Historical Foundations in Our Modern Music
To push forward, we must first look back. Knowing how we got to where we are now, the living history that trails behind the present, can offer a powerful outlook on the music we make.
Whether it’s technological innovation, stylistic evolution, or manufactured trends, it’s illuminating and fun to learn about the origins of creativity. Below are five lessons exploring the historical clockwork that makes our modern musical landscape tick, culled directly from our courses. But these links are only accessible with an active Soundfly subscription.
So make sure to subscribe to level up your toolkit, and gain access to everything else Soundfly has to offer. Here are our favorite 5 Lessons On… Variation. Enjoy!
The Origins of Hip-Hop Music Production
Hip-Hop is a minimalist music: a drum loop, a bass line, and a storyteller’s voice taking flight over top of it. From its humble origins in The Bronx to bedrooms and clubs all over this planet, the production frankly hasn’t changed much over the last 40 years…
Learn about this history here on Soundfly.
A Brief History of Synthesizers
From electricity experiments in the basement of the Metropolitan Opera House to vacuum tubes, transistors, modules, and digital sample banks, the history of modern sound synthesis is a cornucopia of candy for the eye and the ear!
Learn about this history here on Soundfly.
A Brief History of Boy Bands
You may think you know all there is to know about Boy Bands, but its tangled history actually comes from several tangential lineages, from barbershop quartets to Motown to The Beatles. Expert historian and author Maria Sherman explores.
Learn about this history here on Soundfly.
A Primer on Chicago Footwork
Chicago is considered the birthplace of house music — with local DJs playing a key role in creating deep house, acid house, and juke music — but the city also gave birth to the foundational “Footwork” DJ style, which Jlin fell in love with at an early age.
Learn about this history here on Soundfly.
The History of the AKAI MPC
The MPC (often referred to as a “studio in a box”) is easiest one of the most important musical innovations of the 20th century, an all-in-one sampler that’s been elevated by hip-hop pioneers like J Dilla, Pete Rock, DJ Shadow, DJ Premier, and our very own RJD2.
Learn about this history here on Soundfly.
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