Envelope Filter
Jun 1, 2008 12:00 PM
LETTER OF THE MONTH
SUCK IT UP
After reading the “Editor's Note” about Danger Mouse (April 2008), I really think he's being a little bitch and is full of paranoia. Come on, Danger Mouse, you choose not to divulge a gear list because you fear people stealing your style. With the advent of modern technology, there are some ways to produce a song. And we all know that it's not about the equipment; it's about the individual's creativity and thought process. What may work for one producer may not work for another. I've never read a Remix article where the interviewer asked for EQ settings and what pad was used on a particular song. Danger Mouse, there is no need for you to be afraid of giving up the gear list. If you are afraid, then you must not be confident in your production skills. I really doubt the interviewer wants all your production secrets. So man up, do the interview, give up the list and let it be known that it's about Danger Mouse's creativity — not the equipment.
Ambrose Nkum
Long Beach, Calif.
I DON'T LIKE THE DRUGS
First let me say that I'm a longtime subscriber of Remix and always enjoy the magazine. In fact, it's my favorite out of three music magazines that I subscribe to.
What I want to write about is the responsibility that musicians and DJs (or anyone else in the public eye) have before the rest of the world that looks up to them. We can all agree that a popular musician's message becomes a seed in the hearts of many of his/her fans. That's a lot of power. But as someone once said, “with great power comes great responsibility.” Judging from the messages that I've seen from many popular musicians, however, they don't take this responsibility very seriously.
To give you a few examples of the messages: Just now, looking for some tracks to spin tonight, I come across a really nice track. Then the vocals start: “Smoke up, get drunk, have fun.” Now, no matter how much I like the music behind this vocal, I won't spin this track. Call me old-fashioned, but I don't want to send a message that smoking up and getting drunk is cool.
Another example: A very popular producer from the last issue of Remix discusses his new songs. One of the songs, he says, is about two girls “getting high on drugs in the forest” (“Some Kind of Wonderful,” April 2008 issue, p. 35). Hmmm, that's an interesting message. It certainly will give his young listeners some ideas for a weekend trip.
Last example: One of my favorite producers in an interview discusses how he was collaborating with another producer. I don't have the exact quote, but it basically said something like, “We just smoked a doobie and the ideas started flowing.” Now, if I'm a young aspiring producer, this sends me a message that smoking up is good for creating music.
Substance abuse and music have been linked together for a long time. And it certainly doesn't help when our heroes, standing on a media podium (such as a music magazine), are promoting this stuff to our young ones.
My question to musicians, DJs, producers and anyone else who sends these types of messages: Do you want your kids to do drugs?
And my advice to music magazines, record labels, publishers and any one else who spreads these messages: Talk to these musicians, explain to them that young kids will hear their song/interview. Ask them, “Do they really want to advertise substance abuse instead of maybe sending some positive message?”
Stashuk
New York, N.Y.
IS IT GOOD? DOES IT BLOW? YOU DECIDE!
Remix, I'm hooked on your magazine. After 18 years of recording quite exclusively with cheap handheld recorders and dual-cassette boom boxes, I learned how to set up recording spaces and studio setups. I'm now the proud owner of a Roland SP-404 and a Zoom PFX-9003 Palmtop Effects Processor with a 30-second sampler. Both samplers used with a digital recorder are the answer to my musical interests. There's no limit to what you can do with sound today. I feel pressured to use only music I've made with my sampler, but I am also so completely drawn to using other media to obtain sound clips to create a product that I truly like. Sound just can't be “owned” by someone else. If something looks or sounds good, it speaks for itself. Putting artists and their music on the top shelf and backing it with a law doesn't make it good; it just forces people to think so. Let music paint its own picture and let the audience decide what they like.
FTP (Felt Tip Prick)
Via e-mail
WE EFFED UP
Hey reader, what's up? What's that you say? There's an error in the May issue of Remix in the Shop.Talk. article with Tommy Lee and DJ Aero? What, you think you're perfect or something? Pssshhht, whatever. All we do is try really hard to please you, and all you do is yell at us. Fine. We're used to your abuse. But we're still totally in love with you. Just love us back, okay? Pretty please? (We're insecure.)
So now that we've kissed and made up, here are your corrections:
Regarding DJ Aero's quote about a Mark Mendez track on p. 24 — for the record, Aero was talking about an Adam K. track, not one from Mendez.
Also on p. 24, the reference to “the album WTF?” is incorrect. WTF? is not an album; rather, it's the pseudonym of Tommy Lee and DJ Aero's group with Deadmau5 and Steve Duda.
— The Editors
For sending in this month's winning letter, Ambrose Nkum wins a Cerwin Vega CVA-118 active subwoofer (MSRP: $1,320). If you send in the most inspired correspondence next month — or simply the letter we like best — you'll win the ultrasmall USB Pro Tools LE editing and mixing system for Pro Tools, the Digidesign Mbox 2 Micro (MSRP: $279). All you have to do is send a letter to remixeditorial@remixmag.com. Please include your full mailing address. And for more chances to win prizes, visit http://remixmag.com/contest for the latest contests.
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