They said what??? Part 1: What is this?
For this post I communicated with Kim (Belly Full Of Stars), Kees (Roofhare), and Jeff (Isotherme) for input. I've included links to their pages and Kees and Jeff's Eclectrocasts Podcast at the end of this post. So I asked these musicians about what different and bizarre comments and questions they've gotten over their music careers. Some are funny, some are bewildering, and some are downright rude. I plan to write a few posts on this, so for the first one I'm focusing on the style questions and how to handle some of these situations.
"What is your music for?" What seemed to be a flowing theme through some of the comments we get is that our music doesn't fall into "popular genres," so some folks don't quite understand the purpose of creating something that feels more or less like a sound track, mood music, or a very thoughtful arrangement of sounds. Kees, Kim, and I have all gotten the question, "What is your music for?" or "what is this?" This is where it might be important to note that all of us are into instrumental, experimental, mood, or pseudo-cinematic creations. How do you handle this kind of reaction? Personally I loved Kim's story on this and so I am quoting her story here:
Kees (Roofhare) has gotten questions and comments of a similar nature. "What is this?" "You call this music?" "Can you play a tune?" "Why doesn't your music have a melody?" "I can't listen to this for very long." Ouch! I've listened to Roofhare's music. Yes it's different, but it's also really interesting. What I've found is that these types of comments sometimes come from a place of discomfort with being presented something new or that challenges their predispositions toward music. It's not their style. Which bring us to the following:
"Not My Style..." or "Why Don't You Do Something More Popular?"
Sometimes our music is dismissed entirely out of being different or we are challenged to fit other people's expectations. Our music isn't pop or rock or jazz or other traditional genres. And while I may come the closest with some of my vocal works, I still wouldn't expect someone that usually only digs country and rock-a-billy or hip hop and rap to be into my work. I happen to not be into certain genres myself but I am open to listening to something new or challenging.
Kees told me that he has also gotten the comment "This is not really my style, but it's well made." While that isn't, on the surface, a rude comment, depending on the spirit in which it was said, it still may hurt. As artists we need to understand quickly that the general populace does not care for every genre of music. It's important to learn how to handle this with grace. Kees gave me some insight into his reaction:
I simply say that I don't pigeonhole my music in a genre and that they should decide that for themselves. Then I may say that I think of it as experimental and explorative in the broadest sense. - Kees
Kees, I totally agree. It's up to the listener to decide what they like and what they don't. And for those that are trying to find something to say about music that they don't care for, it's okay to not like my music, but when it reaches "rude" is when there are insults or someone tries to steer me to do something to suit their tastes. Personally I run into that often, getting pushed to try to conform to someone else's expectations. Here's one of my "not my style" stories.
I recently ran into some criticism over my newest EP, to which a person, who I learned later didn't actually listen to more than a few seconds of each song, said that he "didn't have time for sad piano music." They suggested that my EP should have shown more range (in that I should have tried different styles) and the pieces all sounded the same. My reaction? I told him that it obviously wasn't his style of music and that's okay. This was a collection of concept pieces all done in a similar spirit so the songs, while not all the same, are related. I thanked him for listening and moved on. I have also gotten comments from people saying that they just don't care to listen to anything too different, to which I acknowledge their taste decision but sometimes (depending on my relationship with that person) also point out that every genre is born out of changing and experimenting with established styles and we wouldn't have jazz, rock, alternative, or blues without someone pushing and testing boundaries. - Sarah
Jeff (Isotherme) too is not immune to the odd comments on style:
Some people have said that my music is too weird to be on American Idol. They don't get it... I certainly don't want my music in American Idol. People say that because that approach to music is what people are force fed and they think that's how people make art. - Jeff
This last comment from Jeff I find to be disturbing, that someone would think that our goal would be to find our music on this show. I find it best to explain quickly that this isn't that type of music nor do you intend to make that type of music. Television shows like that are for performers, not necessarily showcases for songwriting or composition or to stretch people's ideas and concepts of art. Singers on contest shows need songs with words. There are so many genres that either are entirely or include a lot of instrumental music. Of course it wouldn't be on a singing-popularity show!
To wrap this up, Artists: When presented with the "what is this?' and "this isn't my style" sort of conversations, I would highly suggest a very gracious approach. Try one or more of the following:
1. Thank the person for listening (even if it wasn't the whole song).
2. Let them know that they are entitled to their opinion and that you understand that not everyone will understand or care for your music.
3. Be upfront about your genre (or lack-there-of). This is an "eclectic take on electronic meets classical." "This is music to meditate to." "This is experimental." "This is more like a movie soundtrack." This helps to explain to the listener that you don't expect to hear this on their country radio station or their pop playlist (I actually like to tell people before they listen what they are getting into if I can.)
4. Be clear that you appreciate their feedback, but that you love what you do. Let them know that your music is true to you.
Listeners: It's difficult to tell you what to say when you don't like something or don't understand it. It becomes about tone and your openness to understand. I've had some very good conversations with people about my music. This may help:
1. Ask about their inspiration
2. If you were personally asked by the artist to listen, thank the artist for sharing! (It takes some guts, especially initially, for an artist to ask you to listen to their work if they are unsure of your tastes)
3. If you were asked to listen to experimental and you are not into that, be upfront that you typically listen to music such as X, Y, or Z (and name the genres or artists).
4. Do NOT tell the artist to change their aesthetic. You wouldn't tell your favorite popular artists to switch to a completely different genre. Don't do it to a niche artist either.
Love to you all!
The Lyrical Physicist
As promised, the links...
Sarah Schonert: www.sarahschonertmusic.com
Belly Full Of Stars: https://soundcloud.com/
Isotherme: https://isotherme.bandcamp.
Roofhare: https://soundcloud.com/
And you can listen to Jeff and Kees talking to indie music makers on their podcast: http://eclectrocasts.com
"What is your music for?" What seemed to be a flowing theme through some of the comments we get is that our music doesn't fall into "popular genres," so some folks don't quite understand the purpose of creating something that feels more or less like a sound track, mood music, or a very thoughtful arrangement of sounds. Kees, Kim, and I have all gotten the question, "What is your music for?" or "what is this?" This is where it might be important to note that all of us are into instrumental, experimental, mood, or pseudo-cinematic creations. How do you handle this kind of reaction? Personally I loved Kim's story on this and so I am quoting her story here:
The "What is your music for?" question actually came from a relative, via text. I could tell the tone of it was more "I don't get this." rather than trying to start a philosophical discussion about music and motivation. My first reply was a bit of a friendly jab back: "Ha! It's for listening and enjoying." But then I considered that it might have been less of a critique, and more genuine puzzlement - maybe they just weren't familiar with genres outside of classical, jazz, or rock/pop music on the radio. So I tried to answer again, this time coming from a conceptual perspective, rather than a defensive one. I told them that what I try to do when I write is communicate - an emotion, a concept, a story, a snapshot in time. And that most of what I write could probably fall into the genre of invisible/imaginary soundtracks: music that could be used to score a film or a television show, but for which no visual component yet existed. (I hoped that last part would answer the underlying implied question, "What would you do with this stuff?")
I didn't get any response or acknowledgement back; the conversation shifted to another topic. But I was happy with that answer, and I'm glad I decided to go back and write the second reply. Even if those words didn't get across to him, they felt better to me. - Kim
Kees (Roofhare) has gotten questions and comments of a similar nature. "What is this?" "You call this music?" "Can you play a tune?" "Why doesn't your music have a melody?" "I can't listen to this for very long." Ouch! I've listened to Roofhare's music. Yes it's different, but it's also really interesting. What I've found is that these types of comments sometimes come from a place of discomfort with being presented something new or that challenges their predispositions toward music. It's not their style. Which bring us to the following:
"Not My Style..." or "Why Don't You Do Something More Popular?"
Sometimes our music is dismissed entirely out of being different or we are challenged to fit other people's expectations. Our music isn't pop or rock or jazz or other traditional genres. And while I may come the closest with some of my vocal works, I still wouldn't expect someone that usually only digs country and rock-a-billy or hip hop and rap to be into my work. I happen to not be into certain genres myself but I am open to listening to something new or challenging.
Kees told me that he has also gotten the comment "This is not really my style, but it's well made." While that isn't, on the surface, a rude comment, depending on the spirit in which it was said, it still may hurt. As artists we need to understand quickly that the general populace does not care for every genre of music. It's important to learn how to handle this with grace. Kees gave me some insight into his reaction:
I simply say that I don't pigeonhole my music in a genre and that they should decide that for themselves. Then I may say that I think of it as experimental and explorative in the broadest sense. - Kees
Kees, I totally agree. It's up to the listener to decide what they like and what they don't. And for those that are trying to find something to say about music that they don't care for, it's okay to not like my music, but when it reaches "rude" is when there are insults or someone tries to steer me to do something to suit their tastes. Personally I run into that often, getting pushed to try to conform to someone else's expectations. Here's one of my "not my style" stories.
I recently ran into some criticism over my newest EP, to which a person, who I learned later didn't actually listen to more than a few seconds of each song, said that he "didn't have time for sad piano music." They suggested that my EP should have shown more range (in that I should have tried different styles) and the pieces all sounded the same. My reaction? I told him that it obviously wasn't his style of music and that's okay. This was a collection of concept pieces all done in a similar spirit so the songs, while not all the same, are related. I thanked him for listening and moved on. I have also gotten comments from people saying that they just don't care to listen to anything too different, to which I acknowledge their taste decision but sometimes (depending on my relationship with that person) also point out that every genre is born out of changing and experimenting with established styles and we wouldn't have jazz, rock, alternative, or blues without someone pushing and testing boundaries. - Sarah
Jeff (Isotherme) too is not immune to the odd comments on style:
Some people have said that my music is too weird to be on American Idol. They don't get it... I certainly don't want my music in American Idol. People say that because that approach to music is what people are force fed and they think that's how people make art. - Jeff
This last comment from Jeff I find to be disturbing, that someone would think that our goal would be to find our music on this show. I find it best to explain quickly that this isn't that type of music nor do you intend to make that type of music. Television shows like that are for performers, not necessarily showcases for songwriting or composition or to stretch people's ideas and concepts of art. Singers on contest shows need songs with words. There are so many genres that either are entirely or include a lot of instrumental music. Of course it wouldn't be on a singing-popularity show!
To wrap this up, Artists: When presented with the "what is this?' and "this isn't my style" sort of conversations, I would highly suggest a very gracious approach. Try one or more of the following:
1. Thank the person for listening (even if it wasn't the whole song).
2. Let them know that they are entitled to their opinion and that you understand that not everyone will understand or care for your music.
3. Be upfront about your genre (or lack-there-of). This is an "eclectic take on electronic meets classical." "This is music to meditate to." "This is experimental." "This is more like a movie soundtrack." This helps to explain to the listener that you don't expect to hear this on their country radio station or their pop playlist (I actually like to tell people before they listen what they are getting into if I can.)
4. Be clear that you appreciate their feedback, but that you love what you do. Let them know that your music is true to you.
Listeners: It's difficult to tell you what to say when you don't like something or don't understand it. It becomes about tone and your openness to understand. I've had some very good conversations with people about my music. This may help:
1. Ask about their inspiration
2. If you were personally asked by the artist to listen, thank the artist for sharing! (It takes some guts, especially initially, for an artist to ask you to listen to their work if they are unsure of your tastes)
3. If you were asked to listen to experimental and you are not into that, be upfront that you typically listen to music such as X, Y, or Z (and name the genres or artists).
4. Do NOT tell the artist to change their aesthetic. You wouldn't tell your favorite popular artists to switch to a completely different genre. Don't do it to a niche artist either.
Love to you all!
The Lyrical Physicist
As promised, the links...
Sarah Schonert: www.sarahschonertmusic.com
Belly Full Of Stars: https://soundcloud.com/
Isotherme: https://isotherme.bandcamp.
Roofhare: https://soundcloud.com/
And you can listen to Jeff and Kees talking to indie music makers on their podcast: http://eclectrocasts.com
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