New music tech products often aim to democratise music‐making. They remove barriers to entry and smooth the path from idea to finished track. And sometimes the benefits are uncontroversial. Orchestral sample libraries, for example, open doors on a world that was once inaccessible.
But there’s a fine line between democratisation and dumbing down. When quicker and easier take priority over better, we sell ourselves short. When skills that were once essential become optional, mediocrity ensues. And instant gratification isn’t lasting gratification.
Modern technology has made it simple to turn an idea into a finished‐sounding track. ChatGPT will help you finish the lyrics. Plug‐ins will tell you what chords work in the right key. Logic’s Session Players will lay down plausible rhythm parts. AI singers will replace your guide vocal.
But could you really take pride in something created this way? Would it even feel like your own creation? Suno CEO Mark Shulman is quoted as saying "I think the majority of people don’t enjoy the majority of the time they spend making music." If he means that making music can be frustrating and difficult, sure. But he draws entirely the wrong conclusion. Satisfaction in music‐making comes from overcoming challenges, not from avoiding them. The journey is what makes reaching the destination fulfilling.
Which leads me to make a modest proposal. Other creative fields have seen the rise of ‘slow’ movements. Slow food is the best known, but slow sewing, for example, is also hugely popular. Is there a place for something similar in music creation?
Slow music as a philosophy will mean different things to different people, but has nothing to do with tempo. It’s about valuing the craft of music‐making for its own sake, and recognising that time spent in the studio isn’t wasted just because it doesn’t produce immediate results. Losing yourself in the possibilities of modular synthesis is pleasurable in its own right, whether or not a finished track emerges at the end.
To sum up the idea of slow music in one sentence, the process of making music matters as much as the results.
And, crucially, slow music is not a Luddite idea. The point is not to reject new technology. It’s to emphasise the role of care, intent and skill in music creation. K‐pop and extreme metal are at the cutting edge of contemporary production, but they exemplify the values of slow music just as much as rehearsing a band and cutting an album to tape. To sum up the idea of slow music in one sentence, the process of making music matters as much as the results.
I hope to develop the idea of slow music further in the months and years to come, so watch this space. But, well, don’t hold your breath.
Sam Inglis Editor In Chief