Music Genre: Orchestral Dubstep

Music Genre: Orchestral Dubstep

     In case you haven't picked-up on my overly obsessive taste for mixing and mashing music together, one of my favorite genres as of late is, well, I'll label it as Orchestral Dubstep. Dubstep used to just be a heavy-drop and beat-heavy techno and electronic music, but it has since morphed into all genres and styles of music. From "brutal-dubstep" to "melodic-dubstep" to "chill-step" to "metal-step" and integrating R&B and Hip-Hop, dub is becoming popular in all fecets of the music community. Below I'll link a few videos and songs that mix some of these elements into what I believe to be masterfully (digitally) orchestrated pieces of work.

audiomachine - Ashes of Time

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tvp3Qih9n2c&list=PLl8LRL1PmIqNO1YjchXkBQosN54ETps1E&index=11   

          Although I could break-out a playlist, I only wanted to sprinkle a fewer less-known artists that have very extended genre styles, like Kari Sigurdsson merging electric gutiar and electronica sounds in order to orchestrate an epic score.

Kari Sigurdsson - Beyond The Horizon

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XRAGITF39s0

     As mentioned previously, there exists Metalcore Dubstep and Trap Music (which is more rap, with electronica beats, brought back by famous artists Young Jeezy and Three 6 Mafia), but this blog is directed more towards the instrumental and independant side, like Manstub's mix, "War," below.

Manstubs - War

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=efypj2x6j-M

        Although I refuse to link entire playlists, you can find similar "epic" music by searching "Orchestal Music Mix" playlist on any major social media network. But before I let you go... why this music? I think this type of music is under-played and too easily written-off. It's integrated in most music scores you see in modern movies, in modern pop music and hop-hop music, the heavy beats and drops find their way into the music industry, and I think they're here at least for the upcoming generation.

     Disagree? Voice your opinion! Be nice. Give reasons, and share what YOU think is better! In the mean time, check out the artists and please share YOUR favorite dubstep, techno, or electronica type music below.

Christopher J. Rosario, Writer, Entertainer, Freethinker, San Antonio, TX

Music Genre: Vocal Jazz

Music Genre: Vocal Jazz

     Said to be an inspiration and idol to Frank Sinatra, Bing Crosby helped revolutionize the music industry in the early and mid 1900s with his "big band" orchestra and phenominal baratone voice.

Bing Crosby - Sweet Georgia Brown

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FvnsxpghZeY   

     Italian-American, New Jersey born singer, actor, and producer Frank Sinatra's idolized Bing Crosby, and eventually surpassedhim both in popularity and stardom.

Frank Sinatra - The Way You Look Tonight

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h9ZGKALMMuc

    Beyond the dreamy, airy jazz orchestra of the 1940's and 50's resides a more modern depiction of vocal jazz with Michael Buble and Harry Connick Jr. Michael Buble sings a fantastic rendition of Frank Sinatra's "Come Fly With Me" bringing a little piece of vintage music history into the modern music age.

Michael Buble - Come Fly With Me

https://youtu.be/MYgqZYQYzwA?t=39s

     Lastly, aside from the cameo and judging of American Idol, Harry Connick Jr. was a child prodigy starting at the age of three-years-old when he started learning the keyboard. He has been performing publicly since the age of five and officially started recording at the age of ten years old. Also remniscent of vocal jazz and orchestric ensembles, Harry Connick Jr. has proven that not just innate talent is required in the industry, but also hard work, time, and dedication.

Harry Connick Jr. - Jingle Bells

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KbhDQ8UMt0g&index=2&list=PLqh5oNfAVicfs-Tz5LqZV_be3zVU04E8M

     Well, it being December 4, 2016, here's a link to Harry Connick Jr. performing "Jingle Bells" Take a gander at a few of these links, artists, and please share YOUR favorite vocal jazz performers.

Christopher J. Rosario, Writer, Entertainer, Freethinker, San Antonio, TX

Video Game Music, Vol: 1

Video Game Music, Vol: 1

     I've always been more of a Legend of Zelda, Dragon Age, Skyrim kind of nerd-gamer, but have always played all genres. I'll take a good game of Battle Field or Call of Duty any day (notice which one I mentioned first?). Although most big releases are going to have a top-notch ensemble of directors, artists, sound technicians, voice actors, animators, programmers, producers, and all other elements, one of the most important areas to me is the composition of the game's musical score.

     To start with... well, pretty much anything by Zelda Theme composer, Koji Kondo. Take a look at the following trailer for an upcoming release,

The Legend of Zelda: Breath of The Wild

https://youtu.be/1rPxiXXxftE?t=58s

    Originally one of the staples of RPGs on modern consoles, Final Fantasy has always been known for it's next-generation graphics and beautifully composed symphonies by Japanese composer Nobuo Uematsu.  Although the classic 1980s franchise Final Fantasy went in a different direction with their marketing campaign, I found it to be refreshing, using composer Yoko Shimomura, check it out one of the trailers for the recent release date of 11/29/2016.

Final Fantasy XV

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IiI7SMQA59Q&t

     Of course I'm not the who's who of video game music, and in a short blog there's hardly enough room to include the fantastic music from Uncharted or Battlefield or Skyrim's memorable theme, but we'd be here all day, and we don't have all day. Well, you might but I don't. In the mean time, stay tuned, share your thoughts and YOUR favorite video game music pieces, and check back!

Christopher J. Rosario, Writer, Entertainer, Freethinker, San Antonio, TX