Cycles of the Music - Posted on 2015-01-22 by Stephen Boyles

I have read from a producer/Dj Whiite. And he has a short article I will share with you guys right here: 

THE CYCLES OF MUSIC

I study music and music culture just as much as I make it. I don't get to go as much as I did a few years back, but I still Dig at record stores a few times a month grabbing records as far back as the 30s to current records... actual vinyl smile emoticon .Ive had a few conversations lately with other producers talking about the state of music. We discussed certain trends and movements that are on the rise and others that are on the down slope. In these conversations Ive realized a few things about the cycles of music. This may seem like common knowledge to those of you working in music... But I thought it might be an interesting topic to discuss.

Right now in dance music there's a serge of of new genres around a deeper sound. Future Bass, Future House, Deep House, Garage coming off of a few years of really heavy stuff in the forefront Dubstep, Moombahcore, Electro House, Trap...and so on...

So... From heavy to soft. Why? The natural cycles of music... If you look at the history of popular music it shifts constantly and happens every 5 years or so. Late 70s disco to early 80s hair metal... late 80s pop music to early 90s grunge... Dirty grunge to late 90s Hip Hop and smooth R & B. Light to Dark... Light to Dark... Heavy and dirty to more soft and mellow. Arguments can be made for what was more popular in certain moments, but you can't deny the shift. Just like the history of fashion if you look at the 9-5 working Mens ties from these decades 50s,60s,70s,80s,90s,2000s it goes Fat ties are popular then skinny ties are popular... Fat Tie, Skinny Tie, Fat Tie, Skinny Tie and so on... Why? Because tie retailers need to sell more ties so a shift needs to happen... suddenly its "nah Fat Ties are out its all about the skinny or vice a versa." I also have a theory that we as people want our own music. Music defines us in a way and we want certain styles to be our own. It changes the way we dress, speak and philosophies on how we live our lives. So that being said I think we look at the generations before us and sub-consciously want to be different... You'd think "Oh thats my parents music" or "Oh thats my older brother's music" so I think this is also a cause for the shift every 5 years as theirs a new generation and a new culture to digest music. Would be interesting to see down to exact months when these shifts were made and how that played into culturally what was happening in american at that time.

For those of you making music out there and building your projects this could be of value to you... To know that nothing lasts forever, but if you love music and your doing it for the right reasons you can constantly adapt and have a voice no matter what the climate is...

Keep Grinding... All the best,

Whiiite

With all that being said it really does make a lot of sense when you think about it. Music cycles just as everything else does. With my heavy interest in electronic music, he really hit it on the nail. I recall going to my first rave and hearing all these Dj's in 2010 and the style of music has shifted quite a lot now in 2015. It is not as heavy. From Dubstep being the main genre to now deep house coming back to life. The shift is also not so dramatic it does not change overnight but it does happen to change throughout every year. I think that is vital for upcoming producers or musicians or really anyone in order to stay relevant.  

People must know and understand that music, culture and really anything all do shift from different genres and styles. They do change but it is more like the cycle between other past generations modified to now. Once you know this and implemen it in life in any form of art you choose then you stay 'ahead of the trend' or you are a part of the trend. 

I think many people fall behind because they do not necessarily care about the latest trend or like it but one way or another they eventually accept it; being a part of the trend. Because everyone else around them is.

It is important to stay relevant. The last thing you want to be doing is dialing up while everyone else is on 4g...