My Thoughts Monday: Strategy Behind Making A Record

This week on My Thoughts Monday I wanted to take a look at the strategy behind making a record in the music industry.

Now, let's assume that all artists go into their album production with one goal: To make good music that is enjoyed by the masses. 

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The goal is common but the execution is what truly defines the artist. Much like a play or a movie or clothing collection, a record takes minimally 6-8 months to complete and can carry out over multiple years of production. Of course, this is not an absolute but it is a good testimony to the work and planning that goes into bringing together a professional body of work the size of a iTunes-worthy record.

What I am really focused on talking about here is the importance behind pre-production of a record. What this means is if I am Katy Perry, for example, I may sit down with my label rep, my manager and executive producer and say, "[This] is my concept and I want to make an entire album with an uptempo, inspiring, top 40 feel to it." 

Opposite of her you might find Pusha T, for example, in the same discussion situation saying, "[This] is my concept and I want to make and album with a raw, timeless, anti-radio feel to it." It is obvious how these discussions mold an album before sound ever exits an amplifier or speaker.

Now, lets back up even farther into the life of an artist. What I believe the average listener is genuinely naive to is that there is another step to this process that is less obvious. I call this, 'pre-pre-production'. What I am really referring to is the thought process any professional artist goes through months, sometimes years before a project ever gets to pre-production that says, "I am going to make my next record uptempo and powerful, then follow that by an EP that is introspective and mellow, then follow that by an album that is focused on modern day religion and has zero top 40 songs on it."

When you start to put yourself in the shoes of the artist you begin to respect how much thought and planning goes into these projects. It also should lead you to be more empathetic and lets critical of an artist because you now realize that, although you may hate one work of art, you can respect it and be hopeful that the next work of art will suit your taste better. Everyone paints with different colors.

In conclusion, something that took me two years to cultivate may only ever get twenty seconds of your time and that is the sad truth. I wrote this post today in hopes that you, the listener, will forevermore slow down and force yourself to take a ride with whatever artist you stumble upon. These works of art are much like books, all with different story lines, messages, moral guidelines and general purposes. When you can break down that thought process it is hard not to respect any professional artist, which is how it should be.

At the end of the day Kanye West said it best, "We dedicate our entire lives to creating a better world.." "..there's only one thing you can say, "Thank you..""

-G Martini