Can’t “good” just be “good”?
We have to have genres to be able to talk about music. You could say one-drop songs when you’re talking reggae, but no one will know what you’re talking about.
Genres are also useful when looking for music. The music you want is easier to find knowing which genre it’s in.
Painting myself in a corner..
Musicians often do not want to be cornered in a genre. That’s fine. Musicians aren’t genres. Songs are. Musicians are people, silly. They can make any genre of music they want to, still.
Once a song is released, people have to categorize it. Even me. Genres, though not a perfect system, are perfect for this. I’m able to find references across a wide range of musical tastes very easily. Genres are essential to this flow.
Final thoughts and a song.
If you’re a musician and you find yourself rebelling against genres, I’d encourage you to make a new one. Then you can be the only one in it, til it catches on. Haha.
When I was a kid, a priest told me when I was struggling to escape the blues on guitar that I couldn’t change the music of my soul, nor the soul of my music. I hate to say, he was flat wrong. I’m a musician, I can do that shit in my sleep. Thanks.
Here’s a tune that is blues and folk. Acoustic. Dark. Has some harmonies. That’s pretty much it. Hard to describe without the “blues and folk” part.
Smoke and Mud (Unplugged)
https://thekintners.bandcamp.com/track/smoke-and-mud-unplugged
Remember, you are not painting yourself in a corner by utilizing genres. You are making yourself easier to find. Paint anything you want and when you’re done, look at it objectively. Give it a good home.
Return to home.
