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Author’s note: Hey, thanks for the great comments! I’m new to blogging and this is such a blast! However, I’m not a professional writer, so your comments truly help!

Cover of Miles Davis

Song-writers. The Best Ones are the Most Adventurous Ones!

In my opinion, the best songwriters out there are the Christopher Columbus‘s of music. The Lewis and Clark’s of the airwaves! If we didn’t have these fearless crusaders, where would we be? Miles Davis, The Beatles, Elvis… etc.

I was speaking with a friend about her songwriting and she asked my opinion on her work. “Well” I said, “I’ve always wondered why you only seem to use a limited selection of instruments and a limited framework of chords. You are so talented, and your playground is so small!”. This person uses the standard drums, keys, bass and guitar. The string sounds are not explored very much and the chord progressions become pretty predictable after a few songs. These kinds of simple approaches worked fine in the 80′s or even the 90′s because there was so much on the radio that was just “new” in general… like keyboard sounds, combinations of genres (country rock, etc), grunge style rock and so on.

Now, however, we seem to be getting recycled genres and regurgitated mixes from even the best artist and producers. And for me, it is the truly adventurous spirits that catch my ear. The artist who seem fearless and almost reckless with their experimentation. I actually see myself in this category, even though I feel there are others who do it so much better!

My friend said she wasn’t comfortable with working with a lot of the different sounds like I was talking about… world percussion, world instruments, Chinese strings, Arabic vocal stylings and so on. She didn’t want to “waiste time” on experimenting. “What if it sucks, then I’ve wasted all that time?”

OK, my questions here are quick and to the point.

1. Didn’t we all start from a place of experimentation?
2. If the new sounds don’t work, don’t you still have a good song to work with?
3. Don’t you think you’re creativity needs a shot in the arm now and then?
4. If you are talented with 10 instruments or sounds, how much more fun would you have with 50?
5. What are you waiting for???

So, for what it’s worth, I like the explorers of sound. The artist who take their creativity to the streets looking for new sounds, shapes, ideas and emotions! Here’s to the independent artist who are shaping the future!

I’m Alan Currens of Speck 5, a world rock & alternative music artist.