Dieselpunk + Steampunk Culture
Creating Dieselpunk Music
I was unsure whether to put this in the music part or in the philosophy part, but I ended up choosing this one.
Ok, so i've been thinking a lot about starting to record some of my "dieselpunk" ideas, when I thought to myself, what exactly is there dieselpunk about them. I'm not sure if this will upset many people or not, but the overall trend of dieselpunk bands mentioned in this website has been pretty much only swing revival bands, and I was hoping to do a brainstorm in order to fully explore the dieselpunk term.
So, I intend this to be an open discussion as to what defines dieselpunk music. What instruments? How to play them? What lyrics? What context?
In my opinion, I would include as dieselpunk music which:
- Includes the use of punk distorted guitar (in a more or less fast paced manner)
- Includes traditional instruments such as trumpets, trombones, pianos, violins
- Includes synthesizer experiments intended to explore a faster paced, yet still vintage sound
- Includes lyrics describing certain dieselpunk cities (and the retro-futurist technology present), alternate history themes (such as, maybe, a prolonged world war 2, atomic energy, promise of ideology utopias, and their consequent lack of realization).
- Includes singing in a faster, punk-based way, yet with the use of cappellas or other vintage techniques.
As inspirations, I would say to fellow dieselpunks to look into:
- proto-punk as an inspiration for softer, less paced punk. Example:
- Swing/Boogie Woogie/Jazz/Ragtime/Rythm and Blues/ Blues for that oldies feeling reminding the listener the context in which the music is occuring (the hypothetical dieselpunk context). The website is full of examples in this regard. Don't forget to check out bands like The Chordettes or The Andrews Sisters for cappella examples.
- Electronic music, with the purpose of using synthesizer for new background sounds (Reason software has some pretty good synths for post-apocalyptic feels) as well as the occasional crazy drumming, as exemplified by this video:
This is, of course, only my opinion. I therefore launch myself to the lions to await your take on the subject!
Ok, so i've been thinking a lot about starting to record some of my "dieselpunk" ideas, when I thought to myself, what exactly is there dieselpunk about them. I'm not sure if this will upset many people or not, but the overall trend of dieselpunk bands mentioned in this website has been pretty much only swing revival bands, and I was hoping to do a brainstorm in order to fully explore the dieselpunk term.
So, I intend this to be an open discussion as to what defines dieselpunk music. What instruments? How to play them? What lyrics? What context?
In my opinion, I would include as dieselpunk music which:
- Includes the use of punk distorted guitar (in a more or less fast paced manner)
- Includes traditional instruments such as trumpets, trombones, pianos, violins
- Includes synthesizer experiments intended to explore a faster paced, yet still vintage sound
- Includes lyrics describing certain dieselpunk cities (and the retro-futurist technology present), alternate history themes (such as, maybe, a prolonged world war 2, atomic energy, promise of ideology utopias, and their consequent lack of realization).
- Includes singing in a faster, punk-based way, yet with the use of cappellas or other vintage techniques.
As inspirations, I would say to fellow dieselpunks to look into:
- proto-punk as an inspiration for softer, less paced punk. Example:
- Swing/Boogie Woogie/Jazz/Ragtime/Rythm and Blues/ Blues for that oldies feeling reminding the listener the context in which the music is occuring (the hypothetical dieselpunk context). The website is full of examples in this regard. Don't forget to check out bands like The Chordettes or The Andrews Sisters for cappella examples.
- Electronic music, with the purpose of using synthesizer for new background sounds (Reason software has some pretty good synths for post-apocalyptic feels) as well as the occasional crazy drumming, as exemplified by this video:
This is, of course, only my opinion. I therefore launch myself to the lions to await your take on the subject!
Tags: creating, define, defining, dieselpunk, music, philosophy
Views: 32
Replies to This Discussion
-
Permalink Reply by Tome Wilson on -
Interesting topic.
I for one can't say enough good things about Diablo Swing Orchestra's song A Tap Dancer's Dilemma when it comes to dieselpunk music. It mashes a swing beat and horns with distorted guitars and "Andrews Sisters" style backing singers. Other songs by Diablo Swing Orchestra are hit or miss for me because I don't care for the operatic singer, but A Tap Dancer's Dilemma and Balrog Boogey really hit the mark for me.
The militaria sound has also been resonating with me lately thanks to Beauregard's recommendations, Triarii in particular. It mixes the marches and speeches of the wartime together with ambient music to create a total soundfield that's different from anything I've heard before. It's like if George Patton kicked Yanni's ass and stole his instruments (and probably his lunch money too). For example, the song Legio Vi Ferrata starts with a heavy bass synth hum, typical of industrial music, and then the hum pitch shifts slightly and it hits you. You're listening to the engine hum of a flight squad on a bombing run. To me, that takes inspiration from the diesel era and mixes it with today's tech, but it sounds completely different from Diablo Swing Orchestra.
On the utopian "future that never was" end of things, Of Faith, Power, and Glory by VNV Nation is a great example of dieselpunk music. Ronan, the artist, was inspired by movies like "Things To Come," and the music on this album express that inspiration beautifully. The classic analog synths he uses have an organic hum behind them, giving the listener a mental picture of Tesla coils (especially in Tomorrow Never Comes) and future worlds. Those instruments, mixed with a "build utopia with whatever you can" attitude are heavily present in all of Ronan's works, but this album embodies the concept from beginning to end. As the good men at The Flying Fortress would say, "the naive, utopian, and starry-eyed mantra: 'technology… for a better tomorrow!'" is the unsoiled core of dieselpunk, but still as viable as the other musical offerings.
So there you go. You have one example that goes "punk" in the Roaring Twenties, one that marches across the blood soaked battlefields of the war, and one that looks unflinchingly into the future that never was; all perfectly good expressions of the dieselpunk genre.
-
Permalink Reply by Larry on -
Very interesting Hayen. I'm going to have to think about this one for a while.
-
Permalink Reply by Jonny B. Goode on -
I'm glad Hayen included R&B and Blues in his list. Personally, I'd say that the Chicago Blues sound is the "dieselpunk" version of the Blues. It takes the Delta Blues sound, adds horns and electric guitars and "urbanizes" it, bringing in some grittiness and "punk" (not in the musical sense but in the rebellious sense). And, Chicago bluesmen are fond of wearing fedoras and porkpie hats.
Good example off the top of my head: Check out this music video by John Lee Hooker Jr., son of Blues legend John Lee Hooker:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IEXbkGcXF-E
I personally include the Blues Brothers as dieselpunk myself. They blend R&B and the Chicago sound, and have a very diesel look. (And a very diesel car!) Some don't see it... but not everyone agrees with everything, that's the beauty of dieselpunk, right? ;)
-
Permalink Reply by Hayen Mill on -
By the way Larry, you gave me an idea with what you said in my fascination car topic:
"This is the future we were all promised. Never happened. "
This is exactly the kind of feeling some of the lyrics should portray in a punkish manner. The whole "we were promissed an utopia. We didn't get it. We are fucking pissed about it" sort of feel.
-
Permalink Reply by Hayen Mill on
-
I agree, those two songs by Diablo Swing Orchestra are the only ones that attract me. I'll give the others a look.
-
Permalink Reply by Larry on
-
I'm glad anything that I've said has been of use.
My understanding on 'punk,' whether we're talking about as it developed in the 70's or in any of the current sub-genres, it often (though not always) has a sense of anger, like one has in response to a broken promise, and a disgust with the status quo. There often also seems to be some degree of irreverence associated with 'punk' as well.
That being said I think sometimes 'punk' is just a re-imagining of something to create a new vision of it. It's a statement of what could have been but never was. One might say that in sci-fi the Re-imagined Battlestar Galactica was a 'punk' version of the original.
-
Permalink Reply by Tome Wilson on
-
From Philip Gomez on Facebook:
"Here's my idea of "Dieselpunk music." Dieselpunk is itself a reflection of "histories that never were", and a part of the postmodern trend in literature (and more, including music).
So, I think the "most" Dieselpunk music is music made by contemporary artists that reflect an age that simultaneously was and wasn't. Specifically, of course, the early to mid 20th century.
Examples, based on my theory, then, would be:
The Swing and Vocal Jazz Revival: Brian Setzer Orchestra, The Puppini Sisters, Squirrel Nut Zippers, Andrew Bird's Bowl Of Fire, Madeleine Peyroux, Jill Tracy, etc.
Gothic Americana*: The .357 String Band, 16 Horsepower, Reverend Glasseye, O'Death, Blanche, The Handsome Family, Th'Legendary Shack Shakers, Slim Cessna's Auto Club, Jim White, Songs:Ohia, Antic Clay, Elliott BROOD, Munly, etc.
Old-Timey Country & Folk*: Old Crow Medicine Show, Justin Townes Earle, Riley Baugus, William Elliott Whitmore, Scott H. Biram, Wayne Hancock, Bonnie 'Prince' Billy, Iron & Wine, Angels of Light, The Wiyos, BR5-49, Great Lake Swimmers, The Pogues, etc.
Neo-Classical & Martial Industrial Music**: In Slaughter Natives, Michael Cashmore, Der Blutharsch, Ophelia's Dream, Ordo Rosarius Equilibrio, In The Nursery, MZ.412, Vatican's Children, Von Thronstahl, Arcana, Elend, Kreuzweg Ost, Kriegsfall-U, Derniere Volonte, Deutsch Nepal, Autumn Tears, Puissance, Eluvium, Arditi, Triarii, Artesia, Blood Axis, NON, Karjalan Sissit, A Challenge of Honour, Predella Avant, Laibach, Dargaard, Dark Sanctuary, Die Verbannten Kinder Evas, Ghosts of Breslau, Inade, Kammarheit, Matthew Robert Cooper, Lux Interna, Moon Lay Hidden Beneath A Cloud, Rosa Crux, Wappenbund, etc.
Dark Cabaret & Creepy Carnival/Circus Music: Rozz Williams & Gitane Demone, Vermillion Lies, Dresden Dolls, Antony & The Johnsons, Spiritual Front, Stolen Babies, Tom Waits, Alu, Amanda Palmer, Gogol Bordello, Katzenjammer Kabarett, Man Man, Rasputina, Sex Gang Children,
Rockabilly Revival, Gothabilly, Psychobilly, & Surf-Rock: The Stray Cats, The Klingonz, The Misfits, Big Sandy & His Fly-Rite Boys, The Meteors, The Blasters, Dwight Yoakam, Hank Williams III, The Georgia Satellites, Gun Club, Man or Astro-Man?, Old 97's, 45 Grave, etc.
* this has sadly been overlooked in just about EVERY website on Dieselpunk I've ever seen. It's as though people have forgotten the dustbowl music of Woody Guthrie and the old-timey folk-blues of Leadbelly. Folk and country music was very popular amongst the poor and working class people of the first half of the 20th century. How, then, is it always overlooked by Dieselpunks??? Sad, sad, sad...
** These two genres are very dissimilar (and ALSO under-represented in Dieselpunk discussions), but there is still plenty of crossover between between the two genres, and a predominantly Martial Industrial (Military Pop) artist will incorporate some Neo-Classical music in their music, and vice versa. So I am just listing together artists from both genres."
-
Permalink Reply by Tome Wilson on
-
Is Psychobilly and rock dieselpunk? I don't know. I see the rock-n-roll antihero spirit belonging more to the '50s, and what the '70s thought the '50s were like.
I like the cut of your jib and agree with everything else (awesome collection of bands, by the way), but some of them spread out a little beyond the war era.
-
Permalink Reply by Larry on
-
Admittedly, I would agree that 1950's pushes it a little bit. But I have noticed that sometimes there seems to be a fine line between late 40's and much of the 50's in dieselpunk.
I especially like the "Old-Timey Country & Folk" and how we don't emphasis folk music and blues from that era enough. That's one reason I consider "Oh Brother Where Art Thou" to be pure dieselpunk. We forget that Bluegrass music actually originated in the mid-1940's.
-
Permalink Reply by Tome Wilson on
-
I just don't know enough about country music to speak with any intelligence. It's not out of spite, it's just out of ignorance that it doesn't get featured as often as the other musical genres.
© 2012 Created by Tome Wilson.
