Comments on: Vangelis Tribute – To The Unknown Man

By: Conslaw

Conslaw — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 16:22:46 +0000

Excellent. I would have thought it was Vangelis himself.

By: Gordon

Gordon — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 08:36:52 +0000

jorge replied to your comment on Vangelis tribute – To the unknown man / Synthtopia:

Does everybody have to try to get rich with music?

You're doomed to fail going down that route – so you're probably better off doing something with music that you enjoy.

I think that you're right, though, that you can only do so much imitating popular musicians – because people will always compare what you're doing to the original.
….

I can't see that reply here but, for what it's worth, I meant less some route for getting rich and famous and more some sustainable way to achieve independent artistic success. For sure, Mik300z's renderings are beautiful, nuanced and thoroughly enjoyable to listen to and that's no small achievement. All I'm saying is that's a ground so thoroughly consolidated that I can't help but wonder where it goes next. It would be strange to rise so high then suddenly stop.

By: jorge

jorge — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 08:19:56 +0000

Does everybody have to try to get rich with music?

You're doomed to fail going down that route – so you're probably better off doing something with music that you enjoy.

I think that you're right, though, that you can only do so much imitating popular musicians – because people will always compare what you're doing to the original.

By: Gordon

Gordon — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 08:12:19 +0000

If this seems at all critical, it's only because I take this guy's performances seriously so, with that in mind:
I'm wondering where this musical trajectory fits in. Musical skill, tick. Compositional skill, tick. Sensibility, tick. Sounds convincingly like Vangelis, tick.
And I'm guessing a rather sad but inevitable fact is that the musical productions – here and those posted earlier – gain a measure of acceptance, 'recognisability' and exposure that the performer himself would struggle to get were he to produce something more sonically original rather than in emulation of 'a master'.
But there surely must be some way to get out from the shadow of the master, here. I'm wondering if perhaps teaming up with a pop vocalist is one way to gain exposure whilst simultaneously allowing room for the development of an original sonic palette and from there gain opportunities to work in soundtracks etc., pretty much like Vangelis did starting back in the sixties…
Does anyone else know of someone who has broken into some sort of mainstream from a basis in electronic instrumental music in the last couple of decades who hasn't done it via a) dance music or b) production work?
The problem with being very good is that it sets the bar that bit higher… ;p