Working With a Music Director Can Impact The Quality of Your Music; You No Reason so?

During your recording sessions consider having a music director around. It makes a whole lot of difference.

Strictly for the purpose of this article, I’m going to borrow a certain job title and use it contextually. Trust me, before you wade your way to the end of this beautifully-written article, you would have been on the same page with me.

If you have never experienced an artist record music before, I beg you to think twice before you undermine their craft. Think three times if you can. And for those of us who have an idea, we know that it is not child’s play. Recording music requires a lot of creativity, resilience, passion, energy, and the will of David when he fought Goliath. Making music can prove difficult. With practice and regular studio time it surely gets better, but there are days when the process is so tough that you don’t even know what direction to follow.

Walking to take the figurative stage is the music director. (This is where I do my trick). Music directors, according to the actual definition, are conductors who lead orchestras and musical groups during performances and recording sessions. For me, a music director is someone who serves as a guide to an artist during recording sessions and performances. Not much difference eh? Well, I can only speak for an artist since I’m not concerned with bands and groups.

E be like say I don dey get you. But You fit Explain Better?

How does a music director function in a typical setting where a Nigerian artist is recording? Let me explain and even illustrate with real life stories.

In a studio where a (Nigerian) musician is recording, he or she is likely to be accompanied by the producer, sound engineer, A&R, a couple of friends, depending on how comfortable (or not) the artist is with crowd. The music director is a role that is so flexible that anybody can assume it. You should note that when I mean anybody, I’m referring to those who have significant knowledge of music and are already working in the music industry.

The music director stays in the background as the instrumental plays. He observes as the artist or songwriter vibes to the beat and begins to create melodies. His ears are quick to pick up the sweetest melody but his mind is also in the race, thinking of what pattern the song should follow and how the instrumental should be ‘attacked’. Of course, all of this is not physical. It requires a level of genius only a few can lay claim to.

When the artist begins to record the vibe that is believed to sound best, the music director watches out for the pitch of the artist’s voice, the tone in which he is recording, and several other minute details. The artist can sometimes be too laid back when recording or is not recording with enough energy or is supposed to approach the beat with a particular kind of style and he’s instead doing something else, the music director calls the attention of the artist to any of these.

Typically, the music director ensures that the melody, rhythm, lyrics all sound coherent. If he’s a composer, he can suggest lyrics and vibe for the artist. In the studio, it is quite easy for an artist to lose direction and motivation for a song he or she is recording. The music director must put on his superhero costume and save the day. It is strongly advisable to have at least someone who can play this role in your team. That way, you can always avoid hiccups in recording sessions and make valuable use of your time.

Before I go ahead to illustrate, let me inform you, as I suspect that you must have already imagined, that some artists are themselves music directors. They have accumulated so much experience, in addition to a deep understanding of music that they have been blessed with. When they listen to an instrumental, they already know what exactly to do and how to go about it. Some of these artists can self-record music and produce some of the highest quality of music.

Asides being one of the greatest artists of his generation, I personally believe that Kanye West is a phenomenal music director. It is evident in his work as an artist as well as a label head. I have a strong feeling that Kanye, being a musical genius, gives pointers to artists signed to his label during recording sessions and serves as a guidance for them as they explore different musical territories. There’s also Mike Will (popularly known as Mike Will Made It), who was basically responsible for Rae Sremmurd’s SremmLife and SremmLife 2 and certainly has impacted prominent rappers like Gucci Mane, Future, and 2 Chainz during recording sessions. These geniuses show you the path to follow to achieve your full potential when in the studio.

In Nigeria, I can confidently speak for OJB. I was lucky to live with him a few months before his unfortunate demise. During my time with him, I learned enough to know that he has directed several recording sessions including that of the legendary TuBaba (for whom OJB produced his debut album Face 2 Face), Beenie Man, Paul Ik Dairo, Rugged Man, Yemi Alade, and many more. A few times, I watched him record music and he was flawless in his doings.

Another notable person that should be mentioned is Don Jazzy. We have all witnessed the man’s success as a producer and label head, churning out unforgettable songs, and making superstars out of artists like D’Banj, Wande Coal, Reekado Banks, Tiwa Savage amidst others. It takes a prestigious music director to achieve what Don Jazzy has. There are so many musicians who have hailed the maestro for his in-depth knowledge of music and have shared testimonies of how Jazzy has influenced them.

Being in a studio with Ojah B – I promise that you guys will be introduced to his genius soon – is part of my numerous experiences. He stays with the recording artist throughout the recording process, providing support when necessary and telling the artist the right way to go about things. He doesn’t stop pushing the artist to get the best out of him or her, even if he has to criticize to rile the artist up (this works wonders sometimes, you’ll be shocked).

Some other names that I’ve heard stories about are Spax - Oxlade, SDC, DRB can testify to this - and Fireboy DML. This is to let you know how paramount the role of a music director is. If you believe yourself to be capable of being one, regardless whether you are a singer, songwriter, producer, or sound engineer, go for it. The artists need you. The world needs you.