fun.
fun. is a prime example of what I'm talking about. Their breakthrough hit "We Are Young" is what everyone and their cat is singing to right now, and I'll admit that it is pretty catchy. This "new" band has been around for years, though. fun. formed in 2008 and has had the privilege of opening for bands such as Paramore, Jack's Mannequin, Taking Back Sunday, and Anberlin. I actually have seen fun. twice as an opening band, one of which was when they were touring with Taking Back Sunday and Anberlin. fun. lives up to their name as they put on a show full of quirky things, including the use of a flugelhorn (look it up) and all sorts of chants and acts. fun. is a testament to how hard work and patience pays off, as they are now enjoying owning the #1 song in the US currently. These guys may be another "typical hipster band," but 1) at least they don't have long, ridiculous beards, and 2) are a legit group that any fan should follow.
Calvin Harris
Any uneducated self-proclaimed "music aficionado" will instantly proclaim "OH MAH GAWD CALVIN HARRIS LIEK DID THAT SONG WIFF REEYANNA OH MY LAWD" upon hearing the name Calvin Harris. I, as a legimitate music aficionado, will proclaim my fist through someone's ugly face upon hearing that reaction. Yes, Calvin Harris' mainstream breakthrough comes with producing "We Found Love" with Rihanna. This helped him push his solo mainstream breakthrough in "Feel So Close." (Which, by the way, has finally hit top 40 radio and is by the far the best song on radio today. Just saying.) Little do you know that Harris has been spinning the 1's and 2's and producing music as a legitimate artist since 2004. In 2006, he signed a deal with Sony BMG and EMI after being discovered on MySpace. (Remember that site?) Harris has enjoyed intermittent success here and there, but nothing to the likes of "We Found Love," which has established himself as a huge EDM contender. This new artist has been around for at least 8 years though, and it looks like he'll be hanging a while too.
Adele
Betcha didn't know Adele isn't "new" at all, did you, you dumbass? I know I may be tired of hearing her songs being played 78 times an hour, but this legitimate singer has had a record contract since 2006. Obviously enjoying success with "Rolling In The Deep,""Set Fire To The Rain," and "Someone Like You," her "21" album is actually a follow to the album "19," which both represent the age she wrote the albums. "19" was actually nominated for the Grammy, even though no big hits came from the album. Adele also saw her first real success from Myspace, where she signed her aforementioned record contract in 2006. She started with a recorded demo that eventually found its way into the correct hands, and those hands hyped her up enough to be one of the most sought after artists going into 2008. She was even said to be Britain's next big breakthrough artist... I think those guys knew what they were talking about. Sucks to suck, Mr. Adele's Ex-boyfriend.
Skrillex
It saddens me that I have to mention Skrillex in this. Skrillex is one of the biggest artists in EDM, but too many people blindly follow him without recognizing his roots in pop-punk. Skrillex, whose real name is Sonny Moore, was a part of a band called From First To Last, who saw a decent amount of success ever since their 2003 EP release "Aesthetic." FFTL has enjoyed tours, both headlining and supporting, and even the occasional spot on the Vans Warped Tour. (One of which I was fortunate enough to go and see FFTL perform with Sonny on vocals) After Sonny left FFTL, he began his electronic music career. As Skrillex, he released his first EP in 2009 and his success began a steep climb afterwards. This crazy-haired weirdo took his new name to a new level with, yet again, free releases via Myspace that began his underground fame which finally put Skrillex as a household name. His influences with EDM took dubstep, which was already a pretty well-known genre in Europe, and made it his own. His "dirtier-than-a-High-Street-hooker" bass drops and "sounds-like-two-robots-doing-it-doggy-style" melodies have been popularized in America and has been dubstep a legit genre in the US as well.
See, people? These artists have been around for a while, much like every other artist that breaks through to the mainstream. It's rare for someone to achieve massive success from their first works, because the music industry is full of assholes that need you to establish yourself before really making a dime off of your music. Remember that, ladies and gentlemen, the next time you take a dump in Garageband and try to hype yourself up as the world's next best producer.
@CanadaInAmerica
No comments:
Post a Comment