How do you expand your musical horizons?

[gryphon]

How do you expand your musical horizons?


I often find members posting this question, in one form or another, so I thought it is time to open a thread to share ideas …………

Here are some of mine :

v The good ole radio………….Often I will put the radio on in the background whilst I am doing things ( Easy in my world we run a terrace/B and B and so it is part of the job!) I have a pencil and paper to hand. As I listen I note down what interests me and then I follow up the leads.

v Reading , I often read music biographies articles etc as I go through, I notice the influences of he artists I like and follow them up ………………..

v My friends………..I am lucky many of my friends have connections to the music industry , so I notice what they are listening to, sometimes I’m lucky enough to be able to talk with artists so I ask “ What are you listening to at the moment” or “ What are your influences “ or “ Can you recommend something to listen to…………….”

v Impulse buys out of the cheap racks………………..Often I will buy something I like the look of and is cheap…………..I have found some great things there……………………

v Youtube roulette…………I type in the name of an artist or track and then follow up the recommendations ……………again a paper and pencil is useful.

v I invented the MD Album Review ( With some help I have to be honest) it has helped me find and listen to some great new areas……………………………

v Rock group family trees : I find these on the internet and use them to lead me to other groups and bands………….One I am doing at the moment is Steve Howe from Yes………..His solo work is wonderful and I get to find his session work ad his earlier groups such as Tomorrow.

v Old TV show about music………..IN NL we have a great cable channel called 192 TV………it reruns the output of the pirate radio stations with videos………….great to find recommendations

v TV Rockumenraries ……….Often from BBC 4 ,,,,,,,you get to se an old concert or a documentary about an area or an artist……………For me an interest in James Taylor came from here.

v I am an avid record collector………….45s are the specialist area and here you can buy allsorts that will lead you on………………I have worked on collecting specific labels from the ears I am interested in ……….found some great unknown artists…………………….You can follow producers
Publishing companies etc

v MD itself…….I look at the postings and follow them up………..Music Head is a great source!( Tiggi’s not bad either !!!!)