So I was talking at a conference about technological empowerment [yes, a VERY wanky term] and to prove my point, I wrote a piece of music there and then – using just a keyboard, an Apple Mac and some – admittedly expensive – software called Logic Pro.
Anyway this is what I came up …
[Everything was recorded live, track-by-track, except the voices which were pre-recorded samples. If you are having problems listening to the track, you might want to click here]
Now while I’m not suggesting it is anything amazing – the fact it took me 20 mins to compose, record, roughly mix and download is pretty astounding given back in my days as a musician [which I appreciate was before electricity and trombones!] it would take 2 hours just to mic the bloody guitar amp up!!
The thing is, as much as all this [more affordable] technological power gives people an ability to let their passion/talent/delusions flow, I also think it has the potential to limit creativity.
I’ve written about this issue before, but because computers are only as good as the person using them, you could end up limiting your potential because you’re missing out on the benefits of collaboration and exploration.
It’s abit like scam ads … when you are client, strategist, creative director and consumer you can justify anything you do as being brilliant and effective.
Whilst the idea of being the ultimate dictator may sound good, the fact is when you involve others – people with different skills, talents and opinions – you often end up in far more interesting places, because not only do they bring new ideas into the mix, but they raise everyone’s standards thanks to an air of creative competitiveness.
OK so I’m being a bit of a hypocrite given I’ve just bought a bloody recording studio – but for me computers should be the tools to bring to life what’s in your head, not the place you go for all your creative solutions.
So that just leaves me with the question of why it takes Coldplay so long to record their albums? And don’t tell me it’s because they write/record good music – it might be better than this pseudo-Moby concoction but it’s still total wank.