Music and Authenticity: An ongoing debate

Whether you are a musician or simply a music fan, there’s no doubt that even once there was this thought while you were listening to your favorite tracks: “Oh, this melody really reminds me of this song!” or “Oh, this is the riff this singer used in a 1990s track” and so on… so the real question is: can music be 100% authentic or should musicians, alternatively,  be authentic in a non-musical way to preserve their uniqueness in the modern era? 

Although the debate of authenticity is going on for ages in the music circles, nowadays, even though the technological mediums act as facilitators, enabling the practice of creative compositional and performance techniques (e.g. sampling, artists improvising on their voice during shows, etc.), its use could question the creative authenticity and morality of the artist and popular music, in general, more than ever. In modern days, the extensive use of technologies has completely altered our general understanding of liveness, and therefore, the modern definition of a “live” performance is subjective to the listener’s individual perspective. 

On that, Margaret, from the 2-female Rock Band “Wet Leg” comments: “I think there’s more authenticity if you’re having fun; If I go to a gig, I don’t want to see people doing a rock star act – sometimes it can be quite contrived and people think they have to be a certain way as a musician.” So, is the secret to be totally aligned with your artistry and be truthful when it comes to your performances and your relationship with your audience? Is being authentic a synonym for using all the available tools (samples, riffs, melodies) but in your very own distinctive way? 

For sure every artist is unique in their own way but what does authenticity in music mean to you? 

Source: NME