of The World’
Coldplay are back. Despite ‘Champion Of The World’ having a Coldplay sound, it’s not really a Coldplay song. It has been moulded by a number of top producers – including Max Martin and originally created by another man entirely. Isn’t it incredible that someone who is known for his work with The Backstreet Boys, Britney Spears and NSYNC can also work with a band like Coldplay to help produce something new and different? This song was inspired by Scott Hutchison and I highly recommend you check out his work. Just in case you don’t have time to search, it’s next on the playlist. - Owl John – ‘Los Angeles, Be Kind’
Can you hear why Scott Hutchison is credited on ‘Champion Of The World’? He sadly took his own life in May 2018 and Coldplay released ‘Champion Of The World’ in his honour on November 20th 2019. It would have been his 38th birthday. Be good to each other.Click here to listen to the full playlist on Spotify!
(Please note that the link will send you to the playlist of the current week and might not feature the tracks listed above!)
So, that’s week nine of Stephen’s Selects.
Remember that if you like what you hear, then please hit that ‘Follow’ button on Spotify and follow along!
If you’d like to have your song featured or have any recommendations, drop me a comment below or email. Let’s talk more about the music we’re listening to and share our ideas!
Now, I’d love to know…
What are you listening to this week? What are you working on? Have anything you’d like to share?
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