Quincy Jones, a legendary composer and producer, shares insights from his expansive career and his influence across various music genres. He discusses the evolution of technology's impact on artists, particularly in R&B and hip-hop. Quincy emphasizes the importance of creativity in adapting to the music industry’s challenges, such as piracy. He reflects on his transition from classical training to jazz, highlighting collaborations with iconic musicians and the artistry behind blending styles. This conversation uncovers the lesser-known facets of a monumental career.
Quincy Jones emphasizes the transformative impact of technology on music distribution, highlighting the challenges posed by piracy and the potential of the Chinese market.
Reflecting on his career, Jones illustrates the significance of blending traditional and contemporary styles, paralleling music composition with visual art as a means of artistic evolution.
Deep dives
The Impact of Technology on Music Industry
The discussion highlights the drastic changes in the music industry due to technology, particularly the prevalence of piracy and its effect on record sales. Quincy Jones points out that a significant percentage of music consumed in regions like China is pirated, which poses a substantial challenge for artists and record labels. He emphasizes the need for the industry to innovate and find new ways to adapt, citing his own attempts to distribute music through cell phones in China. Jones believes that despite the challenges, understanding the massive market in China could offer opportunities for reinventing music distribution.
Blending Old and New in Music Composition
Throughout his career, Quincy Jones has focused on fusing traditional music elements with contemporary styles, reflecting a broader trend in the music landscape. He emphasizes the importance of artistic evolution while honoring past musical influences, mentioning his experiences with renowned musicians and their collective struggle to adapt to rock and roll's dominance. Jones recalls how the transition led him and his contemporaries, such as Herbie Hancock and Miles Davis, to explore popular music avenues to remain relevant. This blending of genres represents both a challenge and an exploration of new creative horizons in the evolving soundscape.
Artistry in Music and Inspiration from Visual Arts
Quincy Jones articulates a deep connection between music composition and visual arts, drawing parallels between the two disciplines. He views orchestration as akin to painting, where the combination of different instruments creates an emotional and expressive landscape. This artistic philosophy was shaped by his exposure to influential figures like Picasso, whom he admired not just for his visual genius but for his innovative spirit. Jones reflects on the role of mentorship in his development, as both music and visual art deeply inform his creative process, revealing the intricate relationship between sound and visual representation.
In a very special Exchange from 2010, we caught up with a true legend of music. Here's what we said at the time:
Revered composer, producer and bandleader Quincy Jones may not have much to do with dance music in a literal context, but his fingerprints are all over it. The impact that his work has had on countless DJs and producers over the years hardly needs explaining. So when we were offered the chance to chat with Jones around a promotional tour for his brand new line of AKG headphones, we couldn't resist.
In a brief conversation, RA Todd L. Burns took the opportunity to ignore the elephants in the room, and focused his sights on a broader view of the man's career, uncovering some interesting insights as to how Jones views his work as painting with sound and how his classical training helped him make conservatory musicians play funk.
In this RA Exchange, the American music legend talks some of the parts of his career that simply don't get covered elsewhere.
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