A theory of inspiration that I like to follow comes from the comedian Katt Williams. In one of his videos he said, something like, don't admire a celebrity for who they are as a person, but rather for their work and what they create. People will let you down, but that doesn't have to ruin how their work has inspired you. Since hearing this, I have adopted the thought because it allows you to be inspired by a person or group who may otherwise turn you away.
The first example of a group that inspires me is the band Hit The Lights. They weren't the group that got me into the music that I listen to, and I don't really listen to their style of music as much anymore. However, they really fueled my passion for music at a time when I had begun getting tired of if. Music was taking over my life, both in school and in my projects outside of it. At the age of 14, I was in too many groups and ensembles, and was beginning to burn out on the idea of music as a career. When I first started listening to this group the summer after my freshman year, it just wasn't as hard to get up and go to my different rehearsals and practices. I had new ideas of what I wanted to do, and something to strive for. It all started with this song.
It only took hearing this song once to know that I had found wouldn't leave my car CD player for a very long time. The contrast between the poppy sound of the music, and the dark, brutal lyrics was what really made the song stand out in my head. There was also a great contrast between it and everything else I had been listening to at the time in which when you heard poppy music, you got poppy lyrics. They also led to me listening to heavier music because of their affinity to heavier styles lyrically, and sometimes guitar-wise. The first band that I listened to that was in any way "heavier" than pop-punk was Senses Fail, and despite the major keys of Hit The Lights vs. the minor keys of Senses Fail, they were comparable in style of guitar, and lyrics of some of their songs. In 2007 the bands original singer left. I'm impressed with the way the band still held together and continued to make music, but this unfortunately serves as my first example for why Katt Williams was on to something as well.
The second person is a singer named Jonny Craig. He is my favorite vocalist in the type of rock music I listen to. He has a very high voice that has a lot of soul in it. He creates a lot of tension with very high notes that have a raspy quality. It gives the listener a pleasant feeling of uneasiness, and you can really feel the emotion of what the lyrics are meant to portray. The release comes when he goes down in his vocal range, and his voice becomes soft and soothing. Sometimes the tension begins with the introduction to the song, and the release doesn't come until it's conclusion. This is true of my favorite song he is the singer of, "The Past Should Stay Dead" by the band Emarosa.
The third group is the band Avenged Sevenfold. What inspires me about them is that they are an entire group of soloists, with no instrument taking a back seat. Each member is excellent at their respective instrument, and as a whole they make amazing music. Their music has a good variety of lyrical text and subtext. Songs such as "Warmness on the Soul" and "Shattered By Broken Dreams" are straightforward in describing the events the song portrays. They also have songs such as "Bat Country" and "Chapter Four" where the meaning of the song was left up to the listener. It is nice to have this variety because it gives you a good idea of what the band is about, while still giving you enough creative input to relate it to your own experiences.
If you like any of these examples, I encourage you to check out anything else by the artists and groups!
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