Where Are U Now, Justin Bieber? What do you make of Justin Bieber? Is he the immature, over- Pentz) is a music producer and record executive based in LA. hyped pop sensation who can't dance, as his detractors claim? Or He has created dance beats for MIA, Usher, and others. "Where are you a Belieber and think he's a musical prodigy? Does some- Are U Now" began as a piano ballad collaboration in the spring thing like "Where Are U Now" make your decision easier? And of 2014 between Justin Bieber and Jason "Poo Bear" Boyd. Later where are you on EDM-is it misery or is it inspired? that summer, Skrillex and Diplo took an hour-and-a-half record- "Where Are U Now" is the result of collaboration between ing of it and synthesized the song we now know as "Where Are Bieber and Jack U-Skrillex and Diplo. Skrillex, born Sonny U Now" over a 4-month period. They reversed the order of verses Moore, is a music producer, singer, and songwriter. He is cred- in the Bieber/Poo Bear recording and added dance beats and new ited with popularizing the dubstep sound in EDM. Diplo (Wesley chords. They created a "dolphin," the music's most recognizable melody, and using electronic devices raised the pitch two octaves, distorted the sound, and added reverb. The song was released in February 2015 and received both critical acclaim and popularity-reaching the top 10 in eight countries as well as eighth on Billboard's Hot 100. It was selected as one of the top 10 songs of the year by a number of music critics. "Where Are U Now" belongs to the music genre called EDM. EDM, a youth music movement that fea- tures percussive electronic music played by DJs at raves, festivals, and upscale clubs. First popular in Europe, its emergence in the United States has been attributed to tivate W Madonna's 1998 breakout "Ray of Light." In EDM, the Go to Settings DJ typically creates a series of tracks by transitioningthing like "Where Are U Now" make your decision easier? And of 2014 between Justin Bieber and Jason "Poo Bear" Boyd. Later where are you on EDM-is it misery or is it inspired? that summer, Skrillex and Diplo took an hour-and-a-half record- "Where Are U Now" is the result of collaboration between ing of it and synthesized the song we now know as "Where Are Bieber and Jack U-Skrillex and Diplo. Skrillex, born Sonny U Now" over a 4-month period. They reversed the order of verses Moore, is a music producer, singer, and songwriter. He is cred- in the Bieber/Poo Bear recording and added dance beats and new ited with popularizing the dubstep sound in EDM. Diplo (Wesley chords. They created a "dolphin," the music's most recognizable melody, and using electronic devices raised the pitch two octaves, distorted the sound, and added reverb. The song was released in February 2015 and received both critical acclaim and popularity-reaching the top 10 in eight countries as well as eighth on Billboard's Hot 100. It was selected as one of the top 10 songs of the year by a number of music critics. "Where Are U Now" belongs to the music genre called EDM. EDM, a youth music movement that fea- tures percussive electronic music played by DJs at raves. festivals, and upscale clubs. First popular in Europe, its emergence in the United States has been attributed to Madonna's 1998 breakout "Ray of Light." In EDM, the DJ typically creates a series of tracks by transitioning from one to the other and emphasizes bass, tempo shifts, or "drops." EDM has been called crass, vulgar, and com- mercial, often at the same time. But its emphasis is to create something to dance to, not overly analyze. EDM is particularly popular as a live event or gig. DJs play EDM for 4 hours or more at raves that attract much bigger crowds than traditional musical perfor- Activate Wind FIGURE 6-22 mances. Early DJs such as Deadmau5, David Guetta, Go to Settings toCHAPTER 6 . USING IS TO IMPROVE PROCESSES 155 and Skrillex have become celebrities, and their performances at To see and hear about "Where Are U Now," including inter- festivals like Electric Daisy Carnival and Ultra Music Festival views with Bieber, Skrillex, and Diplo, watch the NY Times video can attract more than 250,000 attendees over a multiday period. at www.nytimes.com/video/arts/music/100000003872410/bieber- Currently popular EDM DJs include Dimitri Vegas & Like Mike, diplo-and-skrillex-make-a-hit.html. Hardwell, and Martin Garrix. Popular artists and songwriters include Diplo, Above and Beyond, Flume, and Calvin Harris. 6-10. Draw a simple EDM music creation process with five to IS puts the E in EDM. Increasingly sophisticated software eight activities. allows producers and creators to make new and unique sounds 6-11. Figure 6-15 lists several ways that process management that they can weave into music. Skrillex and Diplo in "Where Are principles can improve processes. Can any of these U Now" took Bieber's original slow ballad recording and first principles be used to improve this process of creating manipulated the vocals, added natural harmonies, mixed in a drum music? backbeat with unique drops, and experimented with all that before 6-12. Is music creation a structured or dynamic process? deciding on a final version. IS also plays an essential role in the Why? How is IS to be used for that type of process (see expression of the music. DJs use technology to perform the music Chapter 2)? during performances and mix the sounds in artistic ways. Without 6-13. What are the objectives and KPIs of the EDM music IS there would be no EDM. creation process? One way to view this new music is to say it is an IS that sup- 6-14. IS can improve a process in five ways. How can each of ports the process of creating and performing EDM. The creation those five ways be used to improve the music creation of EDM begins with several iterations of composition and record- process for EDM? ing. Then these recordings are electronically mixed, altered, and 6-15. How can each of the five ways be used to improve the recombined in many attempts. The final product is performed in music performance process for EDM? front of key people including marketers and producers and then 6-16. In Chapter 1, four employability skills were discussed. altered again, if necessary, before it is eventually released. Several Which of these skills are being used by Skrillex and processes-creating and performing-and one IS. Duplo? Explain your answer. Activate Go to Setting