Recording - August 2020 - 72

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Chasing the Timeless Sound
By Aaron J. Trumm
There's one term that's a death knell when it's associated
with a record. It strikes fear in the hearts of producers, partly
because nobody wants this brand, and partly because it's difficult to define. As soon as you think you understand it, it's gone
in a puff of smoke. And as soon as you start thinking about it,
everything sounds...dated.
Shudder.
So, what does it mean when a song sounds dated? Let's start
with a dictionary definition.
Dated: Old-fashioned. That was easy! Dated means old.
That means old stuff is dated, right? But old music doesn't necessarily sound dated. New stuff that sounds old might sound
dated, or it might sound 'vintage'. Of course, using old-school
techniques doesn't always mean a track will sound dated. If
it did, this would mean that recording a live band in a studio
would sound dated because it's been done to death-but it
doesn't work that way.
The fact is, the word dated is a lot like other subjective terms
like current, rockin', good, or bad. What sounds dated to one
person might sound fresh to someone else.
Maybe a better word for dated would be unoriginal. One
thing's for sure: dated is a real thing, just like good or bad, and
you'll know it when you hear it.

nebulous term). Third, you'll know it when you hear it. And
finally, chasing trends can lead to future datedness.
Other things seem clear. The latest cool computer trick-dubstep wobble bass, for example-may not stand up for long. On
the other hand, staying stuck in an old way of thinking could
make you sound stale. So, timelessness, which opposes datedness more than 'current' -ness, seems to be a delicate balance
of subtle originality and bold creativity.
The truth is, timelessness is as subjective as datedness. We
could never definitively tell you how to find a timeless sound,
but there are a few things that seem to help:
Vintage sounds can anchor a song while simultaneously
bringing a fresh perspective to a current style.
Some things stand up over time, like spaciousness, great
songwriting, or undeniable virtuosity.
Songs seem more timeless when they don't rely on gimmicks,
or when those gimmicks are so original as to be unrepeatable.
One element of a song may be timeless, while others may be
dated. Perhaps a lyric is timeless, but it's sung over a cheesy 80s
synth track. Maybe a super original track which will stand up
forever is superimposed with slangy lyrics mentioning the year.
Certain styles come and go in repeating patterns. Big reverb,
for example.

Does It Matter?

Just Keep Making Music

Beyond the definition, does it matter if your song sounds dated? As an artist, maybe not. In the end, if you love it, then your
song is worthwhile-end of story. From a professional standpoint however, it can matter, especially in pop. The music business is fraught with requests for tracks that 'sound like' other
famous artists. "In the vein of Drake, with an Ed Sheeran vibe,"
etc. Many requests even include the term current. [I get this all
the time from clients -ed.] Ironically, the more you chase trends,
the more dated you're likely to sound. Even if you manage to
hit the mark now, an overly trendy production often does not
stand the test of time.

Timelessness

As mysterious as the notion of datedness may be, we've established a few things. First, it's at least partially subjective.
Next, it has something to do with being unoriginal (another
72 RECORDING August 2020

Styles go with time periods, and that's OK. Does this mean
that as we age, we become irrelevant? Of course not. As we
evolve as individuals, our music evolves, and so does music in
general. Half of the reason genres change over time is because
the same people keep making them, and those people have
grown. The other half, of course, is new blood.
Outside that reality, the notion of a timeless sound is as nebulous as datedness. Given this subjectivity, it would stand to reason that to achieve a timeless production, you'll need to trust
your gut, not chase trends, and-don't worry about it too much.
The main thing-stay true to yourself and be open to growth
and change. Your songs will follow suit.
Aaron J. Trumm makes songs that sound dated, cheesy, and
unoriginal. He tries hard never to release those. Find out if he's
succeeding at aarontrumm.com

http://www.aarontrumm.com

Recording - August 2020

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