Musical Identity?

[Jero]

Gah I don't think I have a musical "identity"
There are too many things I like and want to do, with too few ways of combining them nicely. Basically I feel as though I need to be in like 4 different bands.
...and that's probably part of why I never get songs/albums done

What do we do about it? Focus on one project to completion, and only then move to the next?...But I have Music ADD

[Chankgeez]

multi-task

[Jero]

multi-task

Seems I haven't learned to do that in a timely/efficient manner. It's not as if I have 3 bands worth of people trying to do this with me. I'm alone and intimidated

[Chankgeez]

Yeah, I'm with you on that, sometimes I'm overwhelmed by my sheer number of musical interests. I just don't know what to play.

[coldbrightsunlight]

Haha yeah it's tough, I think I really need the constraints of a set band with a definite style to write songs well, otherwise I'm just all over the place so I don't feel very inspired, so I should probably find a band again...

[Tristan]

Wow, dudes, yeah, I also kinda have the same!
That said, the only things that really matter to me personally in music is whether I think it feels and sounds good / cool and whether it surprises me.
Most artists trying to copycat into a style just don't sound good or surprising so from my point of view that's probably what's lacking, but that's just one way to look at it offcourse.

[HorseyBoy]

I think it's vitally important for bands to have a clear musical identity, even if that identity is constantly evolving (which is not usually a good thing for a lot of bands). But it's not really important for musicians, if that makes sense. It's nice to have lots of influences and to be able to enjoy different styles of music. The trick is being able to focus on the task or job at hand and make it work.

[rustywire]

Yeah, my juvenile A.D.D. matured into adult A.D.D.
I'm functional enough to just deal with it, because it's a challenge and I get bored if things are too easy or comfortable.
Biding time and investing in some real introspection allows fledgling ideas to develop...but I'm prone to overthink things and must make a concerted effort to let it go and get lost in the moment when I'm playing; setting everything else aside.

My taste is eclectic and I'm a sponge for information that interests me.
I am diversity, my musical identity is only misrepresented by a tidy label, symbol or figurehead.
I'm unique in my own right, like everyone else. But not quite...
So what to do about it? I don't want to do anything about it. I'm enjoying the ride, going where the good sounds take me.
And for now I prefer the scenic route to parts unknown.

I try to remember that old adage about emphasizing journey over destination...

[D.o.S.]

I think it's vitally important for bands to have a clear musical identity, even if that identity is constantly evolving (which is not usually a good thing for a lot of bands). But it's not really important for musicians,

Fuckin 'a nailed it.

[coldbrightsunlight]

I think it's vitally important for bands to have a clear musical identity, even if that identity is constantly evolving (which is not usually a good thing for a lot of bands). But it's not really important for musicians, if that makes sense. It's nice to have lots of influences and to be able to enjoy different styles of music. The trick is being able to focus on the task or job at hand and make it work.

Definitely true! That's why I miss being in a band, where there was a reason to keep a focus on one sort of vibe. Working within constraints was a good thing for my songwriting but I don't really have any when it's just me...

[andtheLiquidmen]

I force myself to work within certain constraints depending on the release/project/etc, and only step out of them when I have run out of options. With the album I just released, I decided that I was going to make every sound possible using only guitars and pedals, with the exception of drums/percussion. I was forced to step out of those constraints for small moments to achieve certain effects, but it really forced me to focus on the songwriting arrangement that would have gotten wayyy out of hand had I let myself go bonkers with anything I could find. It's very easy for me to go completely off the rails and make something unpalatable to 99.99% of people, so I always keep "would I want to listen to this?" in the back of my head at all times. If I wouldn't, or if I'm bored by it, I delete or change it until it suits my reasonably generous attention span.

Some musicians that I've worked with in the past are the polar opposite. They need every foreseeable sound on the planet available to work with, which tends to make production somewhat of a nightmare, and translation to a live setting totally impossible. The places where we agreed completely were: Is it cohesive? Is it engaging? Is it boring? Have I heard it before/Is it too easy (not technically, but sonically)?

As far as creating distinct musical identity, aside from performance, I think it comes from choices of timbre, chord structure, arrangement, attitude/feeling, and overall translation of creative vision to finished product. Take any of those out of the equation of any artist you respect, and something is immediately lost. That's not even mentioning lyrics or vocal delivery.

[BitchPudding]

I've always had a certain style I've written in from day one. Its always been really angry, disjointed, scared sounding pop punk (at least thats how i desscribe it) The only real difference now from when I've started is everything has gotten progressively noisier and my lyrics have gotten more truthful as time has passed.

[DarkAxel]

very on topic - today I made a new song... all days work here



the fun part is that although i have always been "post-rock influenced" of sorts, this ASIWYFA/65DOS influence is kind of a new thing for me I guess so that's it for my musical identity

feel free to scroll through the other tracks, blend of drone, sludge, post-rock/ambient things... and that's about half of my personal portfolio, not including the bands, which are a very different matter again

[BitchPudding]

very on topic - today I made a new song... all days work here



the fun part is that although i have always been "post-rock influenced" of sorts, this ASIWYFA/65DOS influence is kind of a new thing for me I guess so that's it for my musical identity

feel free to scroll through the other tracks, blend of drone, sludge, post-rock/ambient things... and that's about half of my personal portfolio, not including the bands, which are a very different matter again

Dude, that was freaken killer! I hear quite a few different blends of stuff going on, and all of it sounds rad.

Since we're in a sharing mood, here's a new thing I put out yesterday.

Been listening to a lot of beat oriented stuff lately, this is the result of a progression towards that groovy kind of thing.

Your song sounds way better than mine does tho.

[Chankgeez]

Your song sounds way better than mine does tho.

I think they both sound great.