Oriphiel

If there's one question that I get asked more than any other, it's "Why do you like weird music so much?" In response, I usually just shrug and say "It's what I like." But that isn't a very telling or satisfying answer, and eventually I found myself in doubt, asking the same questions that I'd heard so many times before. Why do I have such a taste for strange retro songs? Do I simply do it to make myself seem "unique"? Do I have some stubborn desire to go against popular culture? After thinking about it, I believe I have the answer.

In a way, I've always had an affinity for old music. Growing up, I loved listening to the retro stations as they played classic rock 'n roll tunes from the 1950's and 1960's. There was something about the energy of the artists, especially Little Richard and his frantic vocals, that gave me the energy and courage to confront my problems. There are those who prefer new music, to be on the cutting edge of what's fresh and exciting, and that is a perfectly valid preference. But there was something so mysterious about old songs and the fuzzy distortion created by obsolete analogue recording equipment, as well as songs that took on an aged tone due to fading master tapes. This was, of course, in sharp contrast to the super-clean production of most modern songs, but that was exactly why I was drawn to them; as a strange misfit, I had no way of relating to pitch-perfect modern songs, while old rock 'n roll was just as dirty and raw as I saw myself. It was my music.

When you begin looking at the different decades of underground music, you quickly learn that there is an almost limitless amount of songs and albums out there. And as the years roll on, even more appear; for every band that makes the cut, a hundred fall by the roadside with only a sole debut or a few singles to remind the world that they did in fact exist. Looking through the entries in this journal, it's easy to forget that every song on every album was created by ever-hopeful musicians, people who wanted the same variety of accomplishments that humans have always wanted. Some wanted to pave an avenue to popularity and success, while others had grand ambitions of changing the world with their music, and of course there were those who simply needed the money. But they were all united by the common goal that resides in the heart of every artist, even if only as a small spark that can easily be lost within the flames of greater desires; they wanted to be appreciated and understood.

The reason I love odd retro music is the same reason that everyone in the world has their own musical preferences; we all listen to our own brand of music because we get something out of it. It gives us power, meaning, a good time, something to relate to. It's a home that we can always come back to, no matter how far our travels take us, and there's always a comfy bed set for us to crash on. When I was at my lowest point in life, my music reminded me that I was far from alone. The reason I go to such lengths to keep obscure bands in the spotlight is because I refuse to let them die and have their legacy forgotten. It's music, it's beautiful in it's own right, it has the power to inspire people just as it has inspired me, and it deserves a chance to stay alive even if only for a moment longer.

To put it simply, I write this journal because not everyone can relate to popular music. To those who are like me, and have a craving for the odd and obscure, I offer the bands within as an alternative. For this is the Garage, where the forgotten are remembered.