Blending Genres
Artists can bring new life to their music by experimenting with and incorporating aspects of different genres into their songs. You can contribute to a vibrant, evolving musical culture that celebrates diversity and offers emotional depth.
A lot of the albums today reflect a theme or style of writing lyrically or musically which remain throughout the whole album. Today's genre blending music owes a lot of its style and influence to what occurred in the songwriting and playing styles of the past. Rock and pop music can be combined with a classical, jazz, R&B, reggae or country. Today the playing field is wide open. Anything goes!
The '60s was a time when many musicians encountered different styles of music being connected into new art forms and modes of expression. Lyrically, a lot of the music at the time asked philosophical questions and explored spiritual themes. It wasn't just songs about romance or novelty. Musically, the feel of and or texture of a lot of the music crossed over, blending many different styles that evolved into the pop songs of the '60s.
Many bands combined different feels and emotions in their music. Bands like Procol Harum, the Moody Blues, Blood Sweat and Tears and Chicago paved the way for combining rock with classical overtones or with a jazz-rock feel using different voicings and chords. A lot of soul and R&B music combined a rock feel with a funky rhythm foundation. It was a great time for experimentation. Various genres of music were incorporated into many of the songs. It was a time when the music and lyrics reflected a new way of thinking and a new way of writing a song!
The inspiration that songwriters drew from that time is ever evolving. Newer music formats like hip-hop and rap have found their place in the music landscape. This music found some of its roots in the work of musicians like Gil Scott Heron, with his poignant combination of social commentary, poetry and jazz. Recent contributors like Jay-Z blend hip-hop with alternative rock, soul and pop-oriented production. Jelly Roll has popularized country rap by fusing country music with hip-hop style singing and rapping.
Artists like John Legend wholeheartedly embrace a blend of genres in their songwriting. John Legend is primarily an R&B and soul artist. He draws inspiration from blending pop with gospel and hip hop influences. He encourages artists to expand their horizons and has often spoken of the inspiration that he gets from listening to recordings of folk artist Joni Mitchell.
Analyze the structures, lyrics and instrumentation of various genres. Collaborate with other musicians to help expand and enrich your songwriting. Genre blending opens up many new musical possibilities. Artists are constantly reinventing and diversifying. You can formulate your own unique sound and create your own signature. The key is to meld elements from other types of music.
Kyle Pacey is a Grammy-Nominated, Hamilton Music Award Nominated, guitarist, singer-songwriter.