Paul Simon of the 60s folk-rock duo Simon and Garfunkel once said, “Music is forever; music should grow and mature with you, following you right on up until you die.” From the first song made in the 13th century BCE, to the latest popular releases, it is undeniable that music has changed dramatically. Music has grown and adapted throughout the decades, creating a larger range for listeners to explore.
Modern music is much different from what we now consider “classics.” Junior Valentina Choi believes that the way music is made is what has changed the most.
“When I listen to music over the years, the biggest difference that I hear is in sound production. Generally, music from the past has a more raw, deeper sound while music right now sounds more clean and synthesized,” Choi said.
Junior David Rodino believes that compared to the past, the diversity of themes in mainstream music has decreased.
“I believe that the creativity demonstrated through music has generally decreased as time has gone on…there are many artists who reuse cliché topics with the intention of gaining support from a generalized fanbase,” Rodino said, “Because music has been given such a platform and the ability to be shared throughout the world–reaching a larger crowd– people have begun exploiting that, defacing the very idea of music and in the process losing the soul that came with it.”
In a world where music can become repetitive and lack individuality, Choi highlights an artist that stands out.
“An artist I think is really unique is Nujabes. He was a producer and DJ, and I would describe his sounds as mainly a blend of jazz and hip hop lofi beats. I think he stands out so much to me because his work is so beautiful and sounds almost simple in a way, but it never gets old,” Choi said.
Along with the issue regarding repetitiveness, it can be difficult for a new artist to find their place in the industry and gain the exposure they dream of. However, Rodino has been able to discover some hidden gems.
“I’ve been able to find my own fair share of people who seem to be obscured and hidden by larger names. For example, artists such as Res, Karri, Tyde, and Osa all have their unique methods of progressing through a song/story while still sharing a common passion and tone in their work,” Rodino said.
Regardless of any differences between the centuries of music, the most exciting part is how it has grown. From new sounds, to new themes, music is constantly evolving. Choi shares her opinion on this growth.
“Modern music is fun to explore, especially when seeing how a lot of artists have distinct and unique sounds. This is probably an obvious answer, but I think what stands out is the sheer amount of artists and songs there are. Even if you explore for so long, you’ll always find something new that sounds very different and I think that’s super cool,” Choi said.
