From the eighth grade onwards, I always made sure that my door was closed or I had my earphones plugged in when I was listening to music at home. Born in the 2000s, the music of my generation constantly appalled my parents. From the obscure electronic foundation, it had to the lyrics that sometimes got their eyeballs out the socket. I can’t fathom to reiterate the numerous times my father has asked me to listen to a song of the 80s and some symphonies and Carnatic concerts. And while I love that kind of music, the pinning about how our generation will never level up to theirs throws me off track.
At the ripe age of 18, I cannot say I don’t disagree with my father. Today’s music most definitely will not level up to what was. I’ll admit I was lucky. I grew up on a substantial dosage of BeeGees and The Beatles. And while I may not be their biggest fan, their music stands at a pedestal much higher than the songs that are written today.
Music has a unique characteristic: it allows one to merge complexities in the simplest form possible. It is a gift that we have exploited and created masterpieces, but it is also that gift that now remains in the corner collecting dust. We no longer bind in simplistic complexity, as absurd as it sounds. But I stand to believe it is one of the many parameters that define the yesteryears music. One of the most significant drawbacks of today’s music is the restricted and limited use of musical resources. By musical resources, I mean the plethora of sounds that exist across the globe. The sound of today’s music is majorly restricted to the use of guitar, bass and other electronically created sounds. Just imagine the piano starting from a soft hush to a profound melody. Imagine the build-up with the bass and the drums chiming in, adding to the intensity of the song. Imagine the guitar riffs as the peak is grappling between your fingers and then-silence. Four seconds, maybe five, who knows. But in those few seconds, you hear yourself. Until the saxophone, with its husky tone, shifts the song into another dimension.
No doubt, technology isn’t the only reason for the downfall of today’s music but let’s be honest; it is inevitably a key player. While art will always be the healer of the soul, the presentation of it plays a large part in how it is perceived. The commercial success of artistry depends on how much hype it creates and the anticipation in its arrival, more than the intricate anticipation those three minutes of melodies and hums brings. The belief that commercial success overrides artistic success is a false, yet one that many continue to live in even if it is not evident. Mainstream media dominates today’s information world and continues to broadcast and throw light on a minimal range of music. It blindsides the audience from exploring various genres of music, and artists who are not in the bright spot.
Furthermore, today’s media rarely throws light on the team that relentlessly creates the music that our souls feed off of. From the group of writers who carefully weave a web of words to tell a story, leaving enough space for the melodies to glide in. The army that stands tall to create the music alongside the artist- composers, producers and sound engineers. Do they not have equal value in creating a song? The final product needs a village, and it is only fair that the entire village is given enough credit for the hours that they put in.
The is no denying that certain pieces of quality music from recent times exist. This article is only to turn your attention to the music that lingers in the back of the room, sometimes under the carpet, not exactly in direct sight. There is so much more out there in the world, waiting to be discovered, to be heard. Music is more than just words sung to a melody. The story and the emotions that carry the music; in those nuances, one can find the true potential and beauty of music. Don’t just look at the surface. Take the time to turn your eyes away from the big picture to the details, to find simplicity in complexity and watch as the world unravels around you.
By Rasika Muralidharan
Chords & Co. 