Dave Wirth
This is the final part of a three part series on Genres and Creativity. This post is about better understanding how genres and originality really just want to pick a fist-fight with each other.
Does originality come from choosing a genre and then creating within it's structures, as a nod to the people who already listen to that type of music? Or does it come from taking elements from genres that appeal and allowing them to slowly grow roots inside the creative vision? The question is analogous to wine. Which is better: The wine that has just been bottled, or the wine that has had a longer time to age? I don't drink at all, but I imagine that the latter is preferred. It takes patience to let that wine age, if you appreciate the good stuff. It should be satisfying, and to get there we must let it sit and get better. I love to think about creating music in the same way.
The bands and artists that are patient, who understand that creating music that sounds most like themselves takes patience and time, totally reap the benefit of being satisfied with their creations, regardless of commercial outcome. Fortunately I think we are in an era where the much music is bound to be noticed if it has that special something. Radiohead has steadily pushed forward creatively, in spite of having a great reputation and wonderful track record. They don't suck because they never gave up. They have the patience, the resources, the know-how, and the courage to follow their own vision even if it leads to critical failure. Somehow I don't think they care because being creative and allowing their own music to be good for them is more important than success. That's why Ok Computer is different from Kid A. Both are just opposite sides of the same band, and their creative ouput with these two records alone makes labeling them as a genre specific band useless. Radiohead totally smashes the idea of genres to complete pieces.Can we define music as far as it's genre? Yes. It's helpful sometimes. Many people wouldn't appreciate being sold a Slayer record if it was billed as a Folk record. It helps to have some direction, and I play that same game when promoting my music too. However, the best bands defy any silly labels, and just create music because doing so probably makes them feel happier.One final point to consider for any person who is starting to play guitar from scratch: You have something to give, and you have something to create. Just do it. Try not to think that you don't, that you have to be original to create anything. Try to create music to enjoy the mere act of how satisfying it is. You don't have to do anything perfectly. If that were the case, I'd of given up a long time ago. Just play, have fun, and make sure you don't hurt your wrists... It's the guitar teacher in me. I can't help it.
