Building the Sound
Sometimes, the artist you know is the singer, musician, and songwriter. But more often, different musicians are hired to play the musical instruments, different people actually write the songs, and most songwriters don’t ever sing. The engineers deal with the recording system’s electronics, and they mix each instrument and voice to make the song sound the way it does. Sometimes, they change the instrument sound or the singer’s voice to make it sound different.
Or just sound right.
Or just sound right.
AU·TO·TUNE /ˈôdōˌt(y)o͞on/ noun.
A device for tuning something automatically to correct an out-of-tune vocal performance.
To the right is a video of Britney Spears; however, her whole performance is stripped of any autotune. |
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Auto tuning, and sound engineering in general, are part of the reason why songs performed live don’t sound like the recorded versions of the song.1 In fact, some artists, like Elton John, have spoken out against putting so much engineering into music.12
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The use of auto tuning might not be the choice of the singer. Producers might make that choice.
Producers are responsible for the quality and sound of the records they produce. Often, producers will guide singers through the recording of their record and select the material to record. In many popular types of music, the producer might write all of the music and arrange the rhythm tracks. Then, the producer will find a singer to sing the song. Producers will then help the singer come up with the “look” that will sell the records. |
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Some singers have spoken out that they almost never have any say in the music that they actually sing.
Some singers have spoken out that they almost never have any say in the music that they actually sing.
Building the Look
The singers are the recording artist, the voice, face, and image of the music. As Beyonce put it, she is “the brand”.4
Some have even speculated that the image or brand is more important than the music itself.13
Some have even speculated that the image or brand is more important than the music itself.13
Beyonce
What do you think? Would these artists sell as many records if they looked like the picture on the left instead of the picture on the right?
Jennifer Lopez
Hilary Duff
Sometimes, singers have been in the “industry” in various entertainment jobs before they are given a singing job. This happened with Drake. Before he was a popular music artist, he was an actor and played on 'Degrassi: The Next Generation'. When he became a singer, his look had to change a lot to really define his “brand” in the music industry as something different from what he was known for with Degrassi.
Drake
Popular music is a job. Everything that singers and artists do while they are at work is to earn money. As the face and image of their music, they must make sure that their records sell and that they are known. Otherwise, they will no longer have a job. But, who they are in their personal life is much different than who they are at work.