EDM and Authenticity/Originality

lkwong · 11-29-2016, 04:28 PM

I have to write a music ethnographic essay on whether or not EDM music is considered original and authentic. If I could get some thoughts on this topic that would be great!

Also, the issue of whether EDM music is seen as non-traditional and why?

**Frownland** · 11-29-2016, 04:29 PM

Authentic to what? Can we see your prompt?

lkwong · 11-29-2016, 04:31 PM

I don't have like a structured prompt because we get to pick the topic, but authentic in the sense that it's original to one’s own work because EDM artists often sample / “borrow” parts of a song and integrate it into their work and call it their own without crediting the artist they borrowed the part of the song from. So it gets into issues of copyrights sometimes.

**Frownland** · 11-29-2016, 04:34 PM

I'd call it authentic given that the song isn't identical to the sample.

The Batlord · 11-29-2016, 06:36 PM

Sample-based music can most definitely be original and "authentic". Think of it this way, at its most basic level sampling is functionally no different than using a note on a guitar that another artist has used. You're just upping the number of notes. The artistic vision is different, but it's all using common sounds to build different ones.

Mondo Bungle · 11-29-2016, 09:55 PM

Has anyone ever thought it was strange how recent modern youth culture jam out to outrageous robotic and mechanical, modulated noises and abrasive sounds

And then they dis me and my harsh noise. Take the drums out it's borderline the same.

society huh

Sonar · 11-30-2016, 12:59 PM

The Batlord hit the nail with his guitar metaphor.

Both art and technology are similar in this respect: engineers use original or modified tools and details to design new devices, just like musicians. Of cause, there laws in place to fight plagiarism, but they are not perfect and arbitrary in many cases.

mashypie · 12-05-2016, 02:21 PM

It sounds different to other stuff, especially big room house, I would say that it has an 'original' sound, as in it doesn't sound like anything else I listen to, its distinctive, new

However, when you get to the point where an artist can splice together the breaks from 13 different tracks (as was done a year or two ago) and every single splice contains the same element/sound/break or whatever, then you have to question its originality...

11-29-2016, 04:28 PM	#1 (permalink)
lkwong Groupie Join Date: Nov 2016 Posts: 2	EDM and Authenticity/Originality I have to write a music ethnographic essay on whether or not EDM music is considered original and authentic. If I could get some thoughts on this topic that would be great! Also, the issue of whether EDM music is seen as non-traditional and why?

11-29-2016, 04:29 PM	#2 (permalink)
Frownland SOPHIE FOREVER Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: East of the Southern North American West Posts: 35,548	Authentic to what? Can we see your prompt? __________________ Studies show that when a given norm is changed in the face of the unchanging, the remaining contradictions will parallel the truth. d e a f b o x

11-29-2016, 04:34 PM	#4 (permalink)
Frownland SOPHIE FOREVER Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: East of the Southern North American West Posts: 35,548	I'd call it authentic given that the song isn't identical to the sample. __________________ Studies show that when a given norm is changed in the face of the unchanging, the remaining contradictions will parallel the truth. d e a f b o x

11-29-2016, 04:31 PM	#3 (permalink)
lkwong Groupie Join Date: Nov 2016 Posts: 2	I don't have like a structured prompt because we get to pick the topic, but authentic in the sense that it's original to one’s own work because EDM artists often sample / “borrow” parts of a song and integrate it into their work and call it their own without crediting the artist they borrowed the part of the song from. So it gets into issues of copyrights sometimes.

11-30-2016, 12:59 PM	#7 (permalink)
Sonar Music Addict Join Date: Mar 2016 Posts: 167	The Batlord hit the nail with his guitar metaphor. Both art and technology are similar in this respect: engineers use original or modified tools and details to design new devices, just like musicians. Of cause, there laws in place to fight plagiarism, but they are not perfect and arbitrary in many cases.

12-05-2016, 02:21 PM	#8 (permalink)
mashypie Groupie Join Date: Nov 2016 Posts: 18	It sounds different to other stuff, especially big room house, I would say that it has an 'original' sound, as in it doesn't sound like anything else I listen to, its distinctive, new However, when you get to the point where an artist can splice together the breaks from 13 different tracks (as was done a year or two ago) and every single splice contains the same element/sound/break or whatever, then you have to question its originality...