In this post, I will give credit to the artists who manage to create, perform, and sometimes even produce their music all by themselves. Although I really do believe in collective success rather than individual failure, the artists whose names I will mention today are no failures at all. They thrive despite the many challenges that a solo act can impose. Moreover, in some cases, the solo act is better than what the artist would have done with their band. My favorite example of this is Dub Fx. I much prefer his old solo tracks to his more recent endeavors.
Do You See What I See? by Dub FX:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MJADA2fYb88
News:
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Music Picks:
Today I will be sharing compositions by solo artists. Some you can find on my playlists. Others are not even on Spotify. So, without further ado, here they are:
I will start with the song that I’ve been wanting to share for some time now—just hadn’t found the right opportunity.
Taken Over by Zero Master (Kevin Moquin):
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=smaa2TW5E-Q
This punk rock gem was written, played, and produced entirely by Kevin alone. Well, aside from a bit of help from ChatGPT as far as the lyrics are concerned. Pretty self-critical for AI, don’t you think?
And now that we have started with such high energy, let’s crank it up even higher.
I Am Not Hardcore by FWIP [#44 on the New Rock Talents playlist]:
https://open.spotify.com/playlist/5ZPhHNKfVHA2PTZMkg8NoW
Changing the genre to electronic music, the next artist is from my home province of Quebec.
Put The Phone Down by King Cutoff [#101 on Montreal, Quebec, Canada]:
https://open.spotify.com/playlist/0fYaxObf7SZ650Yx8566Hc
This composition was inspired by the artist’s encounter with a not-so-nice police officer. What a source of inspiration!
I continue with another electronic composition by a talented young artist from New York.
Dance in the Dark by Mae Rose [#85 on the Electronic playlist]:
https://open.spotify.com/playlist/3tMYgBuzNgbUuoGzPAThtz
Let’s add a few examples from the genre of rap.
Underground by Sonny MG [#96 on Hip-Hop, Rap, R&B]:
https://open.spotify.com/playlist/2usFfxgLjpAe4xFuwtZNHw
I follow up with a recently added gem in my music collection.
Flex by R.sinik [#182 on Fanger’s Tunes]:
https://open.spotify.com/playlist/1VAsw858XoPuroYCIJw043
I will finish my selection with two instrumental compositions.
Migrar o Morir by Marco Montero [#19 on the Instrumental playlist]
and
See You Soon by Julien [#18 on the Instrumental playlist]:
https://open.spotify.com/playlist/1y5bNxIA1yUdZC27jThAOU
Final Thoughts:
Despite the challenges of making music all by yourself, it also saves time and energy by avoiding the human factor in a sizable band. Thus, if an artist is laser-focused on their personal vision and capable of delivering exceptional results, it is absolutely admirable. Yet, that does not mean there is anything wrong with seeking help and support—playing with your friends and crafting something beautiful together. It is possible to value individual creativity while also believing in collective success at the same time. There is no contradiction in that. We just need to seek a path to creative success that is, in some sense, the shortest and make use of the “toolkit” made of our own abilities, life experiences, and connections in order to achieve the best possible results. Then, our creations will be truly lasting, regardless of the industry’s opinion about them.