This past year, they set out to do something really great with their new record. They recorded it in Dave's garage and they did it all analog. This means that, contrary to modern recording methods, nothing was ever recorded onto a computer or processed by a computer. The entire record was recorded onto analog tape and processed with traditional analog outboard gear and analog mixing consoles. The significance of this is that no digital trickery was ever used to make the band sound better. No quantizing (digitally forcing parts to align exactly with the tempo of the song so that everything syncs perfectly), no auto tuning of vocals, just pure, raw rock music. All of the inconsistencies and imperfections that humans bring into music is present on the record.
When so much technology is available to make bands and singers so tight and so good, why would they do this? To bring back the human element into making music. It's a celebration of the craft of writing songs and making music, and it won them their tenth Grammy award recently for Best Rock Album. Here is an excerpt from Dave Grohl's acceptance speech at this year's Grammy awards.
“To me this award means a lot because it shows that the human element of music is what’s important. Singing into a microphone and learning to play an instrument and learning to do your craft, that’s the most important thing for people to do… It’s not about being perfect, it’s not about sounding absolutely correct, it’s not about what goes on in a computer. It’s about what goes on in here [your heart] and what goes on in here [your head].”
Dave Grohl acceptance speech at 2012 Grammy Awards.Interesting thing to say. He definitely stepped on a few peoples toes with what he said. And it begs the question - Have we lost an appreciation for craft? Not just in songwriting, but in general.
To me, there is something really cool about a product that was made by someone who had to spend years of their life honing their skill and talents. Something that is truly great in quality but also contains a very human element. Imperfections from product to product, something that is completely unique and not exactly like any other. With many craft products, you are actually investing in something that gets better over time.
I do worry that many have lost the appreciation and vision of songwriting being a craft. Just like a wood worker spends years learning how to make a great rocking chair, as songwriters we should view what we do in a similar manner. We are crafting a piece of art from nothing. We are learning how to tell a story or communicate an emotion in a way that speaks universally to people and causes them to respond. That is a very human thing to do.
I also think there is a very spiritual side to craft. I daily rest in knowing that I did not come off an assembly line that God set up - that I was made completely unique. He created the world around me and every aspect of creation is unique and perfect. There are no two trees exactly alike. No two mountain peaks that look identical, no two rivers that run the same course. Knowing that there was attention to detail as God made creation, as he put me together, and ordered my life...that knowledge gives me purpose.
For artists, photographers, writers, musicians and songwriters, we should embrace the work that comes in making something great. Pour yourself into the process. Continually push yourself do to better and be better at your craft. There is something truly wonderful about it, and our job is to share our craft with other people.
I'm curious what you think. Do you think that as a culture we have lost an appreciation for craft? For honing a skill, developing a talent. Is there still a place for this in our lives? As a creative individual, are you practicing this? Are you investing in your craft? Or should we embrace the technology and advancements?
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