NEW SPACE - NEW MUSIC
I have been thinking about the history of popular music as an evolution of the spaces for its consumption. The developments of musical style and technology go hand-in-hand with clear changes in the physical and social spaces the music is meant for. For example, in the 70’s, when people started to dance while watching the band play, musicians noticed they could play much faster, since a single human body has different dynamics than a couple. The faster tempo simplified the beat, and broke up the self-centered dancing pairs into a throbbing audience of individuals facing the stage. This evolved into the situations that created disco, then house and techno. Similarly, the musical format of stadium rock could not be imagined before concert venues had grown from intimate clubs to vast arenas. In the new situation, the sounds, songs and visuality had to be adjusted to fill the and fit the situation, creating a new genre. A different kind of change was introduced by the Walkman, that turned music into an immersive private space you could carry with you to any location. I think teens are so much into heavy metal or gangsta rap because it can create a world of personal fantasy and escape that would still remain unaccessible to others. When the teen-me was listening to a tape of Metallica’s Kill’Em All in the backseat of our car, I felt midly rebellious and apart from others.
I would like turn this logic around, and propose developing new situations for enjoying music, and then making music engineered to fit them. Music, like many other things, are now migrating towards the home. I think a next new musical style could be a kind of contemporary chamber music, where people get together to listen to live music in their living room. I will start by inviting some friends over for an evening of domestic music. Would you like to come over?
It migth be called “Live Domestic”. There is a Talking Heads album cover that shows them playing in a living room, what a venue!
Manuel,Caracas.
Thank You