Muse-Letter 002: Skrillex, Innovations in Producing, and more!

Muse-Letter 002 - January 9th, 2023

Yoooooo! What's up fam!

Welcome back to the second edition of The Muse-Letter. This week we'll be covering Skrillex's plans for 2023 and new innovations to be on the lookout for.

I appreciate you having a read and being part of the Muse-Letter community. Without further ado, let's get into it.

This Week in Producer News 📰

Skrillex’s First Solo Album in 9 Years Is Dropping in 2023

2023 is off to a wicked start in the music community with Skrillex announcing that he's dropping a double album this year. Skrillex hasn’t released a solo album since his debut album in 2014, Recess, which peaked at Number 4 on the billboard 200 in April of that year during the EDM boom. I imagine there will be many fans waiting for Skrillex to drop another album, and now they get a double. I’d say the wait will be worth it.  

Skrillex posted the announcement on New Year’s Day with a caption reading “QFF/DGTC 23”. The acronyms of the post stand for the names of the pair of albums coming in 2023. The first single, “Rumble” has since been posted and the track is a robust and exhilarating collaboration with Fred again and UK grime MC Flowdan. Skrillex is known for his ear-catching back-and-forth bass riffs. I can’t wait to see if he does more of this or shows off some other wicked skills.  

Skrillex spoke to BBC Radio 1 saying “There's some controversy because we actually kicked [Four Tet] off the project,” Skrillex added. “Four Tet is an honorary producer on everything we do”.

There have been responses to the album news from other well-known personalities in the music industry such as Tchami who wrote “2023 looking great already”, to other comments saying “HYPERVENTILATING,” and “H O L Y S H I T B A L L S”. Safe to say that the community are all for this album drop. Missy Elliot, who has collaborated with Skrillex in the past on an unreleased 2018 track even reacted to the announcement with a bunch of alien heads, flames, and chef’s kiss emoji. We see you Missy, and we agree.  

Even well-known music producers have doubts about their tracks. Skrillex admitted: “I did something, and I didn't like it. I thought I ruined the song. I was scared to play it.” 

Since the announcement, Skrillex has released two songs from the new album. If you want to get in on the action, you can hear the first released song, Rumble. You can also show some love for the latest released track called Way Back feat. PinkPantheress and Trippie Redd.

Article of The Week 📜

Innovations to Expect In 2023

Going into 2023, the music industry is creating many exciting innovations that will alter how we produce, take in, and experience music. Have a read of some innovations you can expect to see in the future.

Virtual reality concerts: We can expect to see virtual reality advancing into the music industry with more artists using VR to create experiences for their fans to discover and enjoy their music. Having VR concerts allows fans to feel as though they are right there in the room with their favourite artists when really, they are miles away in the comfort of their living room. Not all artists will use it but for those that do it will give them the opportunity to connect with their fans on a more intimate level and share unique experiences. 

Personalized music recommendations: Music is everywhere for us through many streaming platforms including Spotify and Apple music to name a few. It can be overwhelming and difficult for listeners to find the latest music tailored to their preferences. However, AI is to the rescue by enabling listeners to discover the latest music that appeals to their tastes with more streaming platforms adopting AI-powered personalized recommendations based on a person's listening history and choices.

AI-powered music production: Artificial intelligence has found its way into the music industry with AI-powered software programs that can help artists make and produce music more easily. The software recommends compositions and arrangements for production based on data it collects from reviewing patterns and styles. Many artists may not want to rely too much on AI, but there are others that see it as a tool that can be used to help them push the limits of their music and see what possibilities come with it. 

More independent artists: We are seeing a shift in how artists are going about producing music and releasing it to the world. The idea that you must be signed by a record label to be a music artist and share your music is being disputed by the rise in streaming platforms and the creation of digital technologies. This shift is resulting in more independent artists self-producing and streaming their own music. I expect to see more artists making waves in the music industry in the future by making the most of the opportunities given to them by digital technologies to widen their audiences and boost their careers.  

All in all, the music industry is going to see some wicked new innovations in the future as artists and music companies get on board with modern technology and trial new ways of music production.  

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Thanks for reading this week's newsletter. I hope you enjoyed it and look forward to providing you with more content that helps you level up throughout 2023. In the meantime, make sure to take a look at the top-quality sounds I use on my website! 👇🏿

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If you have any questions, ideas, or suggestions feel free to hit me up on IG!  @prodbyocean

Appreciate you, fam.

-Ocean