Sound collage artists vs musicians

[modularjack]

This is nothing new. Ever heard of hip hop? It's probably been around since before you were born. Some people like working that way, others like writing their own material completely. I don't think one approach is 'better' or 'more legit' than another per se (look at all the smash hits using a looped sample) however one could argue it is less original or creative than making your own riffs. Do what you like. Just bear in mind, trying to sell tracks with ripped off obvious samples from other tracks... is gonna cause you some problems. That is the main reason I try and avoid using samples other than those I've recorded myself.

[Rogue Ai]

Originally Posted by modularjack

Just bear in mind, trying to sell tracks with ripped off obvious samples from other tracks... is gonna cause you some problems. That is the main reason I try and avoid using samples other than those I've recorded myself.

This is why I love sampling from public domain movies.

[Brainchild]

Hmm, hard to say. I just know I'm always looking for new dichotomies and distinctions I can use to block myself off psychologically from as much freedom of movement as possible.

[nrvana8775]

If this is okay, why not use loops?

Say, I want a synth line similar to a song. Why not just jack it instead of recording it myself?

[Methlab]

As a guy who sucks at singing..I love this. Are they taking acapellas and resampling or taking full songs?

[Methlab]

You could do this in FL studio real easily as well.

What types of songs are you sampling? My biggest challenge is finding a starting point sample wise- tracking them down can be tricky.

[offki]

Think you're losing focus of what's going on. It's about the listener not the producer. What other producers think isn't as important. You could argue in many cases it could be said to show less effort, but it's never that simple.

If I take 6 hours to compose a track and design the sounds and another person takes 3 weeks to track down samples who has really done more work (based on we have both spent the exact same time learning) who has really done more work? It's the results that matter. It's not school, there are no points in the music industry for showing your working out.

The link you posted seemed like a pretty ham-fisted attempt to sound Burial imo, but that's my 20 second opinion.

This is a far better and older example of that and also justifies it's means to many other producers.

[samsam]

^ a lot of truth right there.

And while we're on the subject of Burial, if anyone claimed his productions were less creative due to his use of samples, I'd chuckle in their general direction.

[cdog]

Originally Posted by nrvana8775

What are your thoughts on the new crop of sound collage artists? Is this just another form of musical expression? Do you view this as less valid than someone who writes all of the melodies/lines, instead of incorporating elements from various songs?

Dude, this is art. There isnt anything that isnt valid. John Cage wrote a piece that consisted of no notes or sounds whatsoever.

Basically, if people have a strong reaction to your music, in any way whatsoever, I would consider it to be successful. If people ignore it or are generally blase about it, its a sign to go back to the drawing board.