| Dangerous Music I’ve never been one for extreme sports – when it comes to my physical well-being, I always err on the side of caution. But when it comes to music I’m a daredevil – the more extreme, the more at stake, the more dangerous the music, the better! Dangerous music seeks to break new ground – to push the boundaries of convention and taste. In doing so, it often thwarts listener expectations. Being out of fashion is a risk dangerous composers are willing to take. In fact, they detest fashion, because it hinders growth. Don’t confuse dangerous music with abrasive, in-your-face music. What danger is there in assaulting a hardcore e-rocker with hardcore e-rock? The very hardcore-ness of the music is safe for the e-rocker, because it reinforces his musical status quo. Chances are you already have a taste for danger in your music or you wouldn’t be reading this magazine. I’d like to encourage you to cultivate this, to become an aficionado of dangerous music. If you are a composer, this means embracing the path of constant growth and self-questioning. It means not dwelling very long in any one compositional realm and always moving on. If you are a listener, it means daring to wander outside your radius of musical comfort. Dangerous music puts you in touch with your truest, most powerful self
– the only goal really worth pursuing. So, join me – take
a walk on the wild side. |