Trying to make a totally stupid idea work

[pklima]

A stupid band should start with a stupid idea, and I am the man with that idea. I want to play a hybrid of dancehall reggae, reggaeton, Nigerian hip-hop and metalcore. The closest thing out there that I can think of is Skindred, but they're much less modern and commercial than what I'm thinking. Imagine this with very modern heavy guitars added in. I think that would totally work. We can call it dancehallcore.

In this thread I'm going to chronicle my attempts to make this idea a reality. Hopefully there will be some some drama and some comical failure to entertain you. Will we have a professional photo session and merch designs before we have a single song recorded? Will we ever actually get anything recorded?

So far I've talked to a few people from my past and current bands, they talked to some friends etc. It seems like 3/4 of the people I mention this to think it's a great idea and want in. I'm really surprised... I've got enough to put together a whole lineup, plus a few spare guitarists. Should be able to get everybody together next week.

I'm not joking in the slightest about any of this. Even if you think this is the stupidest idea ever, wish me luck!

[Sketchy]

Good luck, sometimes crazy ideas are just the thing required to make something amazing. I think it could be completely hillariously amazing.

[BassClefJean]

That sounds kind of awesome.

[SMILEYSIXX]

You had me up until metalcore. Despite my distaste for anything with "core" in the name, I think this might be crazy enough to work.

[matt descending]

What about Corecore?

[nutdog]

Originally Posted by pklima

Imagine this with very modern heavy guitars added in.

I hope you're not planning to wear black leather hot pants. I've seen you without your shirt on.

Otherwise this thread should be entertaining.

[eddododo]

well heres the thing:
if you have a vision ( a "sound"? ) in mind its one thing.
But music doesnt work like band-in-a-box or a plagiarized essay; you cant just string together 'ideas' and something comes out

theres so much variance within each genre that mixing that many on paper doesnt have a clear result.

I guess what im saying is, start with sound: if you hear it and it sounds like [what you described] then awesome! but you cant START with the idea of melting genres together like musical flashcards

SOUND first, descriptions second

note: i do like the idea, you just cant go into it trying to pull together words as a goal-
use musical influences, not inaccurate, debatable, generalizing genre categories

good luck, i expect sound clips

[eddododo]

i guess what i mean is- your creating a NEW genre, if you want to look at it that way, and NEW genres dont exactly stay loyal to their influences because if they did, then it would either be farce and sound too much like just 1 or 2 of the mother-genres, OR it sounds forced and awkward

[pklima]

Originally Posted by eddododo

use musical influences, not inaccurate, debatable, generalizing genre categories

You're right, of course, it's just easier to say "dancehallcore" than to explain which dancehall or reggaeton songs are a lot more relevant to what I have in mind than others. But I basically had a flash of inspiration listening to that Bella track that I linked in the OP... like "this would be great with metal guitars", and then thinking about it some more I noticed that certain Ivy Queen tracks would, too.

Originally Posted by nutdog

I hope you're not planning to wear black leather hot pants.

I hope that will be the female singer's job.

[steveksux]

There's a lot of people that thought every previous mix of genre's was the stupidest idea yet. Some went on to be very popular, some didn't. Have fun!

I've played in bands that I thought were pretty bad (although not the worst, better than some of the other bands in the same circuit) back when playing was paying my way through school.

But even that band had a good following, was successful. The trick is, even if only 1% of the people like what you've concocted, if you keep them interested, then play in front of more people, you get 1% of them. Keep at it long enough, the 1% of a whole lot of people exposed to your stuff adds up. The more commercial you are, the shorter timeframe and more likely success is. That doesn't mean you can't succeed doing what you like.

I used to wonder what special sort of hell it was to play in a band you really didn't dig, and they'd make it big, you'd be forced to play schlock or give up the rock star dream.

Randy

[ironrat]

just add the guitars and a wailing monkey.....

[Schizo Sapiens]

Originally Posted by pklima

It seems like 3/4 of the people I mention this to think it's a great idea and want in.

You have some open-minded friends, that's great. I'd like to hear music that you described

[Joe Murray]

OP, have you ever heard of Skindred? That may be a good blueprint for you to go on.

[Schizo Sapiens]

Originally Posted by Joe Murray

OP, have you ever heard of Skindred? That may be a good blueprint for you to go on.

Just read third sentence of OP's post

[Joe Murray]

Originally Posted by Schizo Sapiens

Just read third sentence of OP's post

Forgive me, I somehow missed that.
I'm so embarrassed.

[Schizo Sapiens]

Joe, it's OK, happens to everyone.

[VincentSalizeri]

I would listen to that.

[DuraMorte]

My boss recently introduced me to Diablo Swing Orchestra. Really... interesting stuff.

[pklima]

Looks like we'll be able to get together Saturday. Both singers from my cover band want to be in on this too (the ones who wear bunny ears and glue flowers to their faces and stuff), and we also have a few other candidates to audition, so... potential drama early on?

[makkE]

Sounds like it could work fine for me

Apropros weird style mixes: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0CgKz...eature=related