Melissa Valle
Professor Perry
English 201-1018
February 23, 2019
In society today, it would be challenging to live without being influenced by something or someone. Life is full of influences that you can choose and pick for the better or worst. Not only are there positive ways of being influenced but negatively as well. The way you react to the influence determines what kind of impact you’ll receive from the influence. In this case, music is a form of art that can be defined and interpreted in multiple ways. When a car ignition goes on or simply walking down a street, sound is created with almost everything we do. By simply listening to music, it develops of life of its own which can influence an individual through mind, heart, and soul.
Throughout the 18 years of my life, music has pulled me through almost any situation or moment I’ve experienced. When hardships were encountered, it provided an escape route from reality but at the same time, reminds me that I still live on earth. A specific band called “Autograf” inspired me to not run away from an issue and instead, face it. Autograf are a few humble guys that specialize in future house music, build cool stuff, and make art along the way. Since 2013, its always been their dream to blend music with their artwork for other people to experience and take part in what they believe. At first, they’ll create artworks that other individuals can contribute to like drawing on chalkboard cutouts of animals but before you know it, music became involved. Rather than being influenced by a person, Autograf became inspired from the hidden connection between music and art.
One of my favorite songs by Autograf is “Slow Burn”, it vanquishes the sound of high energy dance music and explores a more serene, tranquil expression. Picture a song you play at the after-after party when the lights are low and the mood is mellow, a moment of realization that there can be peaceful times after the madness. As I grew up, I’ve always loved movies that associate with sci-fi, when I listen to this song it’s as if I’m entering a magical world; an alternate world where can I feel free and relive the imaginations I’ve always dreamt of living. The use of a guitar, saxophone, and the piano are combined in a beautifully unique way, marking its presence dynamically even if the song is relaxing. The title of the song “Slow Burn” alone symbolizes the endless possibilities of achieving the dreams you’ve always desired for, but time and patience is required.
Based on an interview in 2017, it stated how “fans began to realize how they also have something to contribute to the story of music and art” (EDM Chicago, 2016). As an outcome, Autograf believes that everyone has a mark to leave upon this world in which we can all connect. The relationship between art, music, and fashion of modern times is always thought about when making songs or art pieces. Andy Warhol is one of Autograf’s favorite artist which they’ve made a collaboration by making a pop art inspired party. The party used one of Autograf’s top hit songs “Walkin” while looking at their art pieces like robot sculptures. The party symbolized an invitation to music and art lovers to come together and share their ideas to create an “artistic revolution”.
Autograf admired many types of music and bands like French House, The Bloody Beetroots, Justice, and the Faints. Relating to Bloom’s theory, kenosis is represented through Autograf’s music because rather than using a similar concept of their favorite bands, they somehow removed the inspirations to make it their own. In other words, discontinuing yourself from the people that have influenced you and create something different and more powerful. Each song Autograf has made represented something different like the song “Slow Burn”, the vibe after a party and relaxing. On the other hand, the song “Walkin” is a remix that associates with tessera, originally a song that has a blues/jazz slow rhythm but Autograf took it to another level using it as an upbeat song for party occasions. Clinamen is used in Autograf’s music since its “swerves” away from the typical upbeat songs and creates a better version by creating a soothing, relaxing experience. Lastly, aprophrades, Autograf doesn’t reveal influence as they separate their ideas from other artists to prove to others and themselves what the intersection is between music and art.
“Influence is Influenza- an astral disease…” – Harold Bloom
Based on Harold Bloom’s theory of “Anxiety of Influence”, he challenges the ordinary notion that literary tradition is a benevolent and empowering source if influence of modern poets. Instead, Bloom rivals’ the achievements of their “great” precursors which are barriers to their own aspirations to become original and unique. Hypothetically, anyone can do better than their precursor if overcoming influence and conquering individuality. Bloom uses the term influence comparing it to “influenza” since the power of influence is a disease and truly relinquishes a person’s identity by being someone they’re not. To fight against the threat, poets learn to protect themselves by “misreading their predecessors with the intention of aspiration operating through the revisionary ratios which together forms a new contradicting approach to literary criticism.
The six revisionary ratios include clinamen, tessera, kenosis, daemonization, askesis, and apophrades. Clinamen refers to a corrective movement in his own poem, implying the original idea swerved towards a whole new idea. Tessera occurs when the artist keeps the same idea from his precursor but uses it in a different perspective, continuing his work but makes improvements. Thirdly, kenosis is a movement towards interruption of the precursor by emptying out higher status to become humble. Another revisionary ratio is daemonization, the artist doesn’t take responsibility for his writing abilities and instead implies that a greater power is used beyond himself. Askesis occurs when an individual empty out all influences and aspire to achieve individuality. Lastly, apophrades, when an artist is no longer revealing influence from anyone including the precursor, separating himself from everyone, and prove himself that he’s better.
If I take one of my favorite bands, Autograf, they’ve always intended to write their own story by creating a strong connection between art in music while fans can incorporate their ideas and understand the message Autograf wants to tell the world: self-expression. Autograf encourages people to leave their mark or autograph on the world; meaning for people to stay true to themselves, to be uniquely you, and to have the courage to genuinely express who you are and what you’re passionate about whether its music, art, dance, and writing. Rather than Autograf being influenced by other artists, they’ve been inspired to create the impossible by being a part of both the music and art realm. They’ve taken inspiration from everywhere, looking back at acts like Stevie Wonder and Marvin Gaye because the ability to re-imagine and pull from music from the past was something that they’ve always intended to incorporate into their music. “We want to create music that fuses artists from all decades and cultivates something original with this inspiration” (CRSSD.com).
Taking the song, “Slow Burn”
When listening to the song, it gives off a whimsical and relaxing mood. The soothing way the guitar and piano are played throughout the song makes you imagine yourself beginning of a new journey to an unknown world. As an original song by Autograf, this song alone shows how they’ve expressed their individuality. In doing so, Autograf revealed one of Bloom’s revisionary ratios, askesis.
For this song, Stevie Wonder “Overjoyed”, Autograf has a subtle connection in terms of the relaxing mood and being in a happy state of mind where your imagination “runs wild”. Even though its a love song about being heartbroken, the instrumental emits a different meaning. Based on Bloom’s theory, clinamen is interpreted behind the song since Autograf wanted to “swerve” from the original idea or concept and instead went a different direction.
Relating to artist Stevie Wonder,
Autograf made a remix of his original song “Superstition” using modernized instruments like the groovy beat of a modern keyboard but the lyrics along with his voice is kept in the song. Tessera is distinguished in this song, hypothetically, Autograf kept his work the same but did it in a way that modern or trending in this decade.
Another song by Autograf “Dream”,
The band has a theme throughout their songs going against high beat music that you can dance to in a club and instead create a mood where people can just hang out and talk to friends at Starbucks. The title alone emits the meaning of the double-edged sword of dreaming, it’ll either take you to the bottom of the ocean or there’s a chance of escaping reality for good. Relating to Bloom’s theory, kenosis is shown because Autograf realizes for themselves how dreaming isn’t all high and mighty as they’ve thought. As an outcome, they’ve become humble.
Next song, “Planetary” by Menual & Pensees
Returning a whimsical and nostalgic feeling that you had felt long ago and have forgotten, that’s what I’ve thought of while listening to this song. But, referring back to “Slow Burn” the combination of playing a guitar and piano in synch is used to emit those thoughts. It’s as if the artist is not fully taking responsibility for their own ideas which relates to daemonization. The power of revealing originality and uniqueness is a task of self-actualization which the artist didn’t have in this song and discourages his own talent.
Lastly, “Walkin” by Autograf
This song and music video proved to be one of my favorite works that Autograf has done because their no longer revealing their inspirations, apophrades, and instead prove themselves of who they are and how they’ve grown. The song has a higher tempo than usual but still creating ‘chill vibes’ sticking to their concept. The video shows a collaboration between Autograf and famous artist Andy Warhol for a pop art party revealing both the band’s artistic and musical talents.
Throughout Harold Bloom’s book, “Anxiety of Influence”, I’ve learned how much I can relate to the concept of how a person can be influenced. As many people fail to realize, an individual is created by inspirations of who they want to become but want to create a better version. Sometimes, influence is not used correctly since it’ll make you question things that no one can answer other than yourself which makes it nerve-wracking.
Work Cited
Hanshaw, Corinne. “Leaving Your Mark: An Exclusive Interview with Autograf”. Chicago: EDM Chicago, 2016. Article.
Bloom, Harold. “Anxiety of Influence”. Published book, 1973. Print
Finley, Perry. “Autograf’s Inspiration to Create Unique Live Music”. That Drop.Com: Los Angeles, 2015. Article.
Crssd, Fngrs. “Autograf Interview”. FNGRS CRSSD: Chicago, 2015. Article
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