Ever since the first drum-computers entered
the studio's, there's a group holding to a
strict "non-machinal diet" where
others seem to have a special love for
"digital niceness".
In this first decade of the 21st century,
there is still a lot of debate in the world
of Music Production. And the debate hasn't
passed the door of the Reggae Artist
Community as well, obviously.
Those who are into a "non-machinal
diet" often refer to the fact that
music can not be created by a machine, and
that it has to be "played by
humans". And those who like
"digital niceness", respond to
that by saying that all music is created by
humans.
They're both right.
They're also both saying the same thing.
You'll often see the two sides of the
debate divided in "bands" on one
hand, and "producers" on the
other.
The bands make a repertoire, which
they then perform on live concerts while
recording the songs in a studio.
The producers create rhythms in
their studio's using all kinds of digital
devices and release their music over the
Internet or through another medium such as
the -soon outdated- CD.
And within Reggae Music, this is even so
in a much stronger case. For Reggae Music is
first and foremost a Studio Music, whether
it is created by humans playing an
instrument or humans controlling digital
devices.
When you say "Reggae", you say
"Jamaica".
It was there that the music was born and
developed. Mostly in the Jamaican Studio's
and during sessions in dancehalls where
vocalists voiced over recorded tracks.
And it was from there that the music
spread across the planet. Not only to the
"Studio's of the world", but also
to the Concert-halls where Bands play Live
Reggae.
And so, In this 21st Century, over three
decades after the music was born, you'll
find people of every nation color and creed
within the Reggae Artist Community.
And it's not just so that Reggae Music
has an ability to adjust itself to new
generations. In many ways, Reggae was way
ahead of it's time.
Much of today's music is Studio music avant
la lettre. And Reggae Music is primarily
a studio music.
Digital technology has given birth to
whole generations of independent producers
who create their music in their studio's.
Reggae, and especially DUB Producers often
know how to use the many new digital
possibilities.
But where many Reggae Bands lack a studio
to give their music the vibe that it needs,
many of today's Reggae producers lack a band
to give their productions that "human
feel".
After all, Reggae is created in studio's.
But these studio's all had their own
studio-band. Skillful musicians playing one riddim
after another into the multi-track recorder
of the smiling producer.
Channel One with the Roots Radics come to
mind, for example. The Greensleeves Series
where the man called SCIENTIST mixed riddim
after riddim played by the Roots
Radics.
Yes, that is a thing which many producers
lack. A thing which all the possibilities of
the computerized studio may not always
compensate.
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