How Music Becoming Mobile Changed The Game Forever
Producer LoopinIII takes us through his journey of his initial awakening with music and how everything changed with the mobilization of audio by way of headphones.
For as long as I can remember, music has always been a magnet for my attention. I reminisce of the times as a young’n when I would sit by the door of my father’s office to hear the variety of music genres he would play through. When he wasn’t home, I would sneak in to browse through all the record inserts, cassette covers, and CD booklets while I played some of my favorites from Prince, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Creedence Clearwater Revival, Color Me Bad, Mary J. Blige, Christina Aguilera… to list a few.
His collection was so eclectic, spanning across many genres and time periods. I look back and realize that being exposed to all those different sounds at such a young age was truly a blessing. All of that influence kept me open minded in how I approach producing music to this day.
It’s hard to comprehend that the only way we were to be able to enjoy music was by going straight to the source and listening to musicians and performers play in a live setting however, once the audio recording process was invented, you could replay music anywhere and listen to it anytime.
The playing field was transformed even more headphones were introduced. We were now able to plug in and be completely immersed into the sounds. Quite naturally, this led to a deeper connection to music and the artists creating it making us attach to an artist deeper than ever before.
Once the auditory experience became mobile, you were able to have a personal soundtrack to your life while you’re doing all your daily activities. Everything is now real life movie montage scenes of being in your thoughts coupled with a musical backing.
When I was in 3rd grade, I was gifted a portable cassette player and I discovered “The Beatles: Greatest Hits” collection of about 10 tapes. That experience singlehandedly changed everything for me. Before then, music was always played out loud and typically limited to social settings but now that I had headphones I could be immersed in the music no matter where I was or who was around. And I did just that.
I would get consistent taps on the shoulder followed by a:
“Take off those damn headphones! Did you not here what I just said to you?”
The obvious answer always being… No! of course I didn’t. My existence was off into a musical journey far from where I physically was.
Totally consumed by sound waves of amazing vocal performances, drum lines in crazy pockets, or guitar solos that felt like nobody could replicate, it was the perfect escape for a kid in search of his identity.
Headphones are an important tool for me as a mobile producer. Having access to quality headphones allows me to work on anything practically anywhere and make the most unconventional locations my studio.
Although headphones have created a new experience for those of us music lovers, I can’t help but to notice how many people are become consumed and entrapped in their own worlds. It begs the question, do headphones contribute to keeping us separated or cut off from people in life that we’re supposed to meet? Full sonic immersion, surround sound, noise cancelling are all incredible features but it’s easy to get so submerged into the experience that one could get to the point that we shut out the entire world around us.
The advancements made and audio and the resonance we’ve developed because of them are amazing and can truly be the soundtrack of our lives and the moments that make it up but like anything else that preoccupies your senses, just don’t let it rob you of your present moments.
Enjoy the music. Feel the sounds. But most importantly, take in the moment and allow for the music to become the soundtrack of your life.
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