Over the past year, Trap music has become the fastest growing genre of music. The overall music production of this genre consists of elements taken from predominantly Down South Hip Hop, House and Dubstep. This new style of music has been making quite a buzz in the music industry with new producers, dj’s and artists popping up daily.

This pairing of EDM (electronic dance music) and Hip Hop has turned out to be quite the perfect match. Two genres that had previously been on completely different sides of the spectrum are now working together to bring a new energy and sound to the club scene. We now have Hip Hop producers/artists working with EDM producers creating an exciting new genre of music.

With this sudden surge of this style of production, we have been blessed to hear great new music from artists such as RL Grime, Flosstradamus, and Baauer. As with any new trend, we also have to filter out all the generic “Trap Remixes” and tracks that seem to flood websites such as Soundcloud on a daily basis. I’ve seen well known producers as well as bedroom producers make miserable attempts in creating Trap Music.

The question that now looms for Trap Music is whether it will have any longevity. Is this just another trend that will fade away? Does this genre of music have what it takes to last for years to come?

I feel that Trap Music has the potential to last. I feel this way based off the fact that the genre has roots in Hip Hop. Because of this, there are familiar sounds used in its production that can be recognized by even the newest listeners. Nightclubs are a good way to gauge any given genre of music. Dj’s will play music that keeps the energy levels high in nightclubs. Trap Music might be relatively new in the clubs, but many of the sounds used in its production come from Hip Hop tracks that have been playing in clubs for years.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/7494174

Notation Programs VS DAWs

Notation programs are software used to create sheet music. You would need to know how to read and write music to use it. DAWs or Digital Audio Workstations are stronger for producing professional sounding audio. The amount of sounds libraries, virtual instruments and effects are endless. DAWs have more powerful ways to manipulate notes and sounds than Notation programs.

How do I decide which type of program to choose?

Generally, if you want to create great sounding audio, use a DAW. Alternatively, if you want to compose for live instruments, an orchestra, choir and won’t need to record your tracks in a studio, plus you’re game in music notation, choose a notation program.

Best Notation Programs for Music Composition

Finale

Finale is the cream of the crop in music notation programs and is used professionally by sheet music creators. The printed music at your local music store would most likely be made using Finale. The learning curve is a little high though, with tons of features. It may be too complicated for beginners but you can try Finale Notepad first which is a free, easier version to use.

Sibelius

The main competitor to Finale, Sibelius is great for all types of composers. Finale targets the traditionalists, and Sibelius the more general audience. Maybe too bold of a statement, but Sibelius tends to be popular with media composers such as film and video game music composers. The interface is very easy to learn and use, and is more beginner-friendly.

MuseScore

MuseScore is the best free notation program out there. It has a lot of features and is considered equal to the full blown programs such as Finale and Sibelius. A little hard to learn for the beginner, but will greatly pay off considering this is a free program with full capabilities.

Another one of Mumbai’s DJS will be seen performing soon, DJ Shiva. Known for his foot tapping Bollywood and Hollywood remixes, the DJ does not stick to the convention when it comes to his brand of music. Effortlessly fusing Hip Hop, mainstream Bollywood, lounge, electro and house music, it makes his repertoire far more versatile than most performing artists. Having worked in the music industry for over a decade, the talented DJ has risen from where he’d begun, 10 years ago. He’s carved a niche for himself, with his hard work, unrelenting dedication and his unbridled passion for music. He has also been awarded with a bevy of accolades for his work with music. Some of his famous remixes include Aaj Phir, fro Hate Story 2, Yaariyaan, Raghupati Raghav, from Krrish 3 and Dil Tu Hi Bata. He’s already performed at more than a few high profile events, some of which include Trikaya at Pune, Flags at Pune with Perizad, IPL Nights, Party Link and many more.

Lady Gaga has really revolutionized pop music at the end of decade with her perfect timing and the Fame really brings disco-pop and yes, even electro pop to life. While Pink, Christina, Beyonce and company are releasing their albums and singles, Gaga has already cemented herself as not only one of the fastest emerging female artists in history, but also as a pop culture icon and one of the biggest favorites of disc jockeys.

She is a staple of pop culture continuing come up with new concepts. Gaga sings (live too!), dances, combines music and fashion, designs her own stage, plays an actual instrument (true musician), and most of all, actually writes her own material. Her strengths have produced a million wannabe’s that want to dance like Gaga or sing like Gaga. She’s such incredible entertainer that disc jockeys can’t wait to see what she gives next.

Gaga can tear the house down sitting on a stool with a mic in her hand or do a full out dance routine and knock others dead. What Alexander McQueen did for fashion, Gaga is doing to dance music. The most amazing with Lady Gaga is that she can change style, whether ballad or pop dance which makes her the new Queen Of Pop. Gaga will continue her career the same way Madonna has. She is a marketing machine for her amazing concerts and the disc jockey who need danceable hits to play.

One thing you all have to admit finally is that Lady Gaga really shook up Top 40 into liking electronic/dance music and abandoning the aggressive sounds of hip-hop in the early and mid 2000s.

A Tracklist Will Help You Get Found
Including a tracklist or playlist with your mix sets is an essential part of promoting your career as a performing artist. Whether you’re just starting out or a seasoned pro, a proper play list is the best way to ensure your mix sets are easily found by house heads worldwide. With each tracklist, you provide Google an opportunity to index key search terms such as song title, artist, remixer, and label. Use this as a tool to be found by fans that follow and support the same style as you. Technically speaking, a playlist will promote your mix even when you’re asleep!

In the world of house music, there are thousands of underground, unsigned, and aspiring artists it’s amazing how much music never makes it to the mainstream market. Even then, what our culture considers “mainstream” is still considered “underground” in the world of major labels. It’s important that your listeners identify where the music is coming from, so that their hard work is in the spotlight as well.

Playlists are an Industry Standard
House and electronic dance music has always been about discovering new music. As a DJ/Artist, it is your duty to educate your fans and audience. Don’t be afraid to include a playlist with all your mixes – It’s an industry standard and without one you can easily be misinterpreted as lazy or holding back.

Minimum format: ARTIST – TITLE
Preferred format: ARTIST – TITLE – REMIXER – LABEL
Example: DJ Smith feat Mary Jones – “It’s getting funky” (Funklord Club Remix) – K1 Music

Show Your Support
It’s rare that you will become a world renown artist based solely on your DJ sets. Most disc jockeys do more than just play music. They often have a combination of elements working for them including a radio show, remix/production, a club residency, promoting their own night/event, or a record label. A natural progression for many DJs is getting into music production or remixing. One day, your music will be a part of someone else’s mix, and you certainly hope they give you proper recognition. Show your support and make sure you acknowledge their talent by including their information on your playlist.

Our Future Depends on You
With a tracklist you are providing a service to the artist or label in the event the listener wants to buy that song/track. Whether you’re a fan or DJ – Think about the all the times you’ve listened to a mix, and NEEDED to buy a certain song. You found out what it was, and you bought it on iTunes, Amazon, Traxsource, Beatport, or your favorite digital music store. With a proper tracklist, you’re saying YES to the future of the digital music industry.

1. Keep an open mind – This is by far one of the most idiotic mistakes we all make unconsciously if we’re not careful. Remember any music that you’re not enjoying all that much can be attributed to many things, but most importantly: remember that one bad song does not define the genre or sub-genre.

2. Don’t listen to cheese – Yes this means YOU, yes YOU sitting there wondering if you really have to put down your DJ Sammy, your Ian Van Dahl, your DJ Encore, your Darude – Sandstorm, and the list goes on. I am not going to sit here and tell you which artist to listen to or what not to, but there is DEFINITELY a world of a difference between eating McDonalds every day and having a rotation of quality foods like Japanese-grown Kobe Beef Filet Mignon every night. They may both be loosely labeled “beef” but there is a world of difference in difference in texture, taste, flavors, aromas and such that the person who has never had either will not be able to immediately appreciate on first taste. Remember my fundamental first point? Don’t be one of those people who think it’s cool to go against mainstream music just because it is mainstream. Have your own thought and opinion. Don’t fall victim and prey to social conditioning. I personally love what DJ’s like Armin van Buuren, Above & Beyond, Ferry Corsten, etc. are doing for the EDM and Trance world. Are they mainstream? Yes. Are they utterly good at what they do to promote the genre, contribute POSITIVELY to it, and at the end of the day make millions of people around the world let go of their problems and burdens for the brief time they’re listening to them? That is the ultimate delimiter and deciding factor in a question of this scale. To wrap this point up, I believe a quote by one of the most genius and talented producers of our era Brian Transeau (aka BT) says it all:

“I love what guys like Oliver Lieb and Paul van Dyk do. I hate that ATB and those sorts of people have prostituted this stuff. You listen to an ATB track and then you listen to Sasha, and the difference is as obvious as listening to Led Zeppelin and Rachmaninoff.” – Brian Transeau

3. Don’t listen to low bitrate music – Now we’re starting to get to the heart of how to actually enjoy the music once we have little nuances like ignorance and stereotyping of a genre of music out of the way. Please do yourself a favor and refuse to listen to anything that is at the VERY least 128 kbps when you first start out, and then 192 kbps when you find that your brain and ears can hear the difference in them. The jump from 192 kbps and 320 kbps takes a bit longer to bridge, but I wholly encourage everyone who has the ability to get a 320 rip of whatever their tunes to do so. If you have no idea what bitrate means, in a nutshell the numbers denote how much information is coming through when you are listening. The less information that comes through, the more muffled, low quality, and ultimately un-lifelike the sound will sound.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/1994734

Although it is beneficial if you have a recording studio and many years of background experience in music production, the truth is that it is not the only way to make dance music. There are other options available that allow you to make amazing dance tracks just like the stuff you hear on the television and radio which have been made by professionals.

The way to make this happen is through the use of a brand new groundbreaking piece of software that can aid you in the creative process of making your own dance beats easily and quickly.

Be aware that if your background is not in this genre, it can be difficult to make music that sounds good or to even learn the software in general.

There is a light at the end of the tunnel, though, because that is not the case with this software…

One piece of software that was recently made available shows you step by step how to make your own dance music with ease. The best part is that both professionals and absolute beginners can benefit from this unique program.

A lot of people are even making there own professional music beats with this software and selling them online, which is also perfectly legal as though they were the ones that created the music, so there is no copyright worries etc.

“And listen to what?” I always say. “That crap you have in your glove box?”

I run into people and friends all the time that “Used to” listen to Dance Music, and claim knowledge of the most popular and listened genre of music in the world, but in all reality, they just really jumped a bandwagon at the time the radio was playing a lot of C and C Music Factory, Black Box, KLF, Pet Shop Boys, and every Top 40 artist had to have a “Club Mix” and thought that they were in “The scene” for a time period.

Then radio moved on to the “next big thing” and like sheep, they went with it, or reverted back to what they were listening to before. The fact of the matter is, Radio, MTV, and other mainstream outlets play what image they think they can sell you, not what’s really good, or popular. They create popularity. That is their business.

The Death of Dance Music has been predicted by one writer or another over the last 25 years and it always makes me laugh. Some of the same guys, (and gals) that were hitting the clubs in the 90’s, wearing their best Z-Cavaricci’s, Cham’s, Polo’s, Alexander Julian Shirts, Roots Shoes, Baby Doll Mini’s, Coach Bags, and “Jacked up” on enough Cocaine to stimulate the GNP of Bolivia, are now the same writers and “haters” that lost touch with what is going on, had a kid or 2, sobered up, and since it wasn’t on the radio anymore, and assumed that everyone stopped listening, and continued to be force fed the same 40 songs as everyone else in the country, until you heard it enough times, that familiarity tricked you into believing that you liked it.

Nothing, as we all know, nothing could be further from the truth but I always get a kick out of my friends and associates that don’t give any respect to the form, and pull out an old Megadeath, Journey, or Phil Collins TAPE, and say, “See now, this was the good stuff”

I have been listening to House, and Techno/Trance since the beginning, and not only is the old ground breaking stuff still able to hold it’s own on any dance floor, but it has evolved and gotten better over the years and has spread around the world like an infectious plague, and planted a flag firmly in the culture of most every civilized society on the planet. I love it when I play something from “back in the day” and somebody in my car will say, “Hey , I like that new stuff you’re playing… Who is that?”. And I’ll say something like, “Um, that’s Todd Terry with Martha Wash… it’s 10 years old”

In performing arts, body posture is the medium to express the artist’s intention to the audience. When done perfectly, then this is appealing to those watching them. The posture of the dancer depends on the dance music that is playing in the background. It is a combination of executing the beat while maintaining the posture or the stance that best relays the message of the dance.

At clubs, the DJs change the beat up to respond to the interest of their listeners. When the music is unrecognized then not a lot of people will dance to the beat that is played. A good club knows the current dance music as well as the remix dance that will get the club goers to their feet the minute that the first few riffs are played from the boombox.

Therefore, DJs should be updated with the current release. They must also be aware of the club goers. It is their responsibility to make the dance floor alive and kicking. Progressive changes on the tracks that they play lead to an increase in movement of the club goers. The dance music that is available for download from various downloading sites are investments for DJs, whether they be club DJs or virtual DJs.

The large clubs encourage club DJs to play the latest dance music that they can get their hands on. As much as possible, the more remixes, the better because it gives the club goers the option. There is interaction in the club. People get to socialize in various clubs all over the country. A club that has lots of goers mean good business for both the owner and the DJ. The owners take note which DJs lure the most number of club goers and offer them more regular gigs. This is because the club goers actually take note of the club DJs that make them dance and have a good time.

Art is everywhere and it is evident in club music. Even the remix of dance music is still considered art. There are people who regard this as noise but it is an art in a different form. An art is a creative outlet that has a creative artist, an art object and an observer or an audience. In this case, in dance music, the creative artist is the DJ and the art object is the music that is remixed. The observer or the audience are the club goers. Therefore it is safe to conclude that club DJs and virtual DJs who turn up the music in the clubs create art.

Dancing is very important. It is a form of escape from a busy schedule. At least with lively dance music and the remixes tha come with it, as provided by club DJs and virtual DJs, club goers can definitely relax from their stressful lives and just dance the night away. Going to the clubs are energizing in that sense. At the same time, club DJs can get a regular gig at the clubs they are playing in – especially if they are the reasons why people check the club out on that specific night.