a quiet invasion

Posted on 24th Jun 2008 at 01:50 PM

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We live in an interesting and fast paced musical time. I find it reminiscent of the '60s and it's real life musical legacy. Which wasn't limited to The Beatles and the British Invasion but encompassed the shaping of songs through arrangements, the birth of a genre, and the songwriters of the times. Remember, I said reminiscent, I'm not here to give a history lesson on the immense song writing talent behind Motown. The influence of Bob Dylan on musician songwriters of the time and the incredible bands that took jazz and blues guitar riffs, making them a mainstay of the rock experience. That research I'll leave up to you. This newest world-musical explosion can be found in one place, the Internet.

Daily, fans and musicians from different cultures and languages are getting together under one cause, music. This exchange though subtle, and with little notice by most of the population is going on daily, in forums, chat rooms, and blogs across the Internet. Who started this revolution? Fans. The languages and locations are as diverse as the fans themselves. Name a country or continent and you'll find someplace to talk, download, buy, expand, or learn, about your musical taste. Once limited to world travelers, this musical sub-culture has expanded with the advent of the Internet and p2p share programs. As the Internet has become more restrictive and fans have become more knowledgeable about how to and what is available, this sub-culture is slowly becoming more legitimatised.

Information on the web though sketchy at times is exploding as more fans take up the call to spread the word in their own language, about their favorite country and artists. Either through fan sites, blogs, or the increasing numbers of small music distributors that cater to these fans. With this increase in sales, international fans are being recognized by the musicians who's music they buy, and in some cases by the corporate powers behind the artist. Young and upcoming artists are the forerunners of this new invasion. By touring internationally and promoting themselves on sites frequented by their overseas admirers.

Revolution? Invasion? From that? Yes. I've seen bands from different countries talk to each other about each other's music. Read how future musicians described their reaction to listening to their first foreign language CD. Watched as more and more foreign bands schedule world tours and international releases. This unprecedented exchange of sound and inspiration, across borders, oceans and time, can only be described as one thing. A quiet invasion.

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