Musicians Need to Look to the Past to Find Their Future

Digging into the great music of the past is the only way to move forward

Get out those puffy orange plastic arm life preservers, because we are swimming in music. There’s more music today than there was yesterday, and that will be true tomorrow, too. It’s not only the music being made today that we have access to on the Internet, it’s the music that’s been made since the beginning of recorded music. It’s all available. Not to mention the music tutorials and reactions. As listeners, we’re drenched.

It’s easier than ever for the power of music to get lost in the shuffle. This is because the listener’s attention is divided, as smartphones are the chief listening device and the device is used for many other functions. It is also because the listener seeks immediate gratification and doesn’t listen to songs unless they hook them in right away; evidence of this is in the new importance of cutting right to the chase in a song (no more long instrumental intros, thanks!). In summary, it is because music has become one more shiny object on the Internet. Rather than a calm, intense listening experience (or an exhilarating one involving sweat and dance), the music engages neither the mind nor body fully. At best, it’s good background music or good for headphones. Even a good music experience is quickly replaced by cat videos, the next song, or an ad. Despite heavy access to music, listeners end up with little more than a topical connection for these reasons.

What is the power of music? Ask an old record. There, you find sweat, passion, tears, hollers, screams, moans, grace, art and substance. Am I bias? Yes. Throw on an old record and you’ll see what I mean.