Anyone Here Make Music?

[TheFreshPrints]

Pretty simple and straightforward question: Do any of you make music? If so, what genre? Who or what inspired you to start?


Me, I've always loved music. I grew up with it. You couldn't go one day in my house without hearing my mother or father's old records. They mainly played 60's and 70's Rock, Motown, and occasionally some Jazz. Everything from Coltrane to The Doors. You name it, they played it.

As I got older, I began to learn about other genres of music... Mainly Hip Hop. You know, Public Enemy, N.W.A., Afrika Bambaataa, Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five, RUN DMC, Eric B. & Rakim, etc.. Though, I didn't really get inspired to make music until I heard Pharcyde's Labcabincalifornia. The first track on there was "Bullshit," which happened to be produced by the late, great J Dilla (the album came out in 1995, I didn't hear it until 1998).

It took me a few years before I actually decided to give making beats a shot, but I was truly inspired by what I had heard from Dilla. It wasn't until later that I was fully able to understand how much of a genius the man was. His sample choices, his chopping, his drums, everything about his beats were incredible to me. I knew I had to do what he did... Or at least find a way to show homage.

At first, I sucked. That's completely understandable. But the more I listened, the more I studied, the more I began to hone my craft. Now, after 7+ years, I'm medicore the profession I have chosen to pursue. Haha.

So, yeah, that's my story. If you DO make music and want to share it, PLEASE do. I'd love to hear.

If you're interested, you can hear some of the songs I produced by clicking on the track names below (I compose some of my own music as well, but both of those joints are sampled).

Track No. 1
Track No. 2

Both of the emcees are friends of mine. And yes, I produced both beats. Also, if anyone is familiar with Tanya Morgan, I have a track coming out in a few days that features Von Pea (of Tanya Morgan, obviously).

Share!



P.S.
Again, I apologize if this has already been discussed. It's early/late... depending on the way you look at it.

 

[The 1-2-3 Killam]

I've been playing guitar for the last 8 years, and I've recorded for several bands in the last few. I just wrapped up a project with a local band this week actually! I started in the 2nd grade in Band, playing Euphonium, eventually picking up tuba, trombone, trumpet, and moved into rhythm when I joined percussion ensemble. But that was high school... Since then I've been playing guitar about 3 hours a day, for probably about 4 years? Give or take?

I love all forms of music, but when I'm playing guitar I play pretty exclusively post-rock. My biggest post-rock inspirations are "God is an Astronaut" and "Sigur Ros". My biggest all-time guitar inspiration, by far is John Mayer. The kid can hang, that's for damn sure...

 

[Cracka Jack]

I've played guitar for about eight years now, but didn't start taking it too seriously until a few years back. I haven't ever been in a band, and while I've written some stuff, my lack of a decent voice has kept me from doing anything with it. Aside from guitar, I've been making Hip-Hop beats for a couple years now, though I'd say that only a few of the ones I've made are any good. I'd post some on here, but I don't have them online anywhere. I intend to make a full album of something eventually, but I don't which genre I'll go with. I suppose it'll just come to me.

 

[Jessie Lynn DivaGirl]

Kind of. I write songs but then I completely forget them and they become a distant memory...

Except for one. I was listening to Kelly Clarkson the one day and I thought back to one of my roleplay stories (the MCR band one- look in one of the prison threads; the one about strange intrests) and I remembered that me and my Bestie Kaylee made the band ad our characters write a son together called "Rise Agian". So I was thinking, how would Rise Again go?

So I started singing out loud. Now I'm going to post a link to the song but please do not steal the lyrics, I worked REALLY hard on them.

http://www.facebook.com/note.php?note_id=221684187898567

This is what I came up with. I still need to work on the tune because it currently sounds almost exactly like Kelly Clarkson's song "Addicted to You". That's mostly because I heard the chick who got banned from American Idol auditions (yes, and it was funny) singing it on the news. But I've heard that it sounds really good.

Anyone know someoe willing to record me singing it?

 

[Jessie Lynn DivaGirl]

PS, I actually can sing very well. Look up Jessie Notarius on youtube and either of the two videos with the girl wearing the purple shirt. They both have me singing in them.

 

[Cracka Jack]

Seems I can't edit my original post, so I'll put this here. After figuring out how to put things on Youtube, I decided to upload an instrumental I made some time ago. If you care to hear it, here's the link:

Untitled Instrumental

 

[Chess]

I have been making beats for years now. Originally I simply did beats for fun but after getting some interest from local artists I started producing beats for them to use for a little extra pocket money. I produce most genres of music from Hiphop, ambiance, dance, pop and experimental.

For me the hardest part of producing tracks was to get the quality sounds available as they cost so much. Many people can make beats but if you are using cheap sounds then the track is just a waste. Luckily for me I now have a collection of sounds which the professionals would be happy with.

I used to produce all beats from scratch, 100% me, however more recently I have started to add samples from various areas and the creating around these samples. I have enjoyed sampling classical music and adding hiphop beats and basslines to them or parts of movie soundtracks (Hans Zimmer) and creating new experimental beats.

Below is a couple tracks I have on Youtube if you are interested.

The Inception Trick (Sample from Inception, mixed into a form of experimental dance).

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8zo4DihxxVs

The Mind is Time Ambient track for the passing of a friend

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CqDnqdmBU4s

Notorious BIG Vs Vivaldi Just what it sounds like. BIG rapping over a Vivaldi sampled hook and orchestral arrangement by me.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cJXdbluLewo

 

[J.J.]

I play bass guitar(currently own a Fender Squier J90 and i play the piano(Yamaha P95 electric piano) and I own 2 Stanton turntables from when I dj. I own 2 Akai drum machines and an older Alexis model. I do make beats.

I use Ableton Suite 8 and Reasons. I own FL 10 but everyone and their mama uses FL now, I only use FL when i use my Dilla drum kit.

I do have beats and I'm influenced by sampling. One might argue sampling isn't as creative as making beats from scratch - i differ because it all depends on how well you chop the sample.

Speaking of Pharcyde - Runnin' is currently my ringtone.

I been working on music off and on for 9 years. I recorded over Computer mics with a quilt around myself and mic to recording in the closet to having my own setup.

 

[Trill Co$by]

A few friends of mine are considering making a band with a lead female vocalist and myself being the back up vocalist... or the other way around (we're not entirely sure yet). The problem is that I can't play any instrument except the recorder, and that's just not hardcore now is it lol.

So far, the band has got a drummer and two electrics (one of which is the female singer)... we need a bassist and maybe a keyboard...

I have written lyrics and sheet music, because I do have a know how for doing that stuff, but currently we haven't recorded anything because well for starters studio time is expensive and we don't have a full band... nor do we even have a name, although "The Band With No Name" has become a favorite among the group.

 

[Pay Per Ghost]

Back here Rock n' Roll is all the rage, we play all that but a little inclined to the blues.

Born On A Bad Sign, Red House, Sunshine Of Your Love, Politician.

Ye maybe a small break gig this friday. If something is record and post worthy, it'll be here.

 

[J.J.]

TheFreshPrints, I dig it. Congratulations on collabing with Von Pea, I heard him on S1's Strange Fruit Project. Also own a Tantamount Morgan album, forgot the name but "The Bridge" is on it. Check out "Everybody Clap" from the S1 album.

 

[Calderownz]

I write. I rap virtually all sorts of music. If I'm in a country mood, it's country. Oldies, oldies style of lyrics. Rap, rap. You get the picture.

I just love creating in that respect. I haven't recorded any rap music in such a long time. (I don't sing, I just write the other music. So, that's never been done.)

I want to get more into it, but I just haven't had the time as of late.

 

[Khalifa]

I use to play guitar 6 years ago but I never had time to do it so I quit, I now only write lyrics. I write rap I suppose and I have been writing for a few years now. I usually write a song but don't finish it and then forget about it while I am writing a new one. I have about 8 unfinished songs. I usually just do remix's of songs but lately I have been writing my own stuff. I don't really know what inspired me to do it. I guess I just did it one day when I was listening to some songs and thought I could do it.

I really really love music and wish I could get into the music business but I have a terrible voice and for my genre it's better to come up with your own lyrics rather than sing someone elses, sigh .

 

[J.J.]

The art of Hip-Hop is creating your own. I wouldn't dare try to rap over a Nas, Jay-Z, Outkast or Rakim beat cause chances are its a classic. I listened to it on a "Boombox" when mainstream radio was decent enough to hear and a CD player was considered luxury and instead played the hell out of my old Slick Rick cassette.

 

[the420something]

I got some of my rap shit on YT. Got a web series up, with me and my homie freestylin. I'm a big wrestling nerd so I got my Twitter up. Check out the Sig.

 

[J.J.]

Do you use your own beats or some other rapper?

 

[Big Sexy]

I've been writing raps for a few years now. Its always been kind of a therapeutic thing for me to get out any frustration or aggression I may have. I have shitty recording software and an even shittier mic so the sound quality isn't great but I have some stuff on youtube. It's all at least a year old and some of it is a couple years old because I've been busy the last year with other things. I'm starting to get back into now and I've obviously improved but here's a couple samples from my past recordings. When I record over beats I obviously use other rappers stuff because I don't have my own.

[YOUTUBE]TGYakZsHYvg[/YOUTUBE]

[YOUTUBE]i0-LiA-bNe8[/YOUTUBE]

 

[arezianL]

I'm listening to snoopDog right now... having some party beat...

 

[J.J.]

Big Sexy I encourage you to make your own beats. The trendy program to use is FL Studio but I prefer Ableton Suite. FL Studio is good for a beginner to learn on, the interface is simple and once you download some drum kits you're set. I'd DL Vegas as far as recording software goes and invest in a condensed mic. All is relatively inexpensive.

 

[SorgFamily]

Been playing guitar for about eight years or so, only taking it seriously for the last four or five years. My friend and I used to play at this little coffee shop but I've moved away since then and we only play whenever he comes to visit which is two or three times a year. I'm actually pretty mediocre for how long I've been playing but since my only job is rhythm guitar/vocals and to bust out the occasional small solo I serve my purpose. We had about twenty-five songs in the bank when I moved away and on top of that performed covers from Bowie (Space Oddity), Soundgarden (Fell on Black Days), Chris Cornell (MJ cover Billie Jean) and Plush (STP) among others.

I've also made a few songs on piano although I don't actually own one so I can't really practice them. I recorded one and had a friend listen to it and he liked it so I assume it was alright.

 

[SorgFamily]

Been playing guitar for about eight years or so, only taking it seriously for the last four or five years. My friend and I used to play at this little coffee shop but I've moved away since then and we only play whenever he comes to visit which is two or three times a year. I'm actually pretty mediocre for how long I've been playing but since my only job is rhythm guitar/vocals and to bust out the occasional small solo I serve my purpose. We had about twenty-five songs in the bank when I moved away and on top of that performed covers from Bowie (Space Oddity), Soundgarden (Fell on Black Days), Chris Cornell (MJ cover Billie Jean) and Plush (STP) among others.

I've also made a few songs on piano although I don't actually own one so I can't really practice them. I recorded one and had a friend listen to it and he liked it so I assume it was alright.

Nothing compared to a friend of mine though who can play guitar, sing (remarkably well), play piano and he then on top of that he found a banjo (who just finds a banjo?) and then wrote a song on it that same week.