Urban Dictionary: A person who owns DJing equipment (ie. turntables, mixer, CDJ, etc.) and has a passion for music, but doesn’t play out to crowds at bars or special events (ie. raves). Instead, they opt to play their music at home for their friends or over the Internet via audio broadcasting software, such as shoutcast… (Mixcloud, SoundCloud, Myspace, YouTube).
Music In The Digital Age: A Silver Lining The digital music revolution has created a rupture in the commercial and moneymaking side of the industry, as a result of illegal downloads and peer-to-peer-file-sharing. However, there always is a silver lining to every downfall. The sluggish and lingering death of the Music Industry has also given birth a new life – an independent, non-profit, music-loving and creative sphere.
Once upon a time, being a DJ meant that you belonged to a very niche and somewhat elite-ish group of people. Equipment was expensive and upgrading to the latest gear – a necessary purchase to make in a competitive market – was a big investment. Furthermore, lugging around hard-copied vinyl collections and heavy masses of equipment to perform a gig at a different venue every night was very inconvenient.
With the evolution of technology came a huge change in the dynamics in which DJ’s work. The affordability of powerful home computers, the accessibility of the Internet, and the invention of pocket-sized hard drives that can carry thousands of tracks, have made it easier for aspiring DJ’s to get hold of music equipment and software, to produce music straight from their bedrooms and to eventually make it to the big stage.
The Internet: A Godsend With the rise of the Internet Age, big record labels and marketing agencies are becoming more and more obsolete, as one single musician can become his/her own writer, producer, agent, distributor, publisher, and advertiser. With the rise of the Internet Age, DJ’s have not only been given more creative freedom, they have also been exposed to heaps of different kinds of genres and artists, which has in turn inspired them to experiment, mix up the genres and produce new, exciting and creative sounds.
As a result of the technological advances in the new digital music and Internet Age, self-teaching, sharing information and promoting music, peer-to-peer, via social media platforms such as SoundCloud, YouTube, Twitter and Facebook, have never been easier… and it’s only the beginning.
How To Become An Electronic Music Master Chef (In The Bedroom): The Ingredients • 1 Laptop • 1 Hard Drive • 1 Turntable/CDJ • 1 Mixer • 2 Speakers • Software • The Internet
How To Become An Electronic Music Master Chef (In the Bedroom): The Directions Once the DJ has the production basics (ie. equipment, software and access to the Internet), they can look up tutorials on YouTube and start playing around and making sounds. With some added time, practice and patience, and seasoned with a touch of talent, the track will soon be ready to broadcast on social media platforms. An established online presence, an open mind to constructive feedback and the support of fans can take a Bedroom DJ onto the next step. If this is the case and the DJ is looking to turn their hobby into a potential career, they can start booking gigs and signing up to competitions such as the Bedroom DJ Competition at the annual DJ Awards.
From The Bedroom To The Big Stage Many DJ’s today have made their careers out of the change in technology. Not only have they followed the first steps to becoming talented and prolific Bedroom DJ’s, they have managed to book themselves multiple gigs, to create some hype around their musical brand, and to establish a reliable fan base. Ultimately, as a result of their hard work, continued efforts and good fortune, these former Bedroom DJ’s have now made big names for themselves and have set the tone on the big stage, in clubs and festivals around the world, after having been noticed and picked up by hungry labels.
Take a look at some of the Bedroom DJ’s-turned-rising stars we’ve interviewed here at Creation 5:
By mixing the old in with the new, we’ve compiled a playlist of some of the best workout songs of all time. Whether you’re going in for spin class or out for a run, whether you’re lifting weights or taking an aerobics class, these tunes will get you moving and grooving!
The Rocky III theme song is a classic! Released in 1982, the track went Platinum, gaining major MTV and radio airplay, holding #1 on Billboard Hot 100 chart for 6 weeks straight and #2 for best single. This song was made for you to box ’til you drop!
Released in 2005 on the album Confessions On A Dancefloor, the dance-pop disco song became the album’s lead single and was featured on Madonna’s 2009 greatest hits album Celebration. With a heavy 1980’s pop influence, the track features a sample of ABBA’s unforgettable hit single “Gimme, Gimme, Gimme! (A Man After Midnight!)”.
Released in 2012, the Swedish synthpop duo peaked at #2 on the digital download single charts in Sweden and at #7 on Billboard Hot 100. A year later it charted at #1 on the UK singles charts. The song certified double-platinum and has sold over 2.6 million downloads. What a great beat to kick-ass too!
Swedish DJ and music producer Avicii released the “Summer Anthem” of 2013. It was the hit single from his full-length debut studio album True, with Aloe Blacc on vocals, who later went on to release an acoustic version of the song due to its high success.
From his 2002 album Hypnotica, the Italian DJ’s debut single “Satisfaction” peaked at #2 in the UK charts. The music video is quite the eye-catcher, if the track itself isn’t already one to remember. The song’s constant and heavy beat will definitely keep you running steady on your feet!
Released in 2012, the track became the “highlight” on their debut studio album Night Visions. Peaking at #3 on Billboard Hot 100, it holds the record for the most time spent on Billboard, dominating for a ground-breaking 86 weeks. It was the third best selling song of 2013, after “Thrift Shop” and “Blurred Lines”. The song was nominated for Record of the Year at the 56th Grammy Awards and won Best Rock Performance.
Co-written by the French house music duo Daft Punk, Pharrell Williams and Nile Rodgers, the single reached top 10 in over 32 countries and has sold over 7.3 million copies. At the 56th Annual Grammy Awards, the single won awards for Record of the Year and Best Pop Duo/Group Performance. What an awesome song!
This “dark blues-y gospel disco tune” is one in a million. With its emotional and honest lyrics, its brilliantly catchy melody and its outstanding vocal, the song became the largest crossover hit to reach the US in 25 years. Adele gained international success, reaching #1 in 11 countries, peaking on Billboard Hot 100 for 7 weeks, becoming the best-selling digital song by a female artist in the US. In 2012, the song won Grammy Awards for Record of the Year, Song of the Year, and Best Short Form Music Video.
Swedish DJ/producer Eric Prydz is famous for his unforgettable sexual music video for “Call On Me”. The track reached #1 in the UK Singles Chart and stayed there for five weeks. It was the longest running single in the UK in 2004.
Female pop legend P!nk released “U & Ur Hand” on her fourth studio album I’m Not Dead (2006). The song was ranked #9 on Billboard Year-End Hot 100 Singles of 2007 and peaked at #9 on the Hot 100… re-launching P!nk’s career. The rock n’ roll diva definitely knows how to throw a party, with great style and energy!
When it comes to Antigua, it’s not the size but the heart that counts. There’s a reason the island plays holiday home to everyone from Oprah to Giorgio Armani. A haven for elite tourists despite its expanse (only 108 sq. miles), this tropical paradise has been the West Indies’ prime docking bay over its famed Antigua Sailing Week, which starts on the last Sunday of every April for the last 45 years.
Catch a glimpse of what it’s like to be at one of the most exciting yachting events in the Caribbean:
The popular regatta will take place between the 26th of this month and the 2nd of May and besides the thrill of the race, it features excitement in some of our favourite venues –Antigua Yacht Clubhas daily prize ceremonies amongst other activities, Shirley Heights is another popular spot – hosting tempting events and parties throughout the event (including Shaggy’s live performance on 29 April, with Antigua’s very own Tian Winter opening), as well as opportunities to chase the regatta as it actually happens (with Wadadli Cats).
Needless to say, sailing week is renowned for its festivities (what with the legendary Sir Richard Branson hosting massive bashes here in years past!) and this year promises to amp the fun up – Lay Day falls right after the Shaggy concert, a great way to unwind Caribbean style with copious amounts of music, rum and sunshine. To kick things off, Nonsuch Bay seems the place to be if you don’t want to miss the RS Elite Challenge.
With an array of bands and DJs (including DJ Undercover and DJ Tanny) on hand to entertain, the week promises to be a memorable one for music enthusiasts whatever venue your pit-stop of choice may be.
The Caribbean has traditionally been the home of several seminal music styles, from the Belafonte-popularized calypso to the ever-loved reggae. Antigua in particular is known for its contributions to benna and soca, genres in the same family as calypso, characterized by energetic performances and stark vocals. Here, in an example, is local singer Claudette Peters performing at the Antigua Carnival in ’12:
None of these can claim to have done as much to put the Caribbean on the musical map, however, as reggae has. In terms of sheer variety and reach, Bob Marley or Sly & Robbie have penetrated the mainstream conscious and captured its imagination more completely in the last century than any others from the archipelago. Grooving to some true classics is a global phenomenon:
A trip through the right beats could never be complete without a shout-out to the dancehall that injected novelty into the islanders’ music in the seventies:
“In music, it only takes 3 and a half minutes to potentially change the rest of your life”. The wonderfully talented and beautifully graceful Maltese singer/songwriter, Chess, was nominated for Best Solo Artist at the Malta Music Awards 2014 earlier this year. With an innate passion and love for music, thick skin and unparalleled dedication, this young and independent woman is taking her future into her own hands, without the backing of a label.
Chess has invested all her time, money and strength into making her dreams come true. While her debut EP Baby Girl was produced and released by Chess herself, she kick-started her way forward to funding her second EP Tuxedo – selected for Best of British Unsigned and received instant airplay on BBC Introducing for her Carly Simons-inspired-track Vanity. Chess is a pop diva in the making… If she isn’t one already!
When did you first get involved in music and when did you start writing songs? My mum filled my world with music from before I was born – she is a great musician and I have loved music all my life. I began writing songs at about 7 years old, writing lyrics and making up dances for whoever had the patience to watch and listen!
What made you make the move from Malta to the UK? I always wanted to take music as far as I could go. My mentor, Joshua Alamu, gave me the courage to move and attend the Academy of Contemporary Music (ACM) in Guilford. If I didn’t do it then, I probably wouldn’t be here today.
How would you describe your experience at ACM and in what ways did it influence your career choices as an artist? The ACM brings one to realise how much competition there really is out there. Although it also brings to light that not everyone has what it takes. I learnt to be more business minded, to be as versatile as possible and to create good relationships with peers. At times, knowing how much competition is out there discouraged me, but knowing I had the tools to succeed kept me on my path to pursue what I really love.
You funded and produced your debut solo EP Baby Girl in 2013, yourself. With the help of crowd funding, you released your music video Storm (from the Baby Girl EP) and, later on, you used it to fund the production of your second EP Tuxedo. How did that help “kick-start” your career? Kickstarter gives you a really good opportunity to showcase your ideas and be discovered by people who are interested in new things.
Would you recommend Kick-Starter projects to other up and coming artists seeking to eventually be backed by a label? Sure, a successful Kickstarter campaign shows that you have good managerial skills, boosts credibility and shows determination to make something happen. It also helps you gain more fans, and that’s always wonderful!
You were nominated for Best Solo Artists at the Malta Music Awards 2014. How did it feel to be nominated, knowing that you did it all on your own? It felt so good to know that my efforts have been recognized. A lot of hard work has been put in and it is important for me to know that my country knows that I am doing my best to create substantial Maltese Music History.
You released your Tuxedo EP mid-January this year and your Tuxedo music video came out on March 28th. What has been the response so far? People have responded so well to Tuxedo as an EP. I think this is because it has more of a universal commercial sound. Vanity instantly got airplay on BBC Introducing and along with Tuxedo, got chosen for Best of British Unsigned. I have received very positive comments about the Tuxedo video, with people saying that it is now their favourite song, and video.
What inspires your style, the themes you write about, your ideas for wacky music videos? I follow what’s happening in the fashion world – especially the catwalks and fashion week, to make sure that I am up to date with trends. I then add my own twist and taste. I like to be stylish, and I like to try out new ideas. What’s the worst that could happen?! I find myself writing a lot about issues I have with myself, with those close to me and issues addressing society.
You’re juggling multiple jobs at the same time in order to make your dreams come true. Can you tell us how hard it is to make it in the music industry these days and what it’s really like to follow your heart and take a risk? Anybody who thinks that they can make it without paying their dues is well mistaken. This is a tough industry, which will test you time and time again. It’s scary knowing that you are spending all of your time and money on something that might never come true. I think you have to believe in yourself for things to happen. The really big slap in the face is that no matter how talented you may be, you will not be approached by a label unless you have made a substantial amount of money by yourself. But all you have to think about is that in music, it only takes about 3 and a half minutes to potentially change the rest of your life.
What is your philosophy? “However vast the darkness, we must supply our own light.” – Stanley Kubrick.
What are your plans for the rest of the year? I am in the process of finishing my summer single. Moreover, this year, I promised myself to focus on perfecting my craft and making my voice more acrobatic. I am doing intensive practice everyday, focusing on vocal precision and writing more music. I also hope to perform at a couple of good clubs in London and around the UK.
If you could choose one person to collaborate with, dead or alive, who would it be? Freddie Mercury. The insight to the way he wrote those masterpieces would be priceless.
Since the launch of MTV in the early 80’s music videos have provided a ‘total music experience’ for listeners, not as good as a live performance perhaps, but certainly a ‘deeper’ experience than just listening to a song. When Beyoncé launched her self titled visual album that included 14 new songs and 17 music videos, she described it as a “non-linear journey through the thoughts and visions of Beyoncé.”
Music videos are also an incredible form of marketing for artists – a great way to sell their products. Over the years we’ve seen all sorts innovations in the music video – death defying stunts, really crazy fashion – artists have tried anything and everything in the attempt to express themselves – and sell records. More and more though, the music video is becoming like a mini movie – with higher and higher price tags.
So how much do stars spend on making a perfect music video? Well, Michael Jackson and Madonna who top our list spend millions and millions…here is the top 10 list, cheapest first…
(All these costs have been adjusted for inflation)
Full of special effects – in fact this video holds the Guinness World Record for the most expensive special effects in a music video. For example we see Janet Jackson dancing in shiny liquid rain – but they aren’t just raindrops they are small 3D versions of Busta Rhymes. Directed by Hype Williams the video caused quite a sensation when it was released in 1999.
A 14 minute long video – this really was a mini movie with a huge array of stars playing cameo roles. It was James Brown’s role however that cost a fortune. Brown was in prison at the time so Hammer arranged for a private jet to pick him up from his South Carolina prison. Then, naturally, Brown wanted to spend some time in Las Vegas after the shoot, so add in another 2 days of private jet rental and the cost of production really spiked. Director Rupert Wainwright said: “It was an 18-day shoot, but we didn’t shoot it in 18 days. We shot [it] in 30 days. We would shoot an 18-hour day and take two days off. It was insane. It was the hardest shoot I ever did in my life.”
MJ recruited a true all star team for the production of this music video – or rather short film, the full length version is 18 minutes long (and no longer available on YouTube – except in two parts). Directed by the one and only Martin Scorsese, it took the crew a total of six weeks to shoot! Short version below.
Directed by Andy Morahan the emotional power ballad that is Estranged, needed an equally dramatic video. The budget included the use of the US Coast Guard helicopter and rescue team, an oil tanker and a Antonov An-124 Ruslan aircraft. The almost 10 minute long video is part of a trilogy, also featuring ‘Don’t Cry’ and ’November Rain’. The video starts with the dictionary definition of ‘Illusion’….
Sharks, mannequins that get blown up, a white Lamborghini, epic location changes, an extensive wardrobe, plenty of special effects and the most incredible choreography all added to Britney’s price tag for the production of Work Bitch. Has anyone seen her Las Vegas Residency? It’s equally expensive…
A truly memorable Jackson video and stuffed full of special effects – perhaps the revolutionary effect of ‘morphing’ put the budget sky high – or it could have been Macaulay Culkin, or Tyra Banks? Directed by John Landis, when the video aired for the first time in 1991, 500 million people watched it – a record at that point for Fox.
“Let’s Get Unconscious” is the song’s main line and Director Mark Romanek used revolving sunflowers, Egyptian imagery and references to surrealist paintings to illustrate this line. It worked – as the video has a really trance like feel – creepy in fact. It took 6 days to shoot, but the post production was where the costs escalated. This mini movie was premiered at movie theatres in LA, New York and Chicago.
Directed by Swedish team – Traktor, the intense special effects portray very realistic fighting between a good and evil Madonna – wounds and blood included. According to Traktor: “For various reasons, there are effects in almost every shot. It is a testament to the skills of the merry artisans of MPC that you think there are none.”
Winning awards for Best Direction and Best Cinematography at the 1989 MTV Video Music Awards, this stunning video was modelled after the film ‘Metropolis’. Don’t settle for second best….
Top of our list of the most expensive music video of all time is the brother and sister hit ‘Scream’. With a computer-generated spaceship and 13 pieces to the set, the lighting alone cost $200,000. The dancing is incredible and the video won an award for Best Dance Video at the 1995 MTV Video Music Awards.
10. Busta Rhymes — “What’s It Gonna Be?!” (1999): $4 million. 9. MC Hammer — “Too Legit to Quit” (1991): $4.2 million. 8. Michael Jackson — “Bad” (1987): $4.5 million. 7. Gun N’ Roses — “Estranged” (1993): $6.5 million. 6. Britney Spears — “Work Bitch” (2013): $6.5 million. 5. Michael Jackson — “Black or White” (1991): $6.9 million. 4. Madonna — “Bedtime Story” (1995): $7.7 million. 3. Madonna — “Die Another Day” (2002): $7.9 million. 2. Madonna — “Express Yourself” (1989): $9.4 million. 1. Michael Jackson and Janet Jackson — “Scream” (1995): $10.7 million.
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The MTV Movie Awards show, held last night at the Nokia Theatre in Los Angeles was an important event for Hollywood studios. Hosted by Conan O’Brien the ceremony kicked off with 50 celebrity cameos in the amazing opening segment – including Taylor, Swift, Seth Rogen, Lupita N’Yongo, Emma Watson and the cast of Noah, Jason Bateman, Aziz Ansari, Jessica Alba, Martin Scorsese, Katy Perry, the cast of The Big Bang Theory, Ashton Kutcher, Adam Sandler, Chris Pratt, Paul Rudd, and a host of others.
‘The Hunger Games: Catching Fire’ took home the top three prizes – Movie of the Year, Best Female Performance (Jennifer Lawerence) and Best Male Performance (Josh Hutcherson). Josh took a moment to thank the late Philip Seymour Hoffman, who played Plutarch Heavensbee in the franchise. “I know if Philip were here he would think this was really cool,” said Hutcherson. “We think about him every day on set.”
As well as the serious awards there were plenty of crazy awards – like Best Shirtless Performance, won by Zac Efron, who ended up accepting his award shirtless.
Mark Wahlberg won the MTV Generation Award. “This is the ‘you’re too old to come back award,'” the Transformers star joked. “But you know what? It was a great run.”
Plenty of golden popcorn-shaped awards were handed out – see the list of winners at the end of this article – but it was the summer movie teasers — and the stars attached to them — that really had Hollywood excited.
Andrew Garfield, Emma Stone and Jamie Foxx, stars of ‘The Amazing Spider-Man 2,’ coming May 2, introduced a brief clip of the film showing Spider-Man (Garfield) and the sparkling blue villain Electro (Foxx) battling in New York’s Times Square.
Aaron Taylor-Johnson, the star of ‘Godzilla,’ opening May 16, presented Orlando Bloom with the award for best fight for his and Evangeline Lilly’s tussle with the Orcs in ‘The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug.’
Ellen Page, one of the stars of the upcoming ‘X-Men: Days of Future Past,’ introduced a clip from the film that sees the X-Men joining forces with their younger selves.
Later, Eminem and Rihanna performed their hit “The Monster” for the first time on television, headlining the show that also included performances by Twenty One Pilots, Ellie Goulding with Zedd, Miriam Bryant and Matthew Zoma.
MTV MOVIE AWARDS 2014 – the winners
Movie of the year WINNER: The Hunger Games: Catching Fire Nominees: 12 Years a Slave; American Hustle; The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug; The Wolf of Wall Street
Best female performance WINNER: Jennifer Lawrence, The Hunger Games: Catching Fire Nominees: Amy Adams, American Hustle; Jennifer Aniston, We’re the Millers; Sandra Bullock, Gravity; Lupita Nyong’o, 12 Years a Slave
Best male performance WINNER: Josh Hutcherson, The Hunger Games: Catching Fire Nominees: Bradley Cooper, American Hustle; Leonardo DiCaprio, The Wolf of Wall Street; Chiwetel Ejiofor, 12 Years a Slave; Matthew McConaughey, Dallas Buyers Club
Breakthrough performance WINNER: Will Poulter, We’re the Millers Nominees: Liam James, The Way Way Back; Michael B. Jordan, Fruitvale Station; Margot Robbie, The Wolf of Wall Street; Miles Teller; The Spectacular Now
Best kiss WINNER: Emma Roberts, Jennifer Aniston and Will Poulter, We’re the Millers Nominees: Jennifer Lawrence and Amy Adams, American Hustle; Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Scarlett Johansson, Don Jon; James Franco, Ashley Benson and Vanessa Hudgens, Spring Breakers; Shailene Woodley and Miles Teller, The Spectacular Now
Best fight WINNER: Orlando Bloom and Evangeline Lilly vs. Orcs, The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug Nominees: Will Ferrell, Paul Rudd, David Koechner and Steve Carell vs. James Marsden vs. Sacha Baron Cohen vs. Kanye West vs. Tina Fey and Amy Poehler vs.Jim Carrey and Marion Cotillard vs. Will Smith vs. Liam Neeson and John C. Reilly vs.Greg Kinnear, Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues; Jason Bateman vs. Melissa McCarthy, Identity Thief; Jennifer Lawrence, Josh Hutcherson and Sam Claflin vs. Mutant Monkeys, The Hunger Games: Catching Fire; Jonah Hill vs. James Franco and Seth Rogen, This is the End
Best comedic performance WINNER: Jonah Hill, The Wolf of Wall Street Nominees: Kevin Hart, Ride Along; Johnny Knoxville, Jackass Presents: Bad Grandpa; Melissa McCarthy, The Heat; Jason Sudeikis, We’re the Millers
Best scared-as-s**t performance WINNER: Brad Pitt, World War Z Nominees: Rose Byrne, Insidious: Chapter 2; Jessica Chastain, Mama; Vera Farmiga, The Conjuring; Ethan Hawke, The Purge
Best on-screen duo WINNER: Vin Diesel and Paul Walker, Fast & Furious 6 Nominees: Amy Adams and Christian Bale, American Hustle; Matthew McConaughey and Jared Leto, Dallas Buyers Club; Ice Cube and Kevin Hart, Ride Along; Jonah Hill and Leonardo DiCaprio, The Wolf of Wall Street
Best shirtless performance WINNER: Zac Efron, That Awkward Moment Nominees: Jennifer Aniston, We’re the Millers; Sam Claflin, The Hunger Games: Catching Fire; Leonardo DiCaprio, The Wolf of Wall Street; Chris Hemsworth, Thor: The Dark World
#WTF moment WINNER: The Lude Scene, The Wolf of Wall Street Nominees: The RV Crash, Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues; The Beauty Pageant, Jackass Presents: Bad Grandpa; Car Sex, The Counselor; Danny’s New Pet; This is the End
Best villain WINNER: Mila Kunis, Oz The Great and Powerful Nominees: Barkhad Abdi, Captain Phillips; Benedict Cumberbatch, Star Trek into Darkness; Michael Fassbender, 12 Years a Slave; Donald Sutherland, The Hunger Games: Catching Fire
Best on-screen transformation WINNER: Jared Leto, Dallas Buyers Club Nominees: Christian Bale, American Hustle; Elizabeth Banks, The Hunger Games: Catching Fire; Orlando Bloom, The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug; Matthew McConaughey, Dallas Buyers Club
Best musical moment WINNER: Backstreet Boys, Jay Baruchel, Seth Rogen and Craig Robinson perform in Heaven, This is the End Nominees: Jennifer Lawrence sings Live & Let Die, American Hustle; Leonardo DiCaprio pops and locks, The Wolf of Wall Street; Melissa McCarthy sings Barracuda,Identity Thief; Will Poulter sings Waterfalls, We’re the Millers
Best cameo performance WINNER: Rihanna, This is the End Nominees: Robert De Niro, American Hustle; Amy Poehler and Tina Fey, Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues; Kanye West, Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues; Joan Rivers, Iron Man 3
Best hero WINNER: Henry Cavill as Clark Kent, Man of Steel Nominees: Robert Downey Jr. as Iron Man, Iron Man 3; Martin Freeman as Bilbo Baggins, The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug, Chris Hemsworth as Thor, Thor: The Dark World; Channing Tatum as John Cale, White House Down
Trailblazer award: Channing Tatum
Generation award: Mark Wahlberg
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America is a rocking nation! Nearly 70% of the Top 20 best selling albums are rock albums. Perhaps the fact that rock places a higher degree of emphasis on ideology of authenticity than pop music does has made it as popular as it is in America’s culture. Rock inherits the tradition of the protest song and makes a great stand against conformity.
According to the RIAA (The Recording Industry Association of America) Michael Jacksons album ‘Thriller’ (1982) and Eagles ‘Their Greatest Hits’ album (1971 – 1975) both went 29x platinum. That’s racking up almost 60 million in shipment sales. It’s not at all surprising when you think back to some of the timeless tracks still played today in movies, radio stations, clubs and living rooms all over the world.
The Eagles are one of the world’s best-selling bands of all time, having sold over 150 million records! They are the highest-selling American band in US history!
Following not far behind is 1971 Led Zeppelins’ untitled album (known as Led Zeppelin IV) which went 23x platinum. The album was released with no print anywhere on the cover – no title, track list or even a catalogue number. Jimmy Page explained in an interview: “We decided that on the fourth album, we would deliberately play down the group name, and there wouldn’t be any information whatsoever on the outer jacket. Names, titles and things like that do not mean a thing.” There are, however, four runes on the inside of the cover – one for each band member – though their meaning was never revealed.
Their record label, Atlantic, knew exactly how to scout out musical legends, as they also signed AC/DC, and in 1980 their album ‘Back in Black’ was released, going 22x platinum. That’s a whopping 45 million shipment sales between the two of them.
Pink Floyd makes it to the Top 5 with their 1973 ‘The Dark Side of the Moon’ selling over 20,500,000 copies. The Dark Side of the Moon has some pretty dark themes: conflict, greed, the passage of time and mental illness. Upon release it was an instant success, topping the Billboard Top LPs & Tapes chart for one week. It then remained in the charts for 741 weeks from 1973 to 1988! It is Pink Floyd’s most commercially successful album and one of the best-selling albums worldwide and is often ranked by critics as one of the greatest albums of all time.
Fleetwood Mac and Guns N’ Roses come in at 6th and 7th place, having just under 20 million copies sold each, though with a ten year lag between the two. With Fleetwoods’ album ‘Rumours’ released in 1977 and Guns N’ Roses ‘Appetite for Destruction’ hitting the American airwaves in 1987. Another ten years into the late 90s Shania Twain’s 1997 album ‘Come On Over’ makes it to 8th place with well over 17.5 million shipment sales and gaining the title of best-selling country music album as well as best-selling studio album by a female act.
9th place on our Top 10 list, and going 17x platinum is Bostons’ self titled album, taking us back to 1976, the same year Eagles came out with ‘Hotel California’. A truly legendary year in music, and although the Eagles went 16x platinum with the album you can never get it out of your head — it doesn’t beat Garth Brooks album ‘No Fences’, the 10th on our list, which came out 24 years ago and went 17x platinum.
1. Michael Jackson – Thriller (1982) 2. Eagles – Their Greatest Hits (1976) 3. Led Zeppelin – Led Zeppelin IV (1971) 4. AC/DC – Back in Black (1980) 5. Pink Floyd – The Dark Side of the Moon (1973) 6. Fleetwood Mac – Rumours (1977) 7. Guns N’ Roses – Appetite for Destruction (1987) 8. Shania Twain – Come On Over (1997) 9. Boston – Boston (1976) 10. Garth Brooks – No Fences (1990) 11. Eagles – Hotel California (1976) 12. Elton John – Greatest Hits (1974) 13. Hootie & the Blowfish – Cracked Rear View (1994) 14. Metallica – Metallica (1991) 15. Alanis Morissette – Jagged Little Pill (1995) 16. Journey – Greatest Hits (1988) 17. Bee Gees – Saturday Night Fever (1977) 18. Bruce Springsteen – Born in the U.S.A. (1984) 19. John Travolta / Olivia Newton John – Grease (1978) 20. Backstreet Boys – Backstreet Boys (1997)
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If you are already using Creation 5 Media app, don’t forget that you can expand your music collection, for free, by downloading any of the video clips that appear in the above article.
Here’s how:
Open the video in Creation 5 – we have created links by the side of each song title for this very purpose, so just click on any of these and the video will open inside Creation 5.
Once the video is playing inside the app, press and hold the song title and choose DOWNLOAD from the options. That’s it! You can now find the video in your ‘Favorites’ folder.
Press and hold the song title and choose SHARE. If your friends don’t have Creation 5, they will be directed to the App store where they can download the app for free.
On Monday March 31st Frankie Knuckles died unexpectedly at home, reportedly due to complications related to his diabetes, he was only 59 years old. #RIPFrankieKnuckles
Frankie was the legendary name that towered over electronic music, past and present. Why is it called ‘House’ music? Because Frankie was the resident DJ in the late 70’s and early 80’s at the Chicago club ‘The Warehouse’ – hence House music.
He then went on to launch his own venue called the Power Plant – it’s still there in Chicago quite close to the site of The Warehouse. There is also a street in Chicago named in his honor, where The Warehouse once stood, on Jefferson Street between Jackson Boulevard and Madison Street.
House music is a style of Chicago dance music that completely revolutionized club culture. Frankie arrived in Chicago, from New York, just when disco was going out of fashion. Frankie would take mixes of soul and R&B music and turn them into dance tracks by extending the songs and incorporating drum machines to emphasize the beat. In fact, Frankie bought his first drum machine from Derrick May, one of the founders of Techno music. Derrick would make the trip form Detroit to Chicago regularly to see Knuckles at The Warehouse.
Knuckles wasn’t the only star in the birth of House – dozens more were influential in it’s rise, like Steve ‘Silk’ Hurley, Farley ‘Jackmaster’ Funk and Marshall Jefferson. By the late 1980’s Knuckles was famous in Europe, yet hardly acknowledged in his hometown. He often joked about the fact that he could walk down the street in Chicago without anyone blinking an eye – but arrive in Europe and he would be greeted by cheering fans at the airport. “I wasn’t frustrated by that, not at all,” he said. “I’m not the kind of person that lives for fame and glory. If I’ve got a nice, clean home and can put a meal on my table and can entertain my friends, I’m fine. I don’t need to see my face plastered everywhere.”
In the early days of House music and The Warehouse Chicago didn’t really recognize the scene but as time passed there was a growing recognition for Chicago as the home of contemporary dance music.
“The people I meet all around the world look at Chicago and the house scene with a new romanticism,” he said. “They recognize more than ever that Chicago is the core of where it all began.”
A lot of the House music that Frankie loved evoked gospel and soul – it wasn’t all about the rhythm, it went deeper than that. “God has a place on the dancefloor,” he once told the Chicago Tribune. “We wouldn’t have all the things we have if it wasn’t for God. We wouldn’t have the one thing that keeps us sane – music. It’s the one thing that calms people down.
“Even when they’re hopping up and down in a frenzy on the dancefloor, it still has their spirits calm because they’re concentrating on having a good time, loving the music, as opposed to thinking about something negative. I think dancing is one of the best things anyone can do for themselves. And it doesn’t cost anything.”
In the late 80’s Kunckles concentrated on producing, and recording. Mixmag recently declared ‘Your Love’, his 1987 classic with singer Jamie Principle, the greatest house record ever made. His first album came out in 1991, ‘Beyond the Mix’ which featured his biggest hit, “The Whistle Song.”
Throughout the ‘90s Frankie remixed tracks for Michael Jackson, Diana Ross, Luther Vandross, Toni Braxton, and Eternal. He won a Grammy Award for Remixer of the Year, Non-Classical in 1997 and in 2005, he was inducted into the Dance Music Hall of Fame for his outstanding career as a DJ.
Frankie Knuckles Keep on Movin’ feat. Nicki Richards Original La Familia Mix from Frankie’s 2002 album, Motivation.(Play this video in Creation 5)
Fader Mix by Frankie Knuckles available for download on SoundCloud.
#RIPFrankieKnuckles. Lost but never forgotten.
Don’t have Creation 5? Download it on the App Store!
iPhone Free
iPhone Pro
iPad Free
iPad Pro
If you are already using Creation 5 Media app, don’t forget that you can expand your music collection, for free, by downloading any of the video clips that appear in the above article.
Here’s how:
Open the video in Creation 5 – we have created links by the side of each song title for this very purpose, so just click on any of these and the video will open inside Creation 5.
Once the video is playing inside the app, press and hold the song title and choose DOWNLOAD from the options. That’s it! You can now find the video in your ‘Favorites’ folder.
Press and hold the song title and choose SHARE. If your friends don’t have Creation 5, they will be directed to the App store where they can download the app for free.
Ola Nils Håkan Svensson, known simply as Ola, is one of Sweden’s biggest acts of recent years with seven number one singles, all of them having gone gold or platinum. Two of his three albums have topped the Swedish album charts, and one reached the top three.
After being signed to Universal Music for many years, Ola founded his own record label Oliniho Records for the Swedish market, keeping distribution arrangements with Sony Music in Europe and internationally. Having his own record company was a conscious effort to move away from the artistic limitations he felt when signed to a major label.
Ola has just released ‘Carelessly Yours’ his fourth studio album – we were stunned when we first listened to it – it’s powerful, beautiful and inspiring! We play it at least once a day.
The first single from the album ‘I’m in Love’ topped the charts in several countries and has to date almost 17 million views on YouTube. In August 2013 Ola received a double platinum record for the song in Italy.
Your new album, ‘Carelessly Yours’, is a ‘repeater’ – something you can have on repeat all day and not get sick of. Makes it hard to pick out our favourite tracks. Do you have a favourite song? If so, why that one?
Happy you feel that way! Every song on this album is really special to me in one way or another. Every song has it’s own story and comes from a different place. It was really important for me to make an album where every song had it’s own place and identity. In the music industry today it’s all about the single song and quick releases and all that, but I wanted to make a solid album where every song was special and had it’s own thing. So it’s really hard for me to pick one song, I guess it’s the same for a mother who should pick her favorite child… maybe a bad comparison, but you get it :).
In the album do the songs come from your current self, or do you extract state-of-minds from your past experiences? If so, do you find it easy going back there and re-creating those emotions in order to create a body of work around them?
I would say the songs come from both my current self and extracted state-of-minds. It’s sometimes hard to go back emotionally for many reasons. It can be a place and experience that you have for some reason been hiding from your self or a place you are afraid of going back to, but when your done it’s a relief and the process has brought you forward. So sometimes I think you have to look back to be able to go forward – even though I’m more into what’s happening right now and the future…
How did the new album title come about?
I started to write this album pretty much 3 years ago and this period has been very interesting for me both emotionally and professionally. I’ve come to terms with why I’m doing what I’m doing and that in the first place I’m doing it for my self and how important it is for my own existence to express myself.
Whilst making this album it was really important for me to try to put myself outside of my comfort zone and try not to let fear be the winning force, I just wanted to be true to my self and not care about what others might think.
I don’t know if that makes any sense and if I answered your question, but without digging too much into it I guess that’s where the title comes from.
Are there going to be music videos for all the new album songs? Your fans for sure would love to see it – we’re captivated by each one.
I’m happy to hear that. I’m not sure… I think I need to sell some more records first :).. I was really broke after the last video… but it was definitely worth it. I have for sure a video in my head for all of the songs that I would love to create but 6 videos out of 11 songs is pretty much I guess.
When creating your new songs, is it a collaboration of writing, sounds and ideas, or do you keep it solo? What’s the usual process, or is each song a different story?
Yeah, each song on the album has come to life in really different ways. Sometimes I have a story, cords or a melody. Sometimes I just have a beat. With ‘Jackie Kennedy’ for example, I had a melody in my head for a couple of weeks that refused to leave me. I was whistling the melody everyday back and forth to the studio. The melody became a part of me, a part of my daily life and a company that I didn’t know if I hated or in fact liked having.
Rich & Young was born after a night out. A guy came up to me and said, “I thought only people with real jobs got in here…” and then he grabbed my jeans-jacket and said “ohhh, second hand”… I wrote that one from this guy’s perspective of life. So it’s really different. Sometimes I keep it solo and sometimes we are four people putting our skills into the songs.
In your song ‘’Human’’ is there a ‘’A Little Drummer Boy’’ mixed in there? Did we detect that correctly? We love it! Any specific reasons to add this to the medley?
Yeah you did, I often feel like a little drummer boy myself, and when we made that ‘mid 8’ it just came naturally and felt obvious to keep it, both story wise and melodically. I’m really thankful that the original songwriters let me use it.
What has been the toughest point in your whole life journey getting to where you are now?
I think to gather energy to break loose, to have the courage to just let everything go and jump – to build my own thing up.
Do you think that going through a major record label helped you become who you are, musically, today?
I would say both, if I had started out with the creative freedom I have today I would maybe be in another place right now (which I think could be both good or bad ), but I don’t know. The ‘major record label thing’ gave me a lot of experience of the whole industry and it led me to a place today where I’m really inspired – I’m really thankful for that.
On the subject of record labels, a lot of artists break free from them for the exact reasons you did. It seems to be an all too repetitive tale amongst musicians. What’s your opinion on this?
I think when creativity meets business it’s obvious that it will create problems in many ways. It doesn’t have to but I guess it’s a healthy reaction in a way.
Which artists, if any, in today’s pop world would you love to collaborate with?
Hard question, it really needs to be a good chemistry, but of course I would love to do something with for example Robyn.
Use three words to describe your current sound:
It’s really hard for me to be objective when it comes to my own stuff… but I hope it sounds experimental, honest and fearless.
You have been touring absolutely everywhere (almost) – how do you find it?
I love it, I love to see new places, experience different cultures and meet people from other parts of the world with different ways of seeing things. It gives me so much inspiration. To perform a long way from home and meet people who listen to my music and show up to my gigs is still so unreal to me.
The platinum eyebrows, the platinum hair. Very fitting. Will you be keeping it that way?
Ahh no, I actually have brown/red hair right now. A PR person would probably say I’m an idiot but I need to be in a constant movement and just go with that energy and inspiration and not work against it. I think I’ll always be in constant movement in both my style, sound and expression, but this album is definitely who I am right now.
Tell us a crazy/funny story from your travels:
Not sure it’s so funny but a couple of weeks ago a flight attendant came up to be before landing with my record in her hand. She told me she always has it on her travels and that she wanted me to sign it with my lips… she was totally serious. So she asked me if I could put her lipstick on and kiss the cover… I have never seen those faces on my band before…It was probably the most weird situation I’ve been in so far in this life 🙂
If you were to do a music video filtered in just one colour, what would it be and why?
Purple. It’s the strongest color if you do light therapy
Ever had difficulties in Spanish speaking countries introducing yourself? “’Hola! Soy Ola.’’ 🙂
Yeah, there’s been a couple of weird situations. As I have understood it’s not a common name in the world. In some countries it’s a girls name and I think it means shit in Turkey! And as you say it means ‘hello’ in Spanish etc. Normally, people pronounce it “ALA” instead of OOla. I also think it means wave in some countries. So shit and wave, it’s a pretty good combo!
Olas fourth studio album ‘Carelessly Yours’ is released on his own label ‘Oliniho Records’ under exclusive license to Sony Music. The album contains 11 tracks which Ola has written and produced together with some of the worlds best songwriters and producers such as Shellback (Maroon 5, Pink, Usher) Klas Åhlund (Robyn, Teddybears Sthlm) and Patrik Berger (Lana del Ray, Icona Pop) Alexander Kronlund (Britney Spears, Robyn).
Carelessly Yours Tracklist: 1. Overture 2. Tonight I´m Yours 3. Maybe 4. Losin’ It 5. Human 6. Jackie Kennedy 7. I´m in Love 8. Loser 9. Rich & Young 10. They Won´t Catch Us Alive 11. One Day
Don’t have Creation 5? Download it on the App Store!
iPhone Free
iPhone Pro
iPad Free
iPad Pro
If you are already using Creation 5 Media app, don’t forget that you can expand your music collection, for free, by downloading any of the video clips that appear in the above article.
Here’s how:
Open the video in Creation 5 – we have created links by the side of each song title for this very purpose, so just click on any of these and the video will open inside Creation 5.
Once the video is playing inside the app, press and hold the song title and choose DOWNLOAD from the options. That’s it! You can now find the video in your ‘Favorites’ folder.
Press and hold the song title and choose SHARE. If your friends don’t have Creation 5, they will be directed to the App store where they can download the app for free.
French electronic music duo, Klingande, have been dominating the charts these past few months. In less than a year, Cédric and Edgar, went from bedroom dj/producers to reaching over a million views on YouTube and to becoming nominees at the 2014 World Music Awards… without even having released an album!
Their single Jubel peaked to number 1 in Austria, Belgium, Germany, Switzerland and Italy and their fans are hungry for the main course! But, although the super-talented Frenchies have an album in mind, they plan on making us wait a little longer.
Musically influenced by Bakermat, their journeys towards a successful musical career are alike. Less than a year ago, Cédric and Edgar were students, making music out of pure love for it, and rose to fame in the blink of an eye. Their music, a hybrid of house and jazz, has been trending in most European countries and has been for a while! What’s that got to say about the current European electronic music scene? I think we’re all enjoying a return to good-spirited and blissful summer beach vibes… which makes a delightful change from the blaring dubstep craze of 2012!
For the 2014 World Music Awards, you’ve been nominated for “World’s Best Group” & “World’s Best Live Act” and your single Jubel has been nominated for “World’s Best Song” & “World’s Best Music Video”. How does it feel to have risen to such a high calibre of success and fame in such a short period of time? Did you ever expect your first two singles Jubel and Punga to become such global hits?
Honestly it’s unbelievable! We wanted to make a song that would please people… a song that people would like and that people would dance to, but we never expected to be N°1 in so many European countries and broadcasted on so many radio stations! We launched Jubel and Punga on the web, and only had 200 fans on Facebook at the time, which were only our friends. It’s crazy. We can thank our team management Unity Group for the amazing work they did this past year.
Jubel can be heard on the radio everywhere at the moment. What were you doing and how did you feel the first time you heard your music play on the radio or on MTV?
Cédric: I was at home just chilling and a friend of mine texted me to tell me that Jubel was on the radio – that was the first time. Then it was less of a surprise as my management filled me in on all the information about broadcasting. But each time I get in my car and put on the radio, I think I will hear my song.
What’s your standpoint on today’s electronic music scene or the music business in general?
Cédric: I don’t know, I don’t know the business very well. We are so young in this so called “music industry”. I’ve just discovered promotion, marketing, and all the things that are put around a band. I think there is music for everyone, and that’s the most important. Electronic music allows people to create so many different things and everybody can find his own style.
Artists like Bakermat and Klangkarussell inspire your house-meets-saxophone sound. Have you met or played with any of these guys? If so, what did you take away from that experience?
Cédric: We played a lot with Bakermat last year, and this year we have some shows lined up with Klangkarussell. It’s great to meet and to be with these artists, they are so creative and we love what they do. I feel really small when I’m with these guys.
Which other artists influence your jazzy-house style?
There are a lot of influences, from old school like Miles Davis or Jeff Brubeck to all the new deep house melodic stuff in the electronic music scene… We’re influenced by everything. We can’t really name everybody here ☺
What do you enjoy the most: producing or djing? Why?
We enjoy both, but now producing is stressful because we can’t make a track and test it out like we did with Jubel and Punga. Everybody wants the new single and we have to do something perfect.
How does the song-writing and production process begin?
Cédric: When I’m in the studio, or on the train, or in the plane… I have an idea, I start it… and sometimes I finish it. I have dozens of unfinished projects in the computer.
What about your live show? What do you tend to do before and after a gig and what can your fans expect to see and hear at the show?
Before the gig, we focus on our dj set and on the sound check of the live sax and flute. At the moment, the live set includes the live sax and flute as well as a dj set. We want to improve it, but if we tell you here, it won’t be a surprise anymore ☺
What’s the most outrageous thing that’s happened to you? Either in a nightclub, a plane, the street, a crazy encounter with a devoted fan?
The worst and most outrageous things are in nightclubs. Sometimes, you arrive in a club that booked you just because you’re a little bit famous, but nobody knows who you are there and you’re standing outside at the front door, explaining to the doorman that you’re here to play. We really don’t like these kinds of moments.
You’re currently recording an album, if I’m correct? Could you please shed some light on the musical direction that you’re taking and when it will be released?
Right now, we’re focusing on the new single but we’re keeping the album in mind. We already have some tracks that we’ve reserved for it. We want to make an album that will be progressive, with a real background and a story behind it. We’re working on it but we want to take our time to work with great musicians and vocalists to bring something, which will really be KLINGANDE 😉
Like I said, the fans are dying for Klingande’s first album to be released! Let’s hope they won’t let us starve to death!
Klingande chose our #SundaySessions this week. Click here to listen to them!
Don’t have Creation 5? Download it on the App Store!
iPhone Free
iPhone Pro
iPad Free
iPad Pro
If you are already using Creation 5 Media app, don’t forget that you can expand your music collection, for free, by downloading any of the video clips that appear in the above article.
Here’s how:
Open the video in Creation 5 – we have created links by the side of each song title for this very purpose, so just click on any of these and the video will open inside Creation 5.
Once the video is playing inside the app, press and hold the song title and choose DOWNLOAD from the options. That’s it! You can now find the video in your ‘Favorites’ folder.
Press and hold the song title and choose SHARE. If your friends don’t have Creation 5, they will be directed to the App store where they can download the app for free.
