Who would you miss IF they stopped appearing on MP3U today?

I enjoyed the postings to DaveRave's lament for artists who were active but are no longer present on mp3u. I wondered, always looking for way to extend ideas, whether it is worth a thread to say what we enjoy about the artists we have come to meet on mp3u in the present-continuous on-going sort of way?

I have been on mp3u for a year, and I have listened to so many artists, and learned so much about the artists who are currently on mp3u. I felt unable to contribute to DaveRave's thread because of that newness, but if I was asked to speak about artists who I am learning about and from whom I would like to hear more, and learn more, then I might have more to say.

So, here is the question: Who would you miss IF the artist stopped appearing on the mp3u site and why? People appear on mp3u in various ways: some post music, some drop in the chat rooms or post threads, some participate in the community of mp3u in ways that are more behind the scenes. The site would change with the absence of even one. So, who would you miss?

It might be worthwhile to start with one artist at a time and use repeated replies to add more and more to the list. That's just a thought. As usual, people will do what they do, and that's what makes us who we are

OK, for starters from me, and in deference to the Featured Interview this month, I would say that I would miss James Oakwood. I will only say that the spice of life is candour (the extended version is on the Interview page)

Ok, who is next? Time to step up and celebrate people!

Terry

[Saphfire]

not another miss you thread........

[James Oakwood]

Originally Posted by Saphfire

not another miss you thread........

I was going to say that I missed threads like these

I missed you dear Marie when you departed earlier this year (or was it late last year)

[Saphfire]

You missed me Andy awww.........lol missed me like a hole in the head probably........I did miss coming on here......I miss the banter........this was my escape site to get away from all the twats I know in real life and have a banter on here...thats what I miss about this site and of course the music.

[FXMAN]

Tronics Flang DJstomp Luminus1 sky_chaser

i do miss all those head da balls

[KtA]

Originally Posted by FXMAN

Tronics Flang DJstomp Luminus1 sky_chaser

i do miss all those head da balls

Never urd of 'em!

[Saphfire]

Wheres Dave Fountain? Not seen him around these parts for yonks...miss his sarcastic humour lol

[tbwig]

Well, here is a second bit of reflecting on current artists who I would surely notice if they were to be suddenly absent from MP3U: I would miss James Bell and Alive.

James was the first artist on MP3U to comment on every single track I had uploaded. How wonderful is that?! I learned to appreciate his positive remarks, always encouraging, and with something specific and insightful to say, that made his comments worth reading. I liked that, and it helped model the way I would approach leaving comments and a “thumbzup.”

It became obvious that James Bell has oodles of talent, and a voice that I am envious of ( in a nice sort of “envious” way . That voice became recognizable as the voice of “Alive”. A slow awareness emerged about the collection of artists making up the band too….Tony and Grant are stellar guitarists, singers and songwriters in their own right, and I do enjoy each of the tracks on Alive’s page. I find that even the ones James admits to being “ “WIPS” are really solid tracks with little “WIP-ish” about them. I like the risk –taking of posting tracks we are uncertain of, and uploading them for others to comment on.

A milestone for me, as a struggling artist, was to try to do a cover of Alive’s tune, “Something Good Is Going Happen.” The highlight was simply having a band I respect give me the permission and encouragement to try the process of writing a cover.

Then there are the many collabs with James Bell. In that process, you learn about people. You learn to listen, to invite comments and ask, “What do you think?” and always be ready for that transparent honest opinion that replies, “I don’t think that works…” I will always madly dash off in a composition, and I have learned to value the candour that causes me to pause and reflect, at least momentarily, before I press the “upload” button

So, cheers to James Bell and Alive, for their music and presence on mp3u!

I hope to post an update to this thread weekly, as I steep in the autumnal mode of looking back over the year and a bit that I have been on mp3u myself, and the artists I have encountered along the journey here. The new year is approaching, and pausing to be appreciative is the way to a step forward.

All the best,
Terry

[Kelly Mitchell]

Originally Posted by Saphfire

Wheres Dave Fountain? Not seen him around these parts for yonks...miss his sarcastic humour lol

Yeah, Fudgie was a constant pleasure here. He got mad and stomped off. I admire his reserve in that decision, but wish he would return.

[tbwig]

You don't often get to know artists in any sort of personal way from a website or the postings on a webpage. It takes a lot of listening to songs and lyrics ( if the artist writes words and sings), and to the comments others post, as well as reading the artist's comments he/she leaves on other tracks, to begin to form even a rough sketch of an impression of someone. The impressions may not be accurate, but without meeting someone face to face there is only the tedious and daunting task of getting to know the real person behind the music via the electronic trails of uploads, comments, and forum threads (if these exist at all, because most artists do not seem to participate at this level on the MP3U site, at least that is my observation after a year on the site...and it took me this long to warm up to the idea myself.

One artist I began to follow early on, besides James Bell, and James Oakwood, was Rich Lodato. I think, for most listeners, Rich's voice is a real hook. I read his tag line at the top of his page and it read something like, "If it can be sung, I'll give it a try..." or words to that effect. I thought it was a bit overstated when I first began listening, but with each track Rich uploaded, I began to hear that it was really understated. Rich seems to be able to render anything! Well, at least that is what I'm thinking now.

Performance, and recording is just the shell of the real creative process: the crafting of a message - meaningful lyrics wrapped in a musical robe that draws the listener in. The craft is in choosing a tempo, and instrumentation, that fits the sentiments the artist wants to convey so that the result is greater than the poetry of the lyrics alone, and greater than the backing track alone (either of which could stand on their own as creative products).
Rich does all of these things extraordinarily well, and with something more: heart. He writes, sings, and performs from his heart. A big heart allows room for a lot more to come out. A life full of experiences that shape and fashion our beliefs about people, Life, and the Universe provides a fountain of topics and ideas to explore. Rich has all of this.

One of the aspects of mp3u that I have enjoyed particularly, apart from the great music I have found unsigned here, is the ability to network and work with others. Collaborations reveal a lot about ourselves and the artists we choose to join in some level of creativity. I find it best to go slow and be open to improvisation. Rich has allowed me to add ideas to tracks and to try to fit in with what he is trying to accomplish. In that tentative process, honesty is golden. Rich always tells you what he thinks, and that transparency is golden too. Trust is also a word I would use to describe Rich. When the artists working together have a level of trust, it makes a lot of dreaming possible, and tracks become gems: no longer compositions, they become art. That process is golden too. I guess I have enjoyed a lot of golden experiences with Rich, never a number one on the charts, but the huge gains from the journey make the process of getting to know an artist well worth while.

I would add that the comments Rich leaves are full of imagery: some I get, some I ponder and get, and some I simply nod my head and say, "That's Rich," having no idea what exactly it was he was trying to say. LOL! But I always knew he meant well, whatever it was he was saying.

So this week, I celebrate Rich Lodato, and I know I would miss his presence on MP3U, his visits to all of our tracks, and his own music - gentle and easy on the soul, or edgy and cutting, deep in meaning.

Cheers Rich! And a happy belated birthday too!

Terry