NOBODY LISTENS TO TECHNO?

In a video I watched on the internet recently, punk hero Henry Rollins, in a skit about techno music, asks “What came first: the shitty music or the shitty drugs?” before launching into an ignorant rant attacking techno music. The way he tells it all electronic music is made by mindless monkeys and the whole scene is superficial. That would be like me reducing all punk music to Blink 182 or saying all hip-hop sounds like 50 Cent. I found it surprising that a musician would blindly dismiss what I regard to be as one of the most innovative forms of expression and portray it as boring repetitive music that requires chemicals to be enjoyed. But the belief that dance music is dominated by a drug culture and that it doesn’t require talent is, while false, a widespread assumption. This could not be farther from the truth. So I’d like to take a moment to highlight the intricate processes of techno and show my appreciation for this often misjudged genre.

Most people have the wrong idea about techno music and its surrounding culture. Given its diversity there is no end all definition of techno but Jeff Mills comes close when he says “It’s the process of trying to describe something in the future musically”. Futuristic ideas and a forward thinking perspective is central to understanding techno music. Techno originated in Detroit during the early 80’s and was influenced a number of elements including science fiction literature, industrial architecture and Funk music. Similar to experimental musicians such as Pink Floyd, early innovators sought to use new technology to create futuristic sounds and music. These artists found that they could bring mechanical instruments to life; in effect passing their spirit from the body into a machine, and produce new music; infecting disco with electronics. Ralf Hutter, member of seminal German techno group Kraftwerk said that the ‘soul’ of the machines has always been part of his music. While this idea might seem rather esoteric and “out there”, in the early days of techno there were no drugs to be seen. Producers were interested only in experimenting with sounds and all their money was invested in drum machines and synthesisers.

As techno spread, developed and mutated, the spirit of innovation remained. Artists producing techno tracks are constantly attempting to push the limits of their musical equipment and many modify or build their own hardware. The techno community is more often made up of nerdish enthusiasts slaving over their compositions rather than pill popping rock stars. This is a highly democratic genre, that for better or worse, anyone can become involved in. Whether what you produce is good relies on your patience, intuition and talent. In the same way that it takes skill and finesse to play a guitar well so too does it take skill and finesse to use a drum machine or a sequencer correctly and make all the elements combine to create a likeable track. In the same way that it takes vision and intelligence to put a band together so too are these qualities essential for an electronic music producer. For most DJs and producers drugs don’t feature in their schedule of musical experimentation, practice, performance and promotion. While there does exist the clichéd image of the superstar DJ living a hedonistic lifestyle of sex, drugs and pounding bass lines, such artists are rarely that good, and they shouldn’t be taken as representative of the culture or genre as a whole.

One area of Rollins attack is the character of those involved in techno, and he questions whether they should be called musicians. He claims that they are super self important and “music thieves”. I find this accusation stunning as I have found the techno community nationally and internationally to be unpretentious and tolerant. Iv seen DJs engage with crowds in a way Iv never seen other types of musicians, and performers are often eager to involve the audience. Electronic producers are generally the first to admit that they don’t know everything, and that a lot of the production experience is about discovery and learning. There is always new equipment to be tested and played with. Usually electronic artists are prepared to listen to and encourage others. There are dozens of internet forums, such as www.idmforums.com, dedicated to helpful advice on how to buy and use equipment and production tips. These are lessons and tricks not documented elsewhere and the community wants to pass on these skills to others. A “do it yourself” attitude is central to techno, but there are always others you can learn from.

With techno music everyone is trying to bring something new to the table. Creating your own personal touch is important and because of the wide range of techniques involved this is possible. In this way it is less limited than other music genres that might rely on more organic sounds in that there is no strict formula or set of instruments the producer is confined to. Often the studio itself becomes its own instrument and the musician may experiment with where different devices are located and connected. It is true that some artists make generic and cheesy songs; but as a genre becomes more popular and commercial people will appear who are interested in making a quick buck with a rubbish song. To write off an entire genre because of a few bad eggs is short-sighted. For every awful Euro trash anthem there are thousands of undiscovered techno tracks.

Another complaint people have with techno and dance music is that artists take samples from other songs and that this in some way “lessens” the originality of the new song. Of course if artists over-rely on a sample to be the main body of a song this can be true. However, when a producer uses an old sample his aim is to make that sample “new” by placing it into the track in an inventive and appropriate fashion that wasn’t thought of before, but that works. The process involves recycling and manipulation and is much more sophisticated that just “stealing” a sample and plagiarising someone else’s song to make your own sound better.

One major problem people have with techno culture is that it is regarded as drug-centric and that drugs are essential for appreciation of the music. I first got into electronic music at a very early age. I just about remember recording mixes off Atlantic 252 and dancing around my sitting room. While I had no understanding of how these sounds were produced I was hooked by their energy and power. Since then I have explored most other musical avenues but it is always dance music which I come back to and it stems from that original love of a hypnotic beat. Me and many other I know share this appreciation which has nothing to do with drugs. I was a techno fan years before I knew what a drug was. However there is an undeniable connection between recreational drugs and dance music. But drugs are a part of many music and party scenes, not just the dance scene. Drugs have been a part of the world of popular music since the dawn of time. They are a part of the culture of youth. It is not appropriate to think of techno music as being unique for its connections with illegal drugs. Enthusiasts are often of the opinion that drugs like ecstasy are a nuisance which ruin the reputation of techno culture. Among the ideas that resonate around the techno culture are the messages of respect and responsibility. The tragedies that have occurred in connection with ecstasy have been a source of regret and meditation for the techno community. Increased drug use, the proliferation of adulterated ecstasy tablets and involvement in criminal activity have forced many event organisers and music producers to re-evaluate the direction of techno. Thankfully those attending raves and concerts have recently been exercising more caution recently and fans attention has been diverted away from drug use and towards the music itself and its appreciation.

By the end of Rollins diatribe I felt sorry for him. Sorry that for him, and many others, their impression of this strange and beautiful music is so completely inaccurate. Few experiences in my life can compare with when I saw The Chemical Brothers or Daft Punk live, or the first time I listened to Aphex Twin’s Selected Ambient Works or the first time I went to a rave. Rollins will probably never see a DJ play a 7 hour set building up and breaking down movements like a maestro. He will never be mesmerised by the intuitive subtleness of minimal techno or dance wildly to dirty French electro. He will continue to spread his misplaced anger and animosity. Which is sad, because techno has an everlasting amount of potential and positive energy.

LINK TO HENRY ROLLINS DOESNT LIKE TECHNO VIDEO

Apathy

Every day on TV news broadcasts we listen to political leaders speak about the threat terrorists and far away nations pose to democracy and freedom. But I believe the greatest treat to democracy comes not from war or opposing ideologies but from the citizens of democracies themselves. A democracy is defined as “rule by the people”. This means that each citizen has an equal say in deciding how a government is run. We have the right to choose who to put into positions of power, and those elected have a responsibility to represent the electorate and their desires. Everyday issues such as how much we earn, how many hours we work, how our families are protected and the state of our roads, schools and hospitals are affected by politicians, who are given power by us. So who we choose to put into power is an important decision that everyone should consider carefully. Everyone should jump at the opportunity to make a difference and be heard. The government affects everyone and therefore everyone should have an interest in it. Not necessarily in parties and candidates, but in simple things like taxes and social issues that everyone is sure to have an opinion on, since it affects them. However a culture of political apathy is undermining the democratic process and nowhere is this more evident than among young people in this country.

But where does this apathy and disinterest come from? Why don’t young people care? Is Ireland so perfect that young people do not seek change? I don’t think so. Young people as a whole in Ireland have a resounding lack of belief in themselves and there are few factors to motivate or inspire them. Many young people chose not to become involved in politics because the choice was never given to them. How can you expect a group of people to pay attention if attention was never paid to them? The government are responsible for making the political process accessible to all. But the problem still remains that, even if all the information is available, there is a high possibility it will not be absorbed.

In 2004 a poll conducted by the National Youth Foundation in Ireland highlighted the widespread political apathy among Irish teenagers. 90% of respondents to the poll could not name a single MEP in their area and only half could name one of their local TDs. I spoke to Mary McGuiness, a journalism teacher at Galway Technical Institute who has extensive experience dealing with young people and she agrees that there is a high level of political apathy among young people in Ireland. I asked her what she thinks contributes to this: “There are a couple of things. For a start teenagers don’t ever actually have to watch the news, they live in a bubble, they listen to their iPods, they play console games, they don’t actually hear the news on the radio or see it on TV, they rarely discuss anything with their parents. A lot of them have absolutely no knowledge of what’s going on at all.” From this perspective it is easy to see how young people have become detached from the reality of politics- they live in a world dominated by entertainment and there is no room for examining government policies. Discussions on the current fashion trends take precedence over discussions on the current political climate. But according to Mary McGuiness, things weren’t always this way: “I am surprised because when I was in my 20’s Irish young people were the most politically aware people in Europe. Now it’s all gone and maybe when things are going well nobody is interested in politics. If we hit another slump maybe interest will pick up. If we don’t need change there is no reason to be interested.” It is an old cliché that affluence makes the youth complacent; but is it that simple? What do young people think of politicians themselves? The same NYF poll reports that three-quarters of respondents said they felt politicians did little to improve the lives of young people, while a majority also agreed with the phrase that "politicians are only in it for themselves". Mary McGuiness agrees with this. “Young people just say “Oh, they’re all the same, they’re all corrupt. What difference does it make? Politics makes no difference in life.” It is primarily this viewpoint and the lack of participation which is damaging democracy.

However, in a 2002 press release the National Youth Council of Ireland announced that they believed that apathy is not the full reason why young people don’t vote. The NYCI called for the government to “put in place a comprehensive, targeted action plan to increase voter turnout”. Voter turn out could be improved be such strategies as automatically registering citizens to vote on their 18th birthday and sending them a letter informing them that they are elegible to vote and holding elections at times when most people would be home. They attribute alienation as the reason for non participation, rather than apathy. The NYCI also “calls on all parties to make a concerted effort to include policies relevant to young people in their election manifestos in the following areas: First time buyers, private rented accommodation, educational funding, health care, motor insurance, drug policy, anti-racism policies.” It is true that politicians’ manifestos often include many issues that are too obscure and irrelevant to the lives of young people. The National Youth Council recognised that 37% of young people did not vote due to a lack of interest, disillusionment or a feeling that their vote would make no difference- this presents a challenge to those dealing with young people and also to the government. However they suggest that the government has a role to play in making politics accessible to young people: “It is a citizen’s duty to vote, but it is a government’s duty to make sure that they can do so as easily as possible.”

One group of young people, who you would expect to be politically aware but are in fact failing to display such awareness, are university students. At the moment the Union of Students in Ireland is facing a dilemma. All across the country students are failing to participate in student elections and the integrity of local Student Unions is being undermined. The problem is that the general student completes his or her course without once coming into contact with a member of the Students’ Union. The average student would probably find it difficult to describe what exactly the Students Union even does. This years NUIG Student Union Presidential election exhibited the lack of political activity at NUIG. While there were three names on the ballot sheet for President, only one of these was a serious candidate while the other two were jokes running a satirical campaign. Worse still only 10% of the student population turned out to vote. This trend is reflected all over the country and seriously discredits the idea that student leaders speak for all students. Many students ask themselves why they should bother voting. The is that every full time student is automatically a member of the Students’ Union. The Union gets part of the registration fee. By voting you are getting to decide how that money is spent by voting for someone whose manifesto you agree and by giving no preference to the person whose policies you disagree. Just like in governmental elections.

Stephen Conlon, an active member of the USI, wrote in the Irish Times that: “in modern Ireland the vast majority of students express little interest in [politics]. Students are much more interested in fast-tracking their education and entering the real world as quickly as possible. Students are increasingly apathetic, pacified by free education, a minimum wage and their first Opel Astra. Changes will only be brought about by individuals who are politically motivated- students are simply not interested.” Who are we to rely on so if the most educated young people in Ireland are unwilling to be involved in politics?

So what does the future hold for young voters? How will the current democratic deficit be solved? Have Irish young people become too isolated from the political arena in a post Celtic Tiger era? What can jolt them from distraction into action? Do we have to wait until conditions become bad before our youth population take an interest in shaping their future? Wouldn’t it be easier to take charge now and use our recent success to build a stable and sustainable nation which listens to everyone’s voice? Perhaps it’s true that the current political structures in place make it difficult for young people to become involved. The Government definitely has a role to play in opening up politics to the younger generation but groups can show how to vote and where and when, but what young people really need is a reason why. The reality is that young people lack inspiration and motivation, but they’re not stupid and usually more aware than statistics give them credit for. The reality of youth apathy is that young people have plenty of political opinions and concerns, although they might not look at them that way. If only they could turn off their iPods or pull themselves away from screens long enough to express themselves. The failure of young people to organise themselves and make demands means there is no need for politicians to include their demands in manifestos. What is needed is an organisation that brings the debate to young people and shows them, in a non-patronising way, that their voices matter and that democracy only works when everyone is involved.