Current Events > Are solo musicians really solo?

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Okay so like Taylor Swift's music is just "by Taylor Swift", but obviously she can't play all the instruments. So what's going on there

Eh... I mean in terms of "branding" it's a solo artist, but I think it's one of those things where if Taylor doesn't show up, there's no show. No one is disappointed if any member of her band or backup singer quits or gets replaced.

Holograms and ai music

Some musicians have played every instrument on an album. Prince is the obvious one.

But all it usually means is that there is no permanent band. Other musicians are hired for recording and/or touring purposes.

Some do. Julien Baker's solo work has really largely been all her.

Little Oblivions specifically has her doing basically everything

https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/a/user_image/5/6/0/AAfd4kAAE_Oo.jpg

I was listening to this when I clicked on this topic.
She has a band, but right there she is Solo and killing it.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0MdwN2qkHQo

ai123 posted...

Some musicians have played every instrument on an album. Prince is the obvious one.

I didn't know this. That's very cool

Doe posted...

I didn't know this. That's very cool

Here's the credits from his debut album:

Prince lead vocals, backing vocals, electric and acoustic guitars, piano, Fender Rhodes electric piano, clavinet, ARP Pro Soloist, ARP String Ensemble, Minimoog, Polymoog, Oberheim 4-Voice, bass guitar, drums, Pollard Syndrums, slapstick, wind chimes, finger cymbals, handclaps, fingersnaps, water drums, bongos, congas, brush trap, bell tree, wood block, producer, arranger, engineer, dust cover design

That is cool.

I can also get a little philosophical and say, no musication truly is, they and we, have been influenced by our prediserors.

Mozart spoke of Bach when he was first introduced to his music "Ah, someone I can finally learn from"

Some of Bach's influences came from Vivaldi, and he once walked, walked, almost 300 miles to see master organist Dietrich Buxtehude.

Bach would go on to be was of the best composers for the if not the Organ, and perhaps the best composer in the ever.
He also broke many established rules, that we take for granted now.

~So, in that sense, no. No Man is an Island.

ai123 posted...

Some musicians have played every instrument on an album. Prince is the obvious one.

But all it usually means is that there is no permanent band. Other musicians are hired for recording and/or touring purposes.

I would say lots do, actually

also usually those session musicians arent contributing to the songwriting, just there to play what theyre directed by the solo artist

Doe posted...

I didn't know this. That's very cool

Stevie Wonder was virtually a one man band during his peak and recorded most of the instruments during his classic period in the 70s. Plus Prince as noted, Kevin Parker as Tame Impala, Beck, etc etc etc.

To your point, session/studio musicians also don't get enough credit for literally making the music because whoever writes the lyrics is the principle songwriter. Still lots of relatively true solo artists as well though.

If I recall correctly, that first McCartney album is all Paul.

Jerry_Hellyeah posted...

If I recall correctly, that first McCartney album is all Paul.

I think that is true.

I do know he did all of Back in The USSR.

what about bands where for example have a singer and 3 guitarists but the drummer is not part of the group? does the drummer get paid less because hes not really part of the group but is their drummer on all their gigs and recordings?

of course not

accord posted...

what about bands where for example have a singer and 3 guitarists but the drummer is not part of the group? does the drummer get paid less because hes not really part of the group but is their drummer on all their gigs and recordings?

It can be very complicated and depends on the legal arrangements made by the band.

The drummer may be an employee and paid a salary. Or they may be paid a daily rate for session/touring work. They may or may not be entitled to performance royalties.

Doe posted...

Okay so like Taylor Swift's music is just "by Taylor Swift", but obviously she can't play all the instruments. So what's going on there

I don't know specifically about Taylor Swift but there are musicians like Beck and Trent Reznor that actually do play all the instruments. They need help for touring but the studio stuff is done all by themselves.

It generally just means there is no other permanent band members and you probably write most, if not all of the music. Others may still help you in the studio or live.

As others said, sometimes the artist literally does it all. Another example of that is the Foo Fighters debut. It was just a Dave Grohl solo experiment at the time

doesn't sufjan do everything himself too