As part of my vinyl ripfest that's been happening at work, I've been listening to a lot of R&B and Blues, my musical home. I don't know when or how it became established, but whenever I listen to Blues I am instantly transported to someplace warm and cozy, with a little fire in the corner and searing guitar riffs over the mantle.
In the last six or so years, since I started playing in alternative/indie bands, I have been moving away from the blues. I don't listen to the Blues much anymore, I don't play them either. It has me questioning whether abandoning your roots is really the best way to create music.
Most artists tend to stick to their mould, or at least close to it (e.g. U2, Morrisey, Rolling Stones, Sufjan Stevens, Owen Pallett, the list goes on). There are a few artists that have been able to move substantially away from their roots and still make it sound good (Beatles, Radiohead, can you think of more?). So should artists try and break the mould that they were created in? or are we best if we stick to what we're best at? Should I, and thus Beware! The Leopard move back towards bluesyness?
What do you all think?
I think you need to play music you enjoy. Your bluesy work is good, in part I think, because you enjoy it.
That's doesn't mean you have to make a huge shift to blues with B!tL, but bringing in elements of it could yield inspiring results!
Posted by: mdr | April 14, 2010 at 11:39 AM