From Speakeasies to Spotify

to Spotify The BGQ reviews 100 years of music and its influencers. by: TRINITY WHITEFORD staff writer

Photo: T. Whiteford

We all have different preferences of music, whether it be jazz, pop, country, rock or some of the many other variations. But how is that music produced? To find out, I went to Studio Anatomy, a local recording studio on Front Street in downtown Traverse City. Owner Brian Chamberlain informed me of two types of recordings; analog and digital. Analog is a more manual, hands on process, but it is recorded on wax or vinyl cylinders, meaning that if the recording doesn’t sound right starting over is the only option. Digital is more complex than analog. It involves sound traveling through a microphone and onto a computer through multiple chords. This process makes it easier to edit and delete parts of a song rather than restarting all together. Digital recordings are often preferred due to sheer lack of convenience. However, analog recordings can be more desirable because many people feel there is a difference in the overall quality of sound, particularly in terms of warmth, even though analog recordings are slightly more expensive than digital. Changes over the past century in recording music are important, but I also wondered about the changes in the music itself, so I spoke with David Hester, Central’s band director. Hester introduced me to a whole new world of music and change over the past decade, especially with regards to a Russian composer. “One of the most famous contemporary composers was Igor Stravinsky; he really pushed the envelope and got music into the more avant garde. He really broke away from the common melody that composers used before him.” Having been used to listening to jazz and the blues, Stravinsky’s music was different. “People were just doing crazy things with music. [They] were just so thrown off guard by the music and styles. If it wasn’t for that time period then we wouldn’t have what we do here today.“ The 1920s encouraged people to think outside the box and push boundaries of music and self expression in general. “Everyone tried to take baby steps, music evolved through little steps and he really busted through the wall, and started challenging people’s ears.” According to Hester, Stravinsky kept pursuing his music and that evolved into music genres we have now. After meeting with Brian Chamberlain, I wanted to know more about changes that brought about the music we hear today. Jeff Haas, a local jazz musician, introduced to me a new world of change in the 1920s. He explained how recording studios were just getting started around this time, and speakeasies were the primary source for music. “There was always music playing, and there were all different types of people composing and going into speakeasies and playing music.” Haas believes that “music is your way of expressing yourself, with both the pain and celebration of life.” Musicians like Haas are always composing for ordinary people, which in turn creates a safe haven for all. Everyday people such as Jeff Haas, Brian Chaimberlain, and David Hester continue to help shape the music industry into what it is today by creating and producing music. Think of recorded music like vinyl, cassettes, 8-tracks, CDs and streaming. We have instant access to music through devices like iPods and smartphones that wasn’t available a little over 100 years ago. We find comfort in music today just as people did in the 1920s. In a way, apps like Spotify and Pandora are our 21st century speakeasies, minus the Flappers. / / Photo courtesy of: C. Hale

Photo: T. Whiteford