Musical Influences

I know what you're thinking.... Who is this guy that has musical influences? What the hell's it influencing? Well.. I dunno. I mean somewhat in my compositions but i guess it's just an overall influence. Not quite sure what that means but maybe it'll be clearer when I'm done explaining what they are.

I've always been big into this guy, but my appreciation for Jason Robert Brown's work is growing more and more every time I listen to him. I was listening to "Hear My Song" the other day on my walk to my car and I really realized that every note has a distinct purpose. Nothing is accidental (no pun intended). To be that absurdly talented both at writing the music he writes, which is intensely difficult, and playing it just amazes me every time.

The main thing that draws me to artists is how passionate they are. If they truly feel the music they're singing, the listener knows, and can feel it just as strongly. My prime example for this is Jeff Buckley, another artist who I don't think I'll ever stop listening to. While listening to a live version of "Morning Theft," he sang one part towards the end of the song and I swear I was close to tearing up just at how beautiful it was. He put a million emotions into one phrase and it was impossible not to be truly touched. Another good example was when he was playing at a tribute concert for his late father Tim Buckley. It was before he got big and nobody really knew much about this kid, except that he looked a lot like his father. Well about 3/4 of the way through one of his father's songs, "Once I Was," a string broke on his guitar. Rather than stopping and getting a new guitar, he finished the song a cappela. He got so emotionally lost in his performances everything else just went away and all he cared about was that music. I can't help but respect, admire, and aspire to that. If interested, there are youtube videos of all the songs I've mentioned.

Last for this blog is Tom Waits. I have just recently been getting into this guy, but I am loving him more and more with each song I hear. I think I have developed a full appreciation of his talent. He has a voice that takes some time for most to get used to, as it is very gravelly and not exactly angellic, but it has a quality that not many artists have. Again, he has the power to fill his words with such emotion it is impossible to ignore. Listening to one of his songs, you feel the true pain of most of the unfortunate people he is singing about, or the real happiness that you can sometimes find in the world. It's artists that can touch your soul that are the ones you want to keep listening to.

I know I've probably written similar blogs before, but hey music is my passion so I really can't help it. More to come I'm sure.

As Salaam Alaikum.