DIFFERENCE BETWEEN BEAT MAKERS N MUSIC PRODUCERS

ARTISTE TIP: 

#FAMEMENTOR: “EVERY TIME I AGREE TO A COLLABORATION OR PROJECT  WITH OTHER ARTISTS, I AM ALWAYS COMMITTED AND I GIVE MY ALL. I ALWAYS GET INVOLVED WITH EVERY PROCESS AIMED AT PROMOTING IT. I MAKE MYSELF ACCESSIBLE FOR RADIO/TV INTERVIEWS, SHOWS OR PERFORMANCES GEARED TOWARDS PROMOTING THE PROJECT TOO. I USE ALL RESOURCES AVAILABLE TO PROMOTE THE PROJECT ON EVERY AND ALL PLATFORMS THAT I HAVE ACCESS TO. SOME ARTISTS FIND IT DIFFICULT TO DO THAT.” –  AKON 

They say all men were created equal but some work harder than others. So also there are producers, beat makers and studio engineers. Some are good in simply making beats, some are at their best when recording an artist’s vocals, while some make beats, and do the actual production and recording too.

Most people think that everyone who makes beats is a music producer, but producing a beat doesn’t make you a music producer. Being a music producer takes much more than making beats or recording an artist’s vocals. There are producers that once they produce a beat it becomes a hit song, and even when it is not a commercial success, it still makes waves. And there are artists who once they voice or record on any beat no matter who the producer is, it becomes a hit record.

In Nigeria and Africa today we have a lot of talented/gifted and exceptional beat makers and producers but there is a growing trend amongst artists, especially here in Nigeria that I want to talk about in this piece.

There are over 1000 producers in Nigeria, some are well known and more in the limelight than their colleagues while others are virtually unknown until they make a hit track for an upcoming or emerging artist.

Most artistes both already established and upcoming all like to work with known or what I will term tested producers. No one wants to give that unknown producer the chance to show what they can do or to prove their mettle.

Only a few artistes take chances and put their trust in the production skills of a relatively unknown or unheard of producer or beat maker. Artistes forget that just like any upcoming act seeks the opportunity and chance to showcase his/her talent or get air play, so also a producer who is unknown desires the same or even much more.

In Nigeria once an artiste “presumably” comes out of the blue with a hit song that becomes a street anthem, everybody’s first question is “Who produced the song”? What’s the producer’s name? Where is he based? They ask as if these really matter. Everybody now wants to work with him. In the past couple of years this trend has become increasingly visible even amongst established acts.

What this does is that every song/beat during this period sound ultimately alike and it leads to a flood in a host of songs, beats and in some cases artistes that sound and sing alike. One thing some artistes forget is that what works for Mr. B may not work for Mr. A and what works for Mr. KD might not work for Mr. OY.

In my experience I have come to realize that different artists record and voice in different ways, so also certain producers bring out certain moods or have certain effects on some artists.

What am trying to say is that most artists in a bid to do the “FOLLOW FOLLOW EFFECT” fail to realize that it is better to work with a producer who will always bring out the best in you, who knows how to inspire, motivate and bring out the best in your voice, vocal style. Who knows the gimmicks that will make you give the best version of yourself in the studio every time.

Sometimes these known producers won’t have the time or patience to work with an upcoming artist simply because they are already fully booked. In other cases they might feel it is a waste of their time and so will do a rush session to wrap up and get you out of the studio so another artist can record.

Other times the producers respect the already established big artiste and is so star struck he wants to work with him that he will fail to correct or be firm enough to actually produce and simply becomes a studio engineer instead.

Some so called producers are simply beat makers who know nothing about what actual production entails and so really have nothing in terms of production to offer the artist during their sessions. If only artists can learn to take more risks, try out new or unknown producers, try new styles and be more innovative and trendsetting than mere followers, our budding music industry will be the better for it.

I always tell upcoming artists, you do not really need to work with the celebrity producers or the known names to make a hit song, rather you should find the one who knows your vocal range, style, reach, who knows you and will be patient enough to allow you the time to get it right and still be firm enough to tell you to re-voice it or to do a re- take if he/she feels you need to do so.

Until artists learn that the most popular or known producer might not be the best for them, this will always be the case.

 I have a problem with is the resultant effect which is that all beats and sometimes songs over a particular period sound alike because everyone says “make me a beat like that one or I wanna do a song like that artist.”

Nobody wants to be a trailblazer or pathfinder. None wants to take the risk of creating a new sound or style so the fans and listeners are subjected to cloned sounds/beats and an unending cycle of recycled beats, lyrics and punch lines.

I don’t claim to know it all or have all the answers so I will always welcome criticism, comments and pointers from my readers and visitors to the blog.

All written articles and pieces are all original works of Toks Asher Young except the quoted excerpts.