MUSICAL WORKS

INTRODUCTION

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all kinds of digital devices and release their music over the Internet or through another medium such as the -soon outdated- CD.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. 

This is where UK based company DRUMDROPS.com enters the arena. In their case, Quality and Quantity are both spelled with a capital Q where the prices are as low as the deepest Bassline.

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