In tune with technology

musical progress

The music industry has welcomed every new trend with open arms. The same holds good for technology too, which has benefited most young musicians everywhere. Metrolife speaks to a few artistes to find out how the music scene has evolved with technology.

 
An independent musician with his own YouTube channel, Lyle Rodricks feels that social media sites are the perfect platform for artistes to showcase their talent. “For a student who has a limited budget, it would be nearly impossible to make a professional production without a highly specialised software that is also easily accessible. Modern technology encourages freeware, which can be easily used by anyone. Also, social media directs its users to the content put up by artistes and is essential for publicising our work.”

Suhas Nair, from the band ‘Defyd’, also considers social media as a “launchpad”. “It has helped promote upcoming bands and boost their confidence,” he explains. DJ Jaleo and DJ Sahir also agree that music production has been enhanced through newer tools.

However, too much of anything is bad as Vinod, the vocalist of ‘Dequma’, points out, “With the number of covers that are performed by young musicians and the global sharing that they resort to, originality in music has declined,” he laments.

A number of young musicians have even taken to learning and teaching music online. This helps them pursue their passion from the comfort of their home and make a quick buck too. However, according to noted sarod player Ustad Amjad Ali Khan, a one-on-one interaction between the teacher and student is very important.

“There are certain things that a student can imbibe only when he or she personally interacts with the guru. This also adds to the entire experience of learning on the whole,” he says.  

The market has also seen a number of changes with digital sales contributing to more than half the revenue. Adhir Punja, a musician from ‘Broken Membrane’, feels that people aren’t willing to pay for a live performance unless they are hardcore fans. “Nowadays, a lot of musicians are touring and there has also been an increase in the number of digital singles on iTunes and subscription-based websites.”

Sharmistha, the vocalist of the Indo-Pak band ‘Mekaal Hasan’, feels that though technology can’t replace the sheer joy of holding a CD, music production can be enhanced if the tools used in the right manner. “I feel that there will always be an audience for live performances. After all, watching a movie at home is different than watching it in the theatre,” she informs.

Suhas terms technology as a “double-edged sword” and feels that its impact depends on how talented a musician is. “One can’t ignore the benefits of technology as it has opened up opportunities that weren’t available a decade ago. For trance musicians, technology is indispensable. However, nothing can come close to the joy of watching an act live,” he sums up.