Successful producers/musicmakers who are douchebags

There's an up and coming producer here; his name keeps popping up in some festival line-ups and music blogs. His music is okay, it's not bad, but it's really nothing very imaginative, difficult to make or groundbreaking. My initial reaction to him was that it was cool that mainstream music critics and promotors were noticing portuguese electronic music, even if it is just average. The thing is, this guy seems like a right prick. He uses facebook to insult blogs that don't give his gigs a favourable review, he treats people in the industry (a few of them close friends of mine) with complete arrogance and lack of professionalism.

And I don't get it. I don't understand why or how he's getting media attention if his music is just okay, and he's an insufferable person. I'd assume you need a minimum of networking skills and a likeable personality if you want to get noticed making average music. This has been bugging me for a while - I'm not actively looking to have the kind of media attention he has, but it pisses me off that an idiot like that is seen as a promising artist by some people. And on another level, I can't find a logical explanation for this either.

when ticks get a dug in its hard to get the fuckers out

I thought this thread was going to be about calling people out and was gonna list Flahbulb...

Let's get a shit-list going here folks

  On 5/2/2012 at 10:34 AM, kokeboka said:

There's an up and coming producer here; his name keeps popping up in some festival line-ups and music blogs. His music is okay, it's not bad, but it's really nothing very imaginative, difficult to make or groundbreaking. My initial reaction to him was that it was cool that mainstream music critics and promotors were noticing portuguese electronic music, even if it is just average. The thing is, this guy seems like a right prick. He uses facebook to insult blogs that don't give his gigs a favourable review, he treats people in the industry (a few of them close friends of mine) with complete arrogance and lack of professionalism.

 

And I don't get it. I don't understand why or how he's getting media attention if his music is just okay, and he's an insufferable person. I'd assume you need a minimum of networking skills and a likeable personality if you want to get noticed making average music. This has been bugging me for a while - I'm not actively looking to have the kind of media attention he has, but it pisses me off that an idiot like that is seen as a promising artist by some people. And on another level, I can't find a logical explanation for this either.

Sometimes it's just about knowing the right people, not the whole lot.

Yeah, I understand that in a small market I suppose it's enough to be well-connected within a small but influential group of people. Still, the thing about this particular guy is that the quality of his music doesn't match his swag - surely most people can call BS. Plus, how can you honestly say you like someone's music if you can clearly see he's an immature asshole? Isn't a person like that going to wear down followers and eventually annoy the wrong person?

who is it?

  On 5/2/2012 at 3:04 PM, hautlle said:

I thought this thread was going to be about calling people out and was gonna list Flahbulb...

 

 

Let's get a shit-list going here folks

I used to work for Trevor Horn - he made some good music back in the day and is amicable with journalists, but he's a right prick to anyone under him.

  On 5/2/2012 at 3:43 PM, keltoi said:

who is it?

His bandcamp here, and his lastfm here. Describes himself as "amazing".

  On 5/2/2012 at 10:34 AM, kokeboka said:

And I don't get it. I don't understand why or how he's getting media attention if his music is just okay, and he's an insufferable person

money and connections.

I honestly think it's only going to get him so far. And even he became huge, say like he-who-must-not-be-name-checked or Pretty Lights, etc. he's not going to be respected. Look at LMFAO - they sell singles, get media coverage, large gigs, etc. and it's all because they're related to a Motown executive. They still don't have a shred of respect from fans and journalists we'd consider important. I'd ignore it and move on. Only call him out if he steals tunes or melodies (which has occurred, BuckUK in the garage scene, the Zomby flap, Mt Eden, etc.) otherwise fuck him and move on. He's a soulless waste of space if he's arrogant enough to criticize people who aren't fans then he's not even worth thinking about.

focusing on shit like that will get you burt out. I know what you mean though. There are quite a few dickheads out there who have lots of fans. I think some people even see that shitheadedness as a trait of genuis or charisma, which is bullshit.

In time most electronic musicians will die, & the great goddess of techno will judge you not by the number of records you sold or how much free LSD & raver chicks on LSD you got from doing gigs, but by the dopeness of the tracks you made

worry not of these fleeting distractions, for true dopeness comes from within

  On 5/2/2012 at 8:05 PM, Cryptowen said:

In time most electronic musicians will die

I like the Kurzweilian implications of this statement...

  On 5/2/2012 at 3:07 PM, Kanakori said:

 

Sometimes it's just about knowing the right people, not the whole lot.

it's actually more about this than anything else. unless you are exceptionally talented and hard working.

but most people just know somebody who knows somebody who kissed somebody else's arse.

  On 5/2/2012 at 3:53 PM, kokeboka said:

  On 5/2/2012 at 3:43 PM, keltoi said:

who is it?

 

His bandcamp here, and his lastfm here. Describes himself as "amazing".

reminds me of Salem - King Night which is certainly not "amazing".

Sounds like this guys a prick, don't let it get to you.

  On 5/2/2012 at 3:53 PM, kokeboka said:

  On 5/2/2012 at 3:43 PM, keltoi said:

who is it?

 

His bandcamp here, and his lastfm here. Describes himself as "amazing".

lol it's terrible

tell him baph thinks he's not amazing. surely that will take him down a few pegs.

  On 5/2/2012 at 9:07 PM, StephenG said:

  On 5/2/2012 at 3:53 PM, kokeboka said:

  On 5/2/2012 at 3:43 PM, keltoi said:

who is it?

 

His bandcamp here, and his lastfm here. Describes himself as "amazing".

 

reminds me of Salem - King Night which is certainly not "amazing".

 

Sounds like this guys a prick, don't let it get to you.

Also, Salem are actual crackheads who've supposedly seen a lot of shit. I have to admit I actually found an interview with one of the members quite fascinating. The whole thing with witch-house is that a lot of it is terrible, but most of the producers are essentially anonymous and don't give a fuck about self-promotion. It's more of a self-centered subgenre circle jerk. So in that sense, I can see why this producer is especially annoying. Still, fuck him. Not worth your time at all.

  On 5/2/2012 at 9:39 PM, joshuatx said:

  On 5/2/2012 at 9:07 PM, StephenG said:

  On 5/2/2012 at 3:53 PM, kokeboka said:

  On 5/2/2012 at 3:43 PM, keltoi said:

who is it?

 

His bandcamp here, and his lastfm here. Describes himself as "amazing".

 

reminds me of Salem - King Night which is certainly not "amazing".

 

Sounds like this guys a prick, don't let it get to you.

 

Also, Salem are actual crackheads who've supposedly seen a lot of shit. I have to admit I actually found an interview with one of the members quite fascinating. The whole thing with witch-house is that a lot of it is terrible, but most of the producers are essentially anonymous and don't give a fuck about self-promotion. It's more of a self-centered subgenre circle jerk. So in that sense, I can see why this producer is especially annoying. Still, fuck him. Not worth your time at all.

Great post... I didn't really know any of that and now I'm intrigued!

But yeah, fuck this guy the threads about. Sounds like a douche.

Is that THIS IS MICHAEL JACKSON? Or am I getting him confused with someone else?

lol i thought i knew which 'successful musician' you were talking about until you said portugal

lol no that's not THIS IS MICHAEL JACKSON.

some specific name popped up in your head, awepittance? :P

  On 5/2/2012 at 11:19 PM, kokeboka said:

lol no that's not THIS IS MICHAEL JACKSON.

Ah, I just remember an ivo posting here a while ago and thought it was him, just after a name change..

It's obviously Zomby's Portuguese cousin, O Zumbi

  On 5/2/2012 at 11:24 PM, modey said:

  On 5/2/2012 at 11:19 PM, kokeboka said:

lol no that's not THIS IS MICHAEL JACKSON.

Ah, I just remember an ivo posting here a while ago and thought it was him, just after a name change..

that ivo is before my time, he seems to have been banned so I don't know if he was making music.

  On 5/2/2012 at 9:39 PM, joshuatx said:

Also, Salem are actual crackheads who've supposedly seen a lot of shit. I have to admit I actually found an interview with one of the members quite fascinating. The whole thing with witch-house is that a lot of it is terrible, but most of the producers are essentially anonymous and don't give a fuck about self-promotion. It's more of a self-centered subgenre circle jerk. So in that sense, I can see why this producer is especially annoying. Still, fuck him. Not worth your time at all.

do you still have a link to the salem article?