Sunday, September 14, 2008

Mash-up Music and Remixes

Recently, I've been to going to concerts where there are no musical instruments on the stage and the "band" consists of less than two people. The sound generated comes through either a computer or their turntables and is vaguely familiar from Billboard's Top 100. Girl Talk was the first band (or person I suppose) that I was exposed to in high school that mashed up bits of music I already liked into something even better. It wasn't a remix as it usually the melody was completely changed (for instance, having "Tiny Dancer" by Elton John as the background for Biggie's "Hyponotize") and the voice that was usually quite deep sounded like Alvin the Chipmunk. Even more interesting that has emerged is the idea of dance music which has changed dramatically from disco to pop to techno to even more specific genres like electrofunk or electro-punk funk. For instance, Justice (who I saw this past weekend) comes out in concerts with 3 large turntables while blasting a large bass and creating crescendos of sound. In the background to their music, they display artwork of sometimes awesome but disturbing images like glow-in-the-dark crosses and people's faces (including their own) juxtaposed with illustrations of art or current events. Not only do these artists recreate something, but they totally destroy it in the process- something I feel that defines contemporary music.

Check 'em out:

http://www.myspace.com/etjusticepourtous

http://www.myspace.com/girltalk

Reshma

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

It totally defines contemporary music- Electro-anything is basically what is "in" at the end of this decade.
Even though I have to admit a strong liking for mash-ups and mixes, it's not the same.
There are so many new artists coming out in this genre, not to say they are untalented, but I feel like they're taking away from the connection of mental and physical talent of music, as in, improvising a guitar solo, etc. It's just not the same.
Although I feel like a complete babbling cynic, I was just glad to see that you thought something was "getting destroyed"

-serin