IT is one of those clichés that many use out of ignorance. Next time someone uses the IT word, stop them and simply ask, "What is IT?" Many times those people that are speaking will stumble over an explanation or simply not answer the question as if IT eludes any form of understanding. There are those who might be so bold as to try to bring light unto the IT subject but always fall short of a satisfactory answer. So, as best as I can, I will explain to you what IT is in hopes that it will aid you in growing your musical experience.

IT is simply "INDEFINABLE TALENT". IT encompasses many areas of the WHOLE, not just portions. In music, there are three forms of IT. There are songs or compositions that have IT, there are artists or bands that have IT and finally there are producers that have IT. If you have a combination of a song, artist AND producer having IT, you have a timeless piece of work.

For example, let's look at "Yesterday" by the Beatles. You have an artist that has a tremendous since of melody. You have a song, that naked by itself expresses a timeless story. Finally you have a producer that understands the nakedness of both the song and melody and does the right thing by composing a masterpiece of simple, essential strings to communicate the emptiness of the heart of the person's reflections in the song. That is what IT does. IT tells the story that is created by the melody and lyric by the artist and properly produced by the ears of a master.

Now at this point, you may be thinking to yourself, "Too much analyzing, music is supposed to be art." That response only shows the heart of someone that has not experienced the ecstasy of tapping into the depth of the art. Don't fool yourself. Don't lie to yourself. There has never been a lazy artist that has impacted the world. Every true masterpiece has the burden of sweat and blood. Thomas Edison said it, "Genius is one per cent inspiration and ninety-nine percent perspiration. Accordingly, a 'genius' is often merely a talented person who has done all of his or her homework." Though there is much to be said about natural talent, I have seen many artists with natural talent and a truly awing sense of musicality that were not successful due to the inability to put disciplined effort in their musical work. This is why the pure of heart will say that you cannot play the blues unless you LIVE the blues. That is truth. Unfortunately, a true blues artist that captivates their audience and creates the power of that particular music genre, is often found battling some very serious demons in their lives. Though, there are those who can technically play blues well, it will not reach the heart unless the experience of the blues is there to stir the experience. So with that we can establish that IT NEEDS the technical understanding, but cannot truly be IT unless the conviction or the heart is in the equation. A great example of this is in voice. How many times have you heard someone sing a song technically correct as in not going off key or sliding notes and yet the song did not move you? Every song is a story, every singer is a storyteller. It is not the emotion within yourself that determines a great vocal, it is the conviction in which the song is delivered that makes the difference.

So we have determined that a song can have IT, an artist can have IT and a producer can have IT. Now let's break that down further.

IT has to be complete and by that IT is the completeness of:

The Perspective of Artists or a Band

01-The Artist or Band Members

02-The ability of the Band Members or Artist with their band to work as ONE

03-The Completeness of the songs themselves both in lyric and music

04-The EXECUTION of the songs performed live with every ounce of conviction and blood the Band or Artist has

05-The ability for the Band or Artist to connect with their audience and draw them into their songs both by challenges and participation whether on record or live

06-The natural persona of the artist or band in conveying their songs to their audience (not coming off as phony)

07-The humility to understand that music and the experience of music is a gift not to be held aloft as if we are worthy but to be sincerely cherished by all who make the art of music

08-Knowing that IT takes hard work along with good business decisions

The Perspective of the Song

01-The song has a good sense of melody

02-The lyric can have substance or be simple, either way it still has to have some form of appeal or connection to its audience and cannot be trite

03-The lyric has creativity, fluentness of rhythm to the melody and is expressed appropriately. It is not saying "I Love You" in a song that is the problem; it is how that "I Love You" is expressed both creatively and rhythmically.

04-Fluentness in the melody is imperative. Rather it is a hardcore screamer or a sweet pop song; a fluent melody will have a greater impact than a choppy, awkward forcing of a melody.

The Perspective of the Producer

01-Has a strong sense of understanding of both music AND technical equipment

02-The ability to create the correct musical and technical texture to the song that best conveys the song

03-Having the understanding that space is as important in production as a big fat grunge chord

04-Knows when too much IS too much and too little IS too little

05-When a producer has IT the artist or band perform their utmost best

I could give multiple examples of artists, songs and producers that have IT, but that is not necessary since everyone really knows who they are. Choose any of those artists, songs or producers that are pointed to when the word "classic" is appropriately used and you will find IT behind them all.

In closing, let me say this. If you really play music because you LOVE music, it is irrelevant whether you have IT or not. I know many musicians that have an extreme amount of passion for music and playing music, that do not have IT. With my own personal music and writing, I know that I do not have IT. I love music and have an intense passion for my art, but I know also that I have yet to experience IT with any of my work. That is okay; I still play and will always play because of my love for the art.

Below is what I have come to call the "Presidents Select List". These are artists in which I feel have at least a large portion of what IT is. Since I cannot see all of our artists during a live performance, I cannot definably say they every one of these artists have the total IT package. But with what I have to work with over the internet and through correspondence, I can say that they possess a large enough portion of the IT to note them on my list. This allows viewers of our website to stop by and review music by artists that I feel will speak to them no matter what genre they are looking for.

I am often asked to listen to artist's music and give them feedback on it. I have avoided doing so in the past years, but as IFI Music has grown and my desire to help those whom sincerely want help has grown, I will more often accept the request of listening. I say this to those who may challenge me, remember that the love of creating music does not need critiquing. Your music is yours and if it fulfills your love for it, that is all it needs to be.  

Take care,

Ken