How can somebody, except maybe an English eccentric (or Steven Does) get away with writing a song about putting out washing in the garden and it being the last day of May? The British obsession with the weather
(guess what it's ####### raining again outside - what is the sun?) is a source of humor for the rest of the world (together with our tea drinking) but try living here... I can see the garden and all is not calm. 'Out In The Garden remix', is a great example of an independent artist creating something in an effective and simple way.
Steven has strident views on the music industry and he is also a champion of the little guy. He also has the ability to write cracking good electra dance tracks, listen to 'Disco Stu-Pid (Homage to Homer)'. Great stuff!
I admire artists who can continually re-invent themselves, musically, and can do it over a lifetime; few artists fall into this bracket. Having eclectic taste is the key to such longevity; many bands re-create the first album they did over-and-over again until their creative juices fizzle out, and yet these are the ones that seem to receive all the adulation. Such predictability seems a key feature of the music industry these days, enabling those in prominent positions to easily manipulate public tastes, a consequence of which is the exclusion of a cross-section of genuinely talented artists, whose only crime is their innovation--seemingly an obstacle in the current environment!
I'm in it for the creativity, not the money, and I would rather have total freedom in that department than sell my soul to make a few bucks. Writing music to formula is not for me, nor is living out the stereotyped rock-or-pop-star existence that has become such a tired cliché; which is, I feel, another aspect of the music industry responsible for consigning genuine talent to obscurity.
Make Celebrities History, taken from the phrase MAKE POVERTY HISTORY, coined by a collection of pop-stars, who seem to believe that their iconic status can somehow change the world, was set up to highlight these flaws in the music and entertainment industry, and together with PANGAEA'S PEOPLE, is committed to bringing untapped, obscure, talent to the attention of the public. I feel artists need to switch tactics, rather than take the direct route to the top of the mountain, which is extremely overcrowded; In addition to which, there is no room at the inn anyway!
I hope that more artists will come to realise that, and look towards each other for the kind of support they are not going to get from faceless corporations. So far, few see the potential of a self-sufficient collective. Such a collective would have to be very unique in its approach, and the internal loyalty and commitment would have to be on a higher plain, which, I guess, is idealism to taken to its extreme!
I have to briefly mention this side of things, because such a cause is as important to me as the music itself. I know I am making a lot of enemies by bringing politics into the arena, but as I feel so strongly about the exclusion of so much talent by the music industry, I have to, at least, aspire to what may seem like a hopeless cause.
What can I say? You could say, "These guys rock" - it would be true but it would probably give the wrong impression and would be a very unimaginative response to their craft....(pause).
