Watch out, I’m about to drop an existential bomb on all y’all. It won’t hurt. I promise.
Life is about making connections– to people, to places, to ideas and values and God(s). There are different kinds of connections: friendship, romance, fanaticism. Each has it’s own feeling that distinguishes it from the rest. To me, one of the most interesting connections is between an artist and the people who “consume” his art.
Your four year old niece’s drawing of a dinosaur done exclusively in green crayon is special because, well, because your four year old niece drew it. That piano recital with twenty kids under the age of thirteen? You really only listened when your brother/sister/child was on stage. Having a personal connection to the artist makes the art itself very different. (That’s assuming, of course, it’s a positive connection.)
The Internet makes it easier for fans to connect with artists. Those connections make modern music meaningful in a new way. Sure, following Andre 3000 on Twitter isn’t the same as having a deep conversation with him. I don’t really know Jay-Z just because I saw a thirty-second clip of him candidly speaking backstage. But both of those instances are more of a connection than nothing. Both function as a small peek into the artist’s world, creating a small (albeit one-sided) personal connection.
And for many amateur bands/musicians, there’s a much stronger (and two-sided) connection. Smaller artists will respond to e-mails, send Facebook messages or write on MySpace walls. Some will agree to interviews. Today’s music scene is more “personal” than any other in history. And these personal connections are getting stronger, making the music more meaningful. The Internet is connecting us. The connections are making the music more meaningful. Group hug.
The Cheerz
This new stuff from The Cheerz hit my inbox about a week ago via their music label Moveltraxx. The latest EP is deceptively long: it’s really just three songs remixed a bunch of times. But don’t worry– there’s enough variety on this album to keep you interested.
Four songs are posted below. The first three come from the EP. These songs have some of the best drums I’ve heard in a while, high-energy and always changing. The rhythm section includes cymbals, drums, bells, whistles, even gunshots. The fourth song is an Uh Oh Disco exclusive. It’s a killer remix that didn’t quite make the cut for the EP. One thing is clear– anyone with b-sides this good is pretty damn talented.
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The Cheerz – Whooz Da Baddest (Big Dope P Remix)
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The Cheerz – Monsta (Original Mix)
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The Cheerz – La French Patrass (Douster Remix)
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