Let’s talk about electronic/EDM/techno/dubstep/electronica/pop music, whatever you want to call it. There are two reasons a person might make this kind of music. One is because they like music, and the other is because they want money. Unfortunately, in this day and age of computers, it’s easy to make a dance hit. If you have a laptop, cheap keyboard and a couple of dollars of software, you have the power to become famous. Click about and add a kick, bassline and a synth and you’re done. Easy peasy. Now go on tour and DJ to a crowd of many thousand screaming fans every night. That’s not how it should work.

People should care a bit more about the music they make. Anybody can learn how to plug a keyboard into a  computer, open up some software, find a cool synth sound and then use a mouse to put the notes in. Not everybody knows what music theory is though, and there are a lot of people who make music. More producers should better understand music, and they should be able to actually play keyboard well (although many can, don’t get me wrong). If people understood harmonies, we’d be far better off. That’s a little thing.

Producers should also reconsider lyrics. You can write lyrics that aren’t extremely explicit to the same end. You can write for an audience that isn’t high half the time. You could write better lyrics in general. We don’t need more sex, drugs and murder to be pumped into the American culture. We have enough, thank you.

You see, producers don’t even have to cater to a specific audience, aka white teen girls or young adults. But why do they? For money. That’s the reason. The age group, the ethnicity, the gender, anybody who will spend money on it. They hardly care what they write, they just write some music, slap chopped vocals on top, and that’s a hit if I ever heard one. So why do they do it? It’s easy money that’s a blast to make. Everybody likes having fun making money, and producing is the best stab at it.

Lastly, it’s the performance. DJing isn’t easy, but it’s easier than an instrument. In my opinion, too many people DJ because it’s easy. I wish I saw more people playing instruments on stage. Too often I see people walk onto a stage filled with equipment and then they power up digital turntables. Then they DJ. At least sing, c’mon. Play an instrument. Show us your talent. You’ve gotten this far, now push the boundaries. Use computer programs like Ableton Live and spice up the show a bit. DJing isn’t a concert, it’s mixing music.

That’s not to say producers are bad. I love producing music; it’s so much fun. I try to put a little effort into making it musically complex, I don’t want want to make massive money. I love music, and keeping it musically complex is very important to me. I’d love to see some more performing, and not just DJing anymore. DJing is mixing music, not performing. Music is supposed to be melodic, not all drums and bass. Artists shouldn’t make music purely to make money and be famous, they  should do it because they like music.