Be creative or die.

What is the essence of contemporary music?  What is it about music that keeps the attention of the people, and prevents it from becoming a dead art?  Well, it is the continuous innovation within music that keeps things fresh.  Creativity is of the utmost importance in music, for without it, there would be nothing to keep the masses coming back.

Think about it.  If artists in the music world decided not to be creative with their songwriting, and simply jump on the bandwagon of what’s popular (which is something that far too many artists do anyways), every band would be putting out the same record year after year.  The same basic song structure, the same lyrical overtones, and the same over-used guitar riffs recycled repeatedly.  Soon enough, the fans would lose interest, in turn making the musicians lose interest.

That’s not to say that every band in the world needs to bring something completely new to table with each song they write.  But as long as artists continue to implement their own ideas into their songwriting, and not just cash-in on the latest craze that’s dominating MTV, the music world can continue to prosper.   Alan Belkin, a well-known composer and teacher of musical composition, makes the assertion that, “All creativity deserves to be developed and encouraged. While not everyone is a Bach or a Mozart, that does not mean they have nothing to contribute.”  This rings true through any genre of music.  As long as artists continue to innovate and be creative with their ideas, the essence of music remains intact, and fans can always have something new and exciting to look forward to.

Take for example, Arcade Fire.  In an indie genre that is overpopulated by nasally bands whining about broken hearts, Arcade Fire managed to create their own little niche in the genre with their vast musical influence, incorporation of many musical instruments (such as strings and accordion), and extremely heartfelt lyrics that resonate with despair, without being cynical.  Now hailed by many as the force to be reckoned with in the music world, including Pitchfork Media (read their review of Arcade Fire’s debut full-length album here), the band achieved the success they’ve received by putting out music that is fresh, and doesn’t sound quite like anything the music world has experienced yet.  It’s this never-ending contribution to the advancement of music that makes creativity the key to keeping contemporary music alive.

Another artist who possesses the essence of music, is Pig Destroyer.  While not for everyone, fans of the scene cannot help but appreciate Pig Destroyer’s unique blend of punk-influenced grindcore.  With their three most recent records garnering universal praise from fans and critics alike, they bring a revolutionary sound to the world of extreme music.  Guitarist Scott Hull’s signature light-speed aggressive guitar playing, JR Hayes’ pummeling vocals that assault the eardrums, and Brian Harvey’s supernatural drumming make Pig Destroyer the poster boys of the underground metal scene.

While on two completely different ends of the musical spectrum, both artists are the epitamy of the essence of which this post addresses.  Creativity is essential to the continued evolution of music.  And as long as there are die-hard music enthusiasts with a passion for the art still out there making albums, music will forever be a sanctuary for individuals around the world.

Adam Belkin quote taken from http://www.musique.umontreal.ca/personnel/Belkin/creativity.html

First Photo: http://wendylynchphotography.com/ArcadeFire1_4.jpg

Second Photo: http://www.exclaim.ca/images/up-pig_destroyer_1.jpg