Discz

When making my decision to explore new genres this semester, I found an app to help me do that. Discz is an app that allows users to explore all types of new music recommended by other users. There are groups based off of genres, and after joining a group you have access to the groups mixes. A mix is a collection of 4-5 songs, and the app plays a small preview of the song. Discz is essentially tinder for music, because it utilizes the swiping right and left feature to choose songs you like or don’t like.

Alternative Metal

One of the discoveries I have made on this app is a sub genre of metal: alternative metal. While this isn’t an entirely new genre for me, I have never really listened to it enough to appreciate it. Alternative metal is a genre based off of metal/heavy metal with influences from alternative rock. There are a couple popular bands from this genre that I have heard of such as Deftones and Radiohead (more alternative rock than metal), but I had never taken the time to listen to their discographies before this week. I have also discovered a couple artists that I have never heard of, such as Gojira and Elder.

Deftones

Despite hanging out with big fans of Deftones for most of high school, I didn’t really know what their sound was until very recently. The first thing I have noticed after listening to various albums is they are easily able to jump between the extreme sounds of metal and alternative between different songs. The first song I listened to was called 7 Words off of their 1995 album Adrenaline. It is extremely upbeat and in your face, and the rough vocals made me think of Rage Against the Machine.

However, after listening to other titles in various albums I soon realized why they were labeled as alternative metal. I can only describe the sound as soft metal, because of how passive the vocals can be. The contrast between the vocals and background music is what defines the sound of the genre to me.

Slipknot

After being invited to a slipknot concert last year, I tried to listen to their music so I could enjoy the concert more. However, something came up and I was unable to go so I never listened to more than a couple songs. Fortunately I was able to rediscover slipknot after finding this genre in my exploration for new music. Slipknot is a little too heavy for my liking, but there are still things about them that I like. Slipknot has a lot of down-tuned “chug” riffs that I personally really enjoy listening to. These types of riffs are also one of my favorite types to play, so I always feel a need to sit down and learn them after hearing it. Slipknot typically sticks to a thrash/scream vocal tone (example here) with a very heavy feel to most songs, so if I want to get some energy during my morning or at the gym they are the perfect band.

Overall I am glad I was able to explore alternative metal as a genre recently. I am not a big fan of a lot of metal, but a couple of these bands are right up my alley. I look forward to what I will find in the future weeks of blogging.

Going into the new year I have decided that it is time to try new things involving music. While I do not plan to pick up any new instruments, I will be exploring as many new genres of music as I can. Last Semester I listened to mostly rock music with a few other genres sprinkled in, but never enough to the point where I was able to fully experience the genre.

During final’s week however, I started listening to classical music to help focus. While I intended for it to just be background noise, I often would hear a song and immediately check what the song was so I could add it to a playlist. While I had never particularly loved the genre before, I’d never hated it either. Discovering a newfound liking for a genre as spectacular as this has allowed me to really appreciate the complexity and nuance it provides.

One of the biggest things that sets it apart from other genres in my opinion is the wide arrangement of emotions that can be fit into a single piece. The classical pieces I have had the privilege of listening to are typically much longer than songs today, but manage to fill all that extra time with new and fascinating sounds. It can go from melancholy to exciting to dreadful in a matter of 3 minutes, which makes listening so exciting and fresh.

My current favorite is Piano Concerto No.2 Op 102 in F major: 11. Andante by Dmitri Shostakovich. The piece starts with a lot of clarinets and oboes without emphasis on the piano before moving to mainly piano and creating a sort of marching sound. It then moves into a long string section before ending the piece with a melodic piano part that is a pleasant way to finish off the song.

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

Another piece that I have taken a particular interest in is a more well known piece titled Requiem in D Minor, k626. As soon as I heard the start of the vocals to this song I was immediately intrigued. It starts with a string section that leads a beautiful yet intimidating vocal sequence in. It becomes further dramatized by a droning deep percussion sound heard in the background. Listening to this entire piece almost brings a sense of dread upon me in the best way possible. I did not know it was possible for music to sound so large and important.

While I have only hit the tip of the iceberg in the world of classical music, I look forward to the things I will find in the future. If I have to end with one big takeaway from this genre, it is that listening to a classical piece is not the same as listening to a song. It doesn’t seem the typical modern patterns that I see in songwriting, like a repeating catchy chorus. Each part is carefully constructed to build off of the last section and add or change something to draw the listener in. I look forward to exploring new genres, but I will certainly return to classical music to explore it more in depth in the future.