The recent comments made by Red Bull CEO Dietrich Mateschitz on a host of social issues, including refugee policy, reignited an interesting ethical dilemma. Red Bull is of course one of electronic music’s greatest champions – among its invaluable projects, it features regular radio programming, the fantastic Red Bull Music Academy (RBMA) lecture series, exhibition spaces, and an artist residency in Detroit.
While I’m at odds with Mateschitz’s views across the topics in question, an inclusive environment is one in which different opinions should be respected (provided they aren’t inciting hate or violence, of course). Certain large-scale electronic music publications have made a rather spurious case by taking Mateschitz’s comments out of context, in turn igniting something of a furore in their comments sections, and for good reason.
I was pleased to see Dutch DJ and former Trouw resident Patrice Bäumel encouraging the freedom of ideas and expression. Let’s also look to the positive examples set by Paula Temple, Jam City, Dave Clarke, Underground Resistance – they don’t ignore the constructive, tangible energy and message that music can embody, or its ability to be a driver of real grassroots change, for example. They respect it and relate it to the world around them.
Politics is inherent in the way we live our everyday lives, and invested into individual and community.
In a previous column I also made reference to several crucial voices in electronic dance music and their invaluable contributions to the dialogue; DJ Sprinkles and Black Madonna among them. We respect these artists because they don’t divorce themselves from the overall effect of music. They embrace the possibility of music, the ramifications of music, and its significance beyond being a recorded collection of sounds.
To posit this discussion in a broader sense: can electronic music be separated from politics? The gentrifying nature of EDM’s rise in popularity has certainly done its best to divorce the music from a meaningful public dialogue.
We might first need to distance ourselves from the trivial two-party bollocking that undermines the essence and definition of politics to appreciate what this means. Politics is inherent in the way we live our everyday lives, and invested into individual and community. I think we need to get over this idea of politics as being a big no-no; or “keep this damn politics away from my dancefloor, I wanna lose myself in the groove”. Go right ahead, no one is policing your ability to have a good time (just kidding).
Music is the product of a person, of an identity, of a series of beliefs and structures that cannot be simply waved away, or ignored for that matter. It is an extension of what makes up a person. It’s important that we recognise every artist, whether major or minor, and empower one another with the idea that it is normal to share your thoughts and have them heard.
This week’s playlist
One of disco’s most beautiful and essential heroes, Danny Krivit, and his two volumes of masterful disco/soul/funk edits. He has a remarkable ear for respecting the original compositions while offering his own take, and I highly recommend both compilations. Plus, Chico Hamilton’s The Master LP, which is more or less rock band Little Feat throwing down some Latin grooves with Hamilton’s backing keys. That might not do it justice; it’s incredibly relaxing music that sits in the mid-ground rather than the background.
Recommended
THURSDAY MAY 4
End Notes VIII: Neo Soul
Cake Wines
SUNDAY MAY 14
The House of Mince Turns 6 – feat: Boris & Volvox
TBA warehouse
FRIDAY MAY 19
Ratio Launch Night
The Bunk3r
SATURDAY MAY 20
Motion #32 – Disco
Hollywood Hotel
Mad Racket – feat: Gemma
Marrickville Bowling Club
