As I get older, I find myself worrying about the future of music and how much it has all changed, and nearly always for the worse. And then I see something like Hi Ren (by Welsh singer-songwriter Ren Gill) and I realise that I’m just getting older and ‘the kids’ will figure it out, and make something amazing from the new and exciting tools that are available to them these days.
Let me start by encouraging you to go find the Hi Ren video on YouTube and then sit down and give it some serious attention. I’ll warn you in advance that it is NOT for kids, or suitable for listening to on speakers at work. There is a lot of swearing and the subject matter is dark and powerful. It’s filmed in one take and it’s just Ren and his nylon-string guitar and a bucket of talent (and some beautifully crafted videography). The kid is a genius and it’s one of the most powerful performances I have ever seen. He’s not playing anything especially complicated, but what he plays is just perfect for the song, which is full of contradictory emotions and ragged around the edges.
It was a very welcome reminder of how powerful music can be, when so much of today's charting popular music is, frankly, bland drivel. But Ren is not making pop music and I don’t think it’ll make it onto BBC Radio 1 or 2 any time soon. And it shouldn’t be - that is not who it’s for. And he knows it. The kids will figure it out.
Esta historia es de la edición May 2024 de Guitar Techniques.
Comience su prueba gratuita de Magzter GOLD de 7 días para acceder a miles de historias premium seleccionadas y a más de 9,000 revistas y periódicos.
Ya eres suscriptor ? Conectar
Esta historia es de la edición May 2024 de Guitar Techniques.
Comience su prueba gratuita de Magzter GOLD de 7 días para acceder a miles de historias premium seleccionadas y a más de 9,000 revistas y periódicos.
Ya eres suscriptor? Conectar
THE MOODY BLUES
This month Stuart Ryan delves into the picking style of this British prog legend whose acoustic guitar has powered many a Moody Blues song.
WAYNE KRANTZ
This issue Nick Mellor provides an insight into this brilliant jazz stylist, focusing on his approach to improvising over static chords.
OPEN G TUNING
Open tunings are great fun and can help create exciting new ideas. Simon Barnard shows how to incorporate open G tuning into your playing.
RODRIGO GOUVEIA
Last month we featured Mateus Asato, and mentioned the importance of the neo-soul style in his playing. Here we turn to his fellow Brazilian, the master of neo-soul fusion.
MARK KNOPFLER
Our topic this month is a master craftsman as both guitar player and songwriter. His style is unique and his influence spreads far and wide.
U2
Martin Cooper checks out the chiming pedal delay tones of this stadium-filling band from Dublin, Ireland, and guitarist The Edge.
LUTHER ALLISON
It’s blues with a touch of soul this month, as David Gerrish explores the dynamic, expressive style of an often overlooked Chicago bluesman.
JOHANN KASPAR MERTZ Capriccio
This month Declan Zapala explores the music of Austria at the turn of the Romantic period with a fiery caprice to level up your fingers and unlock your inner virtuoso.
THE CROSSROADS Michael Landau
John Wheatcroft explores the playing of a session ace _ and blazing blues-rock maestro who graces the top-flight m band of singer-songwriting legend, James Taylor.
VIDEO MASTERCLASS Troy Redfern
This month GT welcomes this slide guitar virtuoso. If you've been wanting to take your slide playing to the next level then this is one's for you. With Jon Bishop.
