"Being categorized and associated with a genre is something few artists enjoy. It’s often a necessary evil, determined by the record label as part of their PR to make it easier for journalists and record stores. But as the artists get tagged with a label, so do their fans. As such, it evokes a feeling […]"

YOU’RE A SELLOUT


Being categorized and associated with a genre is something few artists enjoy. It’s often a necessary evil, determined by the record label as part of their PR to make it easier for journalists and record stores. But as the artists get tagged with a label, so do their fans. As such, it evokes a feeling of belonging, and as a fan you get protective; an unofficial list of do’s and don’ts suddenly emerges.

“Growing up in the ’90s, one of the first rules was, Green Day wasn’t punk”

I, for one, have a hard time saying that I like electronic music, as I don’t enjoy EDM. I like rock, but I don’t necessarily like Aerosmith. I have a hard time listening to most hip hop, but the artists I like, I really like. And I enjoy classical music, but learned that I tend to go for “modern classical,” which is difficult to define other than it’s new. So it is tricky to talk about genres without being extremely broad.

Punk is one such genre, but it has a hardcore fan base, its own history, and while it’s filled with sub-genres, I feel that it has its basic do’s and don’ts. Growing up in the ’90s, one of the first rules was, Green Day wasn’t punk. It was pop punk, and it was important for those two genres to be separated. One was underground, raw and stood for something. You know, realness. The other was new, commercial and was playing on MTV. As a 15-year-old kid, I respected the difference – and still do.

“when artists use punk music as means to express something creative”

That’s why the teenage heart in me still gets riled up when artists use punk music as means to express something creative, but take a commercial approach to the music scene. Strictly speaking, they want to be alternative, but in real life they are as commercial as any other mainstream pop act.

 

Good Charlotte

 

Remember Good Charlotte? They’ve recently announced their comeback, with a new album and international tour. While they were never regarded as more than classic pop punk, they so desperately wanted to be the underground outsiders. On a surface level they fit right in with their tattoos, clothing and lyrics depicting the rich and famous people in ways like, “I’d like to see them spend a week, living life out on the street.” But on the other hand, their sound was based on catchy pop choruses, produced by major executives and written for rotation on MTV, and the band members seemed to hold zero creative ambitions beyond their looks. It didn’t necessarily help that one of them married television personality Nicole Richie.

 

gamma1

 

I even get distressed about the UK boyband Busted re-forming, with former member Charlie Simpson. Charlie jumped ship when the super-commercial band were at their all-time high in 2005, calling it “torture,” and instead formed post-hardcore band Fightstar. The guy fought hard to shake his boyband roots and, surprisingly, he seemed successful in doing so. Ten years later, and only having released his latest Fightstar album a few weeks ago, it was announced that Charlie had reunited with Busted for a tour and album. While Busted seem to have no problem selling tickets for their 2016 venture, the question remains: Are the Fightstar fans going to accept the cold, hard truth – that Charlie wants money? I’ve never listened to Busted, and have only heard a handful of Fightstar tracks, but even I question one man’s loyalty against a bunch of post-hardcore fans who came to terms with the fact that one of the members came from a boyband.

 

Dolores Haze

 

Speaking about integrity, the music economy has taken a toll on a lot of artists. Tie-ins with companies and sponsorships have become another necessary evil to be able to survive in music with a reliable income, both as an artist and label, since album sales have dropped. It’s not like you’re surprised, as Ariana Grande’s new video is filled with Samsung phones, to an absurd in-your-face level. But as an indie or alternative act, you have to tread your ground lightly.

“the super-ironic approach to their interviews, mimicking the Noisey attitude”

Case in point: Swedish newcomers Dolores Haze are an interesting mix of pop and alternative. While some songs are trashy and self-penned punk, others are clever radio-friendly pop songs written by well-known Swedish hitmakers. The band is composed of four 18-year-old Brian Molko-styled girls who are all taking the super-ironic approach to their interviews, mimicking the Noisey attitude of not giving a fuck. But while it might not be for me, probably because I’m male and grumpy, there’s a sense of creative control even while balancing the alternative with the mainstream.

“three shoes as songs”

That’s why it was so surprising when they partnered with shoe brand Dr. Martens. The collaboration was titled “Stand For Something,” which is by all accounts not to be treated as an ironic title. The press release is filled with the usual corporate branding phrases from Dr. Martens, as to be expected. The icky part comes when it’s clear that the band is there to “interpret three shoes as songs.” It doesn’t really matter how many levels of irony you’re on – the band is releasing three songs about shoes, as part of their image and their output as musicians and their band identity, as well as their integrity. While I recently argued about this with my podcast and label co-owner, Louise – who’s a co-owner of the label who signed the band – I still want to warn the Dolores Haze members that the money isn’t worth it. Louise makes a valid point about the current music climate and the necessity of sponsorship in the podcast. Still, the rebel teenage heart in me deems the band as far detached from the ongoing Riot Grrrl movement and the actual integrity behind both the scene as well as the importance of being independent. I’m left with a band who, instead, looks like a creative mix: They seem like a garage band spun and remodeled into a commercial entity, with a few singles fit for radio that someone else produced for them.

“I like to have a few rules to make me feel special”

Also, having been a small-time artist myself, my way out of the sponsored deal was to get creative and start this site. I know there are ways of making a creative force work without relying on someone else’s money.

To be fair, there’s one Good Charlotte track I secretly play when no one’s listening and I think most Riot Grrrl bands’ music is pretty terrible. And in the ’90s I also preferred Green Day’s “Basket Case,” Placebo and Erasure to the underground skate punk my friends deemed more real and legit. And so what if a band consisting of four 18-year-olds put on some shoes and recorded covers about them? So what if a guy name Charlie changed his mind and is trying to balance being a boyband member and a post-hardcore act?

But somewhere, as a listener and a fan, I like to have a few rules to make me feel special. And while most in the music industry is smoke and mirrors, I want something real to grab on to – even if it’s subjective and without logic.

Written by Staffan Ulmert

8 comments
Leave a reply »

 
  • FatherRr
    November 12, 2015 at 4:05 pm

    Don’t let the major labels ruin you. Be S E L E C T I V E
    Good Charlotte… there’s no hope there

    Reply

  • @lebob Level 3
    November 12, 2015 at 7:26 pm

    “But somewhere, as a listener and a fan, I like to have a few rules to make me feel special.”
    -> yeah, indeed. i do the same. but in the end of the day, really, who cares what we listen to? :D

    Reply

  • May 28, 2016 at 5:02 pm

    I think there is some logic having a purity test when it comes to music. Wanting genuineness in your music is a must. Sure, I prefer genuine fake over fake genuine. People that pretend to be real compared to people that know the stories they tell are made up but are honest about the intent of the music.

    Reply

  • @audiobinge Level 6
    May 29, 2016 at 1:02 am

    Money is tight for a lot of people now. But I think the cream does rise to the top. As for you Staffan, need to get a Mojib and Kanye collaboration. Clothes. Dog houses. Etc.

    Reply

  • Bluto12
    June 11, 2016 at 11:19 am

    Accusing Simpson of being a “sellout” is pretty sad and immature in itself. Without even reading up why he rejoined Busted? Absolutely pathetic. This however: “I’ve never listened to Busted, and have only heard a handful of Fightstar tracks” I’m sorry, but… what the actual fuck.

    Reply

  • @lipslikety Level 1
    July 13, 2016 at 1:50 pm

    The Charlie Simpson thing is a bit dumb. He still does his amazing solo stuff, and Fightstar are still about. Hes also in another band with his brothers that isn’t very good, but the dude is playing in a bunch of different projects. I personally love three of them. How can you begrudge a dude who’s giving so much to music, in quantity AND quality a payday from a tour and album with Busted, who, in their own right, are a great pop band?

    Reply

  • Ewen
    October 1, 2016 at 3:58 pm

    I’m a massive Fightstar fan and I must say that I and a large portion of the fans I know are pretty cool with Charlie having some time with Busted. I feel like he did take the time to think about it and actually kinda enjoyed being back with them for at least a short time. It’s also worth noting he released two solo acoustic slightly poppy albums too, which I kinda like. I think it can be a shame when someone you really like changes genre to something you don’t like, but chances are that someone does. And hey, who doesn’t want money? Can’t get too mad with people going where the money is, because it’s a thing that most people jump to. Yeah it can be a bit disappointing, but artists should never really have to be bent to our will IMO

    Reply

  • deadair
    August 8, 2017 at 10:45 am

    we ARE in the middle of a massive recession

    remember when nicke andersen left entombed to form the poppy helicopters? they still rocked!

    Reply

Leave a Reply to Bluto12 Cancel reply

Warning: If your comment includes an album download link or to an illegal download site, you will be banned!


Skip to toolbar