Surely
there are more reasons than those above.
However, regardless of the reason cited
one thing seems to be abundantly felt
in the gothic/industrial community—the
"industrial scene" is dying
or already dead.
Are
these the masters of industrial
music?
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However,
in my opinion I think that this is utter
garbage—industrial is not dead;
in fact, I would say that now is the
best time to be an industrial musician.
Right now home recording technology
that rivals the best equipped studios
of the 1980's is available for under
five thousand dollars. There are more
synthesizers, and more good synthesizers,
than ever before being created, including
modular synthesizer manufacturers creating
excellent instruments that rival anything
ever before created.
Another
thing that we have going for us as industrial
musicians is a wide, deep range of influences
to draw from. Rock music, which has
been developing in earnest since the
1950's, has a wealth of great direct
influences—in addition to occasional
forays into blues, jazz or country influenced
styles. Up until recently industrial
musicians didn't have much to choose
from in order of influences; do you
really dig the stripped down Front 242
sound, or the more "dark Depeche
Mode" of early Skinny Puppy? Are
you more of a Psychic TV and Sutcliffe
Jugend noise fan, or do you gravitate
more to the Laibach sound?
Right
now, industrial music has actually reached
its point as being a mature music
form, much like rock music did in the
1970's.
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Industrial
music has finally came of age
as a mature form of music with
a lineage of varied influences
and defined styles.
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But
the combination of reliable technology
and a vast range of influences isn't
all that is good about doing industrial
music in 2002; there is also a huge
army of potential fans that are growing
sick of the canned, fake music in the
mainstream. Right now the most "thought
provoking and controversial" major
act out there is stuff in the caliber
of Sugar Ray, who are being brandied
around like they are some kind of dangerous
bad boys. Give me a break. At least
a few years ago there were a few controversial
acts like Marilyn Manson and Nine Inch
Nails that, despite their popularity,
managed to up the ante when it came
to presenting disturbing images within
the context of pop music. Seriously—like
him or hate him—Marilyn Manson
managed to remain on top of Mtv's Top
Ten Videos while denouncing Christianity
and ripping up Bibles to the admiration
of arena-sized crowds. The best we get
now, a few years later, is maybe the
off chance that Britney's surgeon-enhanced
mammaries might pop out of her tank
top while lip-syncing "Hit Me Baby
One More Time." Pathetic, truly.
Let's
face it, music right now in 2002 is
sterile. Even gangster rap has ceased
to provide any true rebellion or controversy
since the killing of the Notorious B.I.G.—evidently
rappin' about bitches and ho's gets
old to even the would-be censors and
youth of today. I suppose if more rappers
start killing each other the world might
listen in, but somehow I doubt that
this would represent a great career
move for our ghetto poets.
The
"bad boys" of the current
music scene. This is no laughing
matter either.
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Before
anyone hastens to add that: "None
of this matters." let me reiterate
that there is a HUGE GAP in the music
business world and the music buying
audiences. Music isn't being made that
satisfies the audience anymore—
controversy isn't being raised and nobody
is really too excited about much of
anything out there right now.
So,
right here and right now, what can you
do about this? For one, if you are an
industrial musician start a band, finish
your album, play some shows. If you
aren't a musician—attend some shows
and support your local and touring talent.
Draw some attention to the genre and
let the musicians know that you support
them; if you are a musician, play out
more, let the audience know that you
appreciate them as well. Buy
some CD's of your favorite underground
artists, don't settle with a MP3 that,
more than likely, the band will never
get any money for. Support the scene!
Secondly,
if you are a musician, realize that—now
that the floodgate is open—there
will always be a market for aggressive
electronic music, no matter what it
is called! So what if "industrial"
is dead. Don't care about labels, just
care about the music. After all, past
all the nonsense, it is about the music
and self-expression.
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These
are dark times that demand a dark
music.
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These
are dark times, and there will be people
that are on the look out for darker
music. Based on the success of Nine
Inch Nails in the mainstream, there
could potentially be a far larger and
receptive audience for your music than
you ever imagined. Just do something
different. Be original. Don't copy when
you can innovate. Find new boundaries
to push. Explore new themes and images.
Remember, it isn't necessarily "industrial"
music you are doing but aggressive electronic
songs. Don't be limited by a label,
even ones that you apply to yourself.
Who
cares if they say industrial is dead?
If it is, then let our motto be:
"Industrial
is dead. Long live industrial!"
