Hey guys. I'm always curious to hear new opinions and for open discussions. With the creation of Mat's new forum I wanted to contribute with some discussion every day about music.

Today's topic comes from a tweet from producer, D.O.D, who tweeted something regarding how many new tracks he receives as promos often sound "generic."

Rather than having an unorganized Twitter discussion I wanted to bring it here for the true music producers to discuss, not all of Twitter.

There are of course many sub-genres of electronic music, so for each it may help to specify if it applies.




In regards to D.O.D, I was speaking about "big room house"

For example, the song structure and arrangement found in Hardwell and W&W's "The Dance Floor is Yours." As far as "generic" goes, this would be a similar structure I would assume. Same goes for the instruments used in each 8 bar section, etc

> What defines "generic" and how can you avoid a generic structure, so forth?



This could obviously could be applied to many genres so be sure to specify.

Let's discuss

I just got here, time to be an asshole and ruin my rep.

> What defines "generic"

Being replaceable.

I mostly do dubstep. Most mainstream dubstep from the last couple of years sounds like it's all made from one formula, and that formula controls EVERYTHING. Sometimes that formula changes slightly, and then everyone changes to follow it. But either way, I'm kind of sick of hearing another track with the exact same structure, exact same drop setup, exact same sound design, and exact same mixdown, even the exact same key signature (F minor). It gets boring after a while, and having the same lead sound playing a slightly different melody (in the same style) isn't enough.

how can you avoid a generic structure

Make tracks because you want to, not because you have to.

Music is entertainment, but it's also a creative field. I mean, you could be all "me too" and make another interchangeable banger, but why? Once your technique (arrangement/sound design/mixing...) is in a good place, it's time to learn how to channel your inspiration into a track, and use different elements to convey different ideas. I think that's something most producers skip, and you can tell which ones they are pretty easily. And if you're having problems getting inspired, go out and find something that inspires you! Heartbreak, politics, religion, friends, a place, or just TV/books/movies, or even more music. You don't have to make music about something specific, and EDM is mostly instrumental anyway; as long as it makes you want to create.

But how exactly does someone do that? I think the best way to expand your musical style is to listen to other music. Haywyre and Koan Sound both have great jazz influences. Dubstep originally had a lot of reggae influences. When trap started out, it had some rap going on, AFAIK.

^ that too

For me one of the best ways I avoid trying to sound too generic is by cutting out the use of a reference track and just making whatever I want.

Obviously this isn't super useful for someone still trying to nail their favorite sounds, but after a while I've gotten comfortable with knowing what I want, and when I feel like I'm not trying to sound like 1 2 or 3 other tracks, it frees me up to do much less typical things musically.

Then again, however, a lot of those songs never even make it to soundcloud because they're too weird...

I absolutely agree with you on not using reference tracks. Personally, my workflow and overall creativity is way better when I am not listening to a reference track. When I stop and listen to a particular section of a song or how a song's arrangement was composed, I end up wanting my track to emulate that arrangement. It's almost like I'm forcing my music into a mold, and it doesn't fit.. and I hate that.

I know I suggested listening to the arrangement of Showtek's 'Slow Down' for some ideas in how to avoid "generic arrangement" - and yes I did listen to that as a reference track at one point - but in the end I discovered that I get absolutely nowhere when I stop and re-listen to the same track and try to make the same build-ups and style as a well-known track.

Being replaceable.

^ Sums it up.  What people call generic is just music that can be replaced by another track and evoke the same affective response. 

Music with the same structure/sound that has now been popularized can be generic.

Reality though, TBH: there is no such thing as generic music.  All music is different and unique - but I believe its the short sightedness and elitism that gives people the libidinal desire to couch music as "generic"

I think if you want to avoid "generic" sounds - you're setting yourself up for failure.  You have a ton of music influence that is inevitably impossible to shut out, so you are going to recreate structure and sound that you have heard before.  Give yourself freedom to not be afraid of being generic.

Is a 7/4 time signature generic in "EDM" - no. But it is generic, or rather common, in jazz.  Recognizing what shapes the electronic scene, etc. gives you freedom to explore what is outside of our common preconceptions of electronic, etc. music.

EDIT: for sure though - people recreate the same shit because they watch all the same tutorials and download very similar stems / construction kits which have a formula to them.  But over time, the formula changes and we get new shit. aka, new music.

IF YOU MAKE SOMETHING UNIQUE AND ORIGINAL, YOU WILL BE SUCCESSFUL

This is the most important thing in all genres of music. If you set out to copy a certain style because you like it, you will have a much harder time doing well. Oliver Heldens was successful because what he started doing was different. As with Skrillex, as with Flume, as with Deadmau5, as with Madeon.

Mat Zo just got lucky 

Why tracks are so generic ? because mainstream is.

Little boy doesn't want to grow up and he want to look like David F******* Guetta.

You don't change a winning team... That's it !

If you want to be famous, that's the path. If you want to be recognize as great artists, experiment and f**** everyone who put you down saying it won't work. Who cares about the money, we care about the music.

I'd agree with what everyone has basically said. If you can't tell who made a song, and it's easily replaced by another, then it's generic.