Posts
As part of Liverpool's Sound City, I attended a conference with DJ Ras Kwame form 1Xtra.The topic: Can Liverpool's Urban Underground Scene, go OVERGROUND?
Okay, so on the panel were other people from Liverpool involved with the Urban Underground.
The conference itself, wasn't so much a waste of time, but the people answering the questions didn't really know what it was like to be an aspiring artist from Liverpool. Also within the conference, nothing productive really cam from it - what? We received a few email addresses and we think everything will change?
No.
Let's talk about the Liverpool Underground Scene.
PROBLEM 1
Liverpool is like a village. Everyone knows everyone.
I know literally all the aspiring underground artists from Kof, Janiece Myers, Jay Norton and Esco Williams to Future, Miss Stylie, Kev Willow & A.R.T.
Okay, so if I know these people,
why should it be a problem to make good music?
Ego.
The hospitality between most artists in Liverpool is disgusting; we all rate each other, but think that we're better at the same time? Fix up!
There are artists out there that are ready to collab with everyone and see the benefits, but then there's the artists who think they've made it in life - and it's these artists that need to take a step back.
Why rate an artist as sick, if you will never collab with them?
I work with anyone I believe is decent, and I learn from them. Collaborating with other artists is the BEST thing to do; we create a mini buzz around the area, more and more people will begin to know. The buzz grows.
Working with other artists adds diversity to your music as well as more fans.
New people will be introduced to you, there's more opportunity to perform too.
We also have that "Hater" attitude; and we all do it.
If we don't believe someone should get far and they do, it's because of you; haters.
Okay, I may not rate a song, and I may constantly take the piss out of the song. End of the day; I know the words. I give it more YouTube plays showing it to people.
PROBLEM 2
Those people who promise you things and don't deliver.
This is probably the reason why Liverpool's artists DON'T work with each other.
There are certain people around making it big for themselves and good for them. But if you try and get involved, they leave you hanging. You can do as many favours as you like and you won't get nothing in return.
Overcome it by using them as they use you. Don't feel cheeky to ask for favours and ask why they won't do them. At the end of the day, you have a right, right?
There are those people who hold back artists and only look out for their own. Props for the loyalty to each other but at the end of the day people with talent; and I will be big headed and say "like myself", need recognition.
Okay, so on the panel were other people from Liverpool involved with the Urban Underground.
The conference itself, wasn't so much a waste of time, but the people answering the questions didn't really know what it was like to be an aspiring artist from Liverpool. Also within the conference, nothing productive really cam from it - what? We received a few email addresses and we think everything will change?
No.
Let's talk about the Liverpool Underground Scene.
PROBLEM 1
Liverpool is like a village. Everyone knows everyone.
I know literally all the aspiring underground artists from Kof, Janiece Myers, Jay Norton and Esco Williams to Future, Miss Stylie, Kev Willow & A.R.T.
Okay, so if I know these people,
why should it be a problem to make good music?
Ego.
The hospitality between most artists in Liverpool is disgusting; we all rate each other, but think that we're better at the same time? Fix up!
There are artists out there that are ready to collab with everyone and see the benefits, but then there's the artists who think they've made it in life - and it's these artists that need to take a step back.
Why rate an artist as sick, if you will never collab with them?
I work with anyone I believe is decent, and I learn from them. Collaborating with other artists is the BEST thing to do; we create a mini buzz around the area, more and more people will begin to know. The buzz grows.
Working with other artists adds diversity to your music as well as more fans.
New people will be introduced to you, there's more opportunity to perform too.
We also have that "Hater" attitude; and we all do it.
If we don't believe someone should get far and they do, it's because of you; haters.
Okay, I may not rate a song, and I may constantly take the piss out of the song. End of the day; I know the words. I give it more YouTube plays showing it to people.
PROBLEM 2
Those people who promise you things and don't deliver.
This is probably the reason why Liverpool's artists DON'T work with each other.
There are certain people around making it big for themselves and good for them. But if you try and get involved, they leave you hanging. You can do as many favours as you like and you won't get nothing in return.
Overcome it by using them as they use you. Don't feel cheeky to ask for favours and ask why they won't do them. At the end of the day, you have a right, right?
There are those people who hold back artists and only look out for their own. Props for the loyalty to each other but at the end of the day people with talent; and I will be big headed and say "like myself", need recognition.
I know that I have the talent and motivation to go far, but is that all you need??
No.
Bringing us to
PROBLEM 3:
Image.
Let's think back to the 80s & 90s.
We try so hard to make our music like this because it's the current trend; but all we look at literally is the image; can we sell this person as a product?
And that's all an artist is seen as.
Not for their talent or skill.
Okay, I personally have nothing against them, but for example:
N DUBZ
They started out local, and did everything themselves.
SO AM I AND A LOT OF OTHER ARTISTS AROUND THE UK.
They're just a nice thing to look at day to day.
Not trying to cuss, I do rate them and they are talented no lie, but seriously, I have probably done things these people have never done and supported the same acts. Why am I not signed?
Because I'm fat.
Because I'm fat.
And I know this.
I've always been a big girl.
The media tells me everyday that I am disgusting; but I am naturally a big girl and my family is big.
My music however kicks ass.
And I know it does.
I can rock any crowd, I do all genres and I can kill a set!
Okay, yeah there have been lots of "Big Girls"; they all had one hit wonders and they were played through radio and when we all saw them, what did we do? We stopped rating them.
We want our celebrities to look perfect and be "role models"; so instead of a real person with talent, we want 3 people that are kind of attractive that probably by now have an attitude and take drugs?
Great.
PROBLEM 4
Money.
Money.
Money.
Need I say more?
Studio costs money. Mastering costs money.
Photography costs money.
MONEY = TIME
Okay, so I could y my studio and learn how to use it...
Where am I getting my studio, how do I pay for it?
How do I pay for my lessons?
If your track don't sound professional, it won't be listened to.
It won't be played on radio.
It can't be promoted or sold as a product.
FAIL.
OVERCOME
The problem is to come together; it won't happen, not for a while.
But let's hope it does happen one day.
No comments:
Post a Comment