Creating music that is original and unique can be a tricky task; wanting to resemble the people who inspire you, whilst also, needing to discover your own individual sound is something that many musicians can struggle with. Being the first of your kind can make your voice stand out from the sea of artists wanting to be heard, and moreover, you’re creating something that could even revolutionise the scene around you for years to come…or simply just, weird people out with your peculiar creations. One way some artists have managed to captivate audiences is through the magic of music fusion; blending sounds together that would never usually be paired. Just like most people wouldn’t think to dip their french fry into ice cream, or mix metal riffs with Mongolian throat singing, sometimes the result can be unexpectedly brilliant. Here are a few of our favourite examples:
Metallica ‘The Four Horsemen’ – Metal / Country Fusion
Metal giants Metallica enter new unforeseen realms with their new take on their iconic track ‘The Four Horsemen’. Set with guitar slides and a full acoustic arrangement, the band baffle audiences by showing that their not just a one-genre pony, and can in fact transform from their usual thrash into light, toe-tapping country.
Ozric Tentacles ‘Dissolution (The Clouds Disperse) – Electronica / Prog Rock Fusion
Ozric Tentacles have been fusing styles since the 80’s; melding psychedelia, space rock, prog and electronic, each track takes you on a transcendental whirlwind through the cosmos, as they weave between tantalising riffs and sparkling computerised sounds. Listen to Ozric Tentacles, and you will in no doubt be left feeling a little spellbound by their psychedelic wizardry.
Connor Rapper ‘One Man Wrecking Crew’ – Gaming / Hip Hop Fusion
With a bombastic beat partnered with robotic sound effects, Connor Rapper’s ‘One Man Wrecking Crew’ is an amalgamation of hip-hop and gaming-music, or as it’s most famously known, “Nerdcore”. This ACM student’s creation is a brilliant blend of genre, hosting hard-hitting aggressive rap reminiscent of the Beastie Boys, and futuristic electronics.
Clean Bandit – Classical / Dance Fusion
Incorporating orchestral elements with contemporary dance, Clean Bandit are a band of classically trained musicians who specialise in creating chart-topping hits with a variety of guest vocalists. Who thought a track with both strings and an upbeat pop beat could blend so effortlessly? For those who are lucky enough to catch Clean Bandit at a show, be sure to keep an eye out for lead live vocalist ACM Alumni Kirsten Joy Gill.
Galactic Empire ‘Cantina Band’ – Film Music / Metal Fusion
Have you ever loved something so much that you’ve wanted to base your entire musical career on it? Perhaps you write all your songs about a past lover or, perhaps you prefer to base your melodies on your love for your deceased cat? For prog-metal quartet Galactic Empire, they’re all about Star Wars. Combining Film Music with powerful progressive guitar riffs and chaotic drumming, all tied together with of course, the costumes from the films, this band takes the music from the intergalactic Hollywood film series and turns it into a whimsical, metal masterpiece.
For Astronauts & Satellites ‘When The Ocean Rose Up’ – Post Rock / Chip Tune Fusion
Existing as a hybrid of Chip Tune and Math or Post Rock, For Astronauts & Satellites combine instrumental soundscapes with the nostalgic video game sounds of their past. An entirely unique outfit that mesmerises listeners with their high energy, aggressive sections of rock, partnered brilliantly with sharp, electronic tones created by their dynamic range of retro equipment. We asked ACM Alumnus Ian Squibb, the band’s drummer on how their music is created: “Our sound, for the most part, is created using two original Nintendo Gameboys both running a bespoke piece of tracker software called “Little Sound DJ” (LSDJ). This gives us access to the Gameboy’s sound chip and from there we are able to sculpt and design our “8-bit” sounds from scratch using hexadecimal code in the LSDJ. We also use a Nintendo Entertainment System (NES) running a piece of software called MIDINES to provide additional voices, with a broader octave range, in order to broaden the range of the “Chip” sounds”. So there you have it, instead of leaving your vintage gaming equipment to gather dust, why not use them to create a medley of otherworldly sounds – you might end up with something like this:
Jimmi Herbert ‘Sepia City’ – Indie Rock / Hip-Hop Fusion
ACM Student Jimmi Herbert’s ‘Sepia City’ is a curious yet stunning union of indie rock and hip-hop. With his silky vocals embellishing the slightly psychedelic stylings of the verses, paired against the rap within the track’s mid-section, the contrast is impeccably substantial, however it’s the juxtaposition of genre that makes this song such a unique and infectious listen.
If you’d like to learn more about the music industry and everything it has to offer, why not come along to one of ACM’s Open Days.
