HACIENDA HOLA

Guided by the well hung cow that wanders past my room every evening I have been considering the state of the music world.

Since the nice men in white suits took me away from the debauchery and decrepitude of rock n roll I have had plenty of time to think. Sadlly, thanks to the herbal medication I haven't been able to use that time. Instead I have wasted the opportunity by sitting in alpine streams watching birds twitching like a diva about to go on stage.

Today however I am calm and considered. The effects of the mangold poultice are wearing off and there is hope in the brain of this demented author.

It struck me - as I observed a stork wafting past - that there are millions of different genres of music but we only ever consider one; The one we like. Believe it or not I like white mans indie rock and that is why the label has gravitated towards that particular style. That's why college radio and BBC are almost entirely composed of the same stuff. It's programmed by the same people from the same background with the same haircuts and the same attitudes.

Now whay should that interest you? SImply because if you can think different you may be able to break through in an entirely original way.

Let me explain. Here in the midle of Europe there are "cantons". These are areas that all have distinct identities and even languages. Did you know that there are French, German and Italian Swiss? They all get along togther and have one identity outside their country - SWISS.

Now, in music there are all the genre's - Urban, Rock, Country etc and the occassional crossover but generally you are what you are and that's that.

It strikes me that perhaps its possible to look at breaking that mould and setting up a new method of working.

Imagine recording in French for example and getting a big followig in Canada and France before you even think about London , New York or Sydney. Imagine trying to be the first band from Dubbo or Dublin that sings in Cantonese or that uses a weir instrument like an oud in a pop song.

It has been done before with massive success - eg Beatles and Ravi Shankar, Christie Moore and Planksty, Madonna and talent. Combine the unusual elements and find a new blend.

It can work. There is even a chef in the UK who cooks snail porridge and is a big star - YEUUUCH!

For those of you interested in working in America why haven't you thought about the Hispanic market? I know they don't get big headlines in the mags but something like 40% of America speaks spanish not English. Thats huge! It is not something to ignore. Then there is Korea, India, China, Indonesia and many many more.

There are the odd successful foreign acts - gloria estefan and Los Lobos perhaps but not many. Make the journey and you will be famous.

So in short if you want to make it don't think like the rest. Try to pin the tail on the donkey but look for a new adhesive!

Until later