“Harmonizing In opposition to the Odds”: An Essay by Bantug

Indie Music

“Harmonizing In opposition to the Odds”: An Essay by Bantug

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July 26, 2023

“Harmonizing In opposition to the Odds”: An Essay by Bantug

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All year long, Atwood Journal invitations artists to take part in a collection of essays reflecting on id, music, tradition, inclusion, and extra.

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Right now, Atlanta singer/songwriter and producer Bantug shares her essay, “Harmonizing In opposition to the Odds,” exploring her journey as a non-male music producer, navigating the challenges of a male-dominated business whereas emphasizing the significance of staying true to oneself and embracing distinctive contributions.

Style will not be a phrase that involves thoughts when describing a Bantug tune. Her charming manufacturing coupled with enchanting lyrics take acquainted themes of affection, heartbreak, and tenderness to new sonic heights. Born and raised in Atlanta, Bantug’s affinity for music began in her childhood guitar classes together with her dad, and by center faculty, she had developed a eager curiosity in songwriting and music manufacturing after downloading GarageBand on her first laptop. Just some years later, she was taking part in native espresso store gigs in highschool earlier than heading off to school.

After dropping out of Georgia State, Bantug moved to Nashville in 2012, the place she would spend a few of her most youth within the music business, crafting what would finally change into Bantug three years later in 2015. She continued to hone her abilities, establishing herself as each a singer songwriter and a producer working alongside a slew of indie acts. Collaborations embody manufacturing for Hint, Bel, world broad internet, Ellie Schmidly, and Lake Girlfriend. Bantug has opened for teams like Males I Belief, HalfNoise, and Soccer Mommy – and in 2022 performed the primary stage for Nashville Pleasure.

There’s an infectious high quality to Bantug’s music that enables it to carry everlasting residence within the hearts of those that pay attention and develop alongside her (together with Sheryl Crow!) In 2021, she launched ’12 Songs About Loneliness,’ a completely self-produced album which took 4 years to finish. ’12 Songs’ served as a portal into the brand new period of Bantug – one through which her skill to construct worlds inside her music had change into extra obvious. Bantug moved to LA the next 12 months, and in late 2022 launched ‘my jazz jams,’ a dizzying, contemplative 4 monitor EP that fuses ethereal harmonies with a extra improvisational manufacturing approach. Her model new single, “Altar,” from her forthcoming EP, is out now.

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“HARMONIZING AGAINST THE ODDS ”

by Bantug

I’ve been obsessive about music ever since I used to be a toddler.

Rising up, I discovered this child journal my mother saved and he or she wrote that I used to be such a musical child as a result of I used to be all the time watching some musical (West Facet Story perpetually). Earlier than I began making music, there was this sense in my physique I couldn’t put phrases to after I would hear one thing I appreciated. The primary tune that made it click on for me was “Daydream Believer” by The Monkees. I discovered myself so related to it and I’d all the time seize some form of stick-like object to fake that I used to be the composer.

In center faculty, my dad and mom obtained me the primary Mac Mini, and I dove straight into GarageBand. I used to be producing music for years earlier than I knew that I used to be doing so. I believed singing in a DAW was simply songwriting, however it took a buddy who blended my second EP Purple to inform me that I used to be the producer on it. All these years I wasn’t giving myself the credit score I deserved and it needed to take a buddy to level out what I used to be doing. You realize while you come to a realization and that opens up so many different doorways? That’s what occurred. I felt so empowered to discover and take manufacturing to a different stage.

Earlier than I used to be producing for myself, I had labored with some guys, however sadly a number of the experiences weren’t nice. This was all after I was 17-20 years outdated, and also you’re spending plenty of alone time with these males and both some drama comes up, or they wish to take issues previous knowledgeable stage. I’d stroll away both feeling like I had wasted money and time, or the songs weren’t sounding how I had envisioned. In order that’s after I determined that I actually need to do issues for myself and discover my very own sound.

All of my music that’s out has been produced by me, with a couple of songs with some co-producers. So many instances folks have requested who performed what on my songs or who produced it, and (for the exception of hiring some gamers) and I’d say that is all my work. And I discovered that folks typically get “too impressed” by that. Whereas you see plenty of male artists and producers and everybody form of assumes that they did all of the work. It’s a troublesome feeling to take a seat with.

I feel perspective is unquestionably altering throughout the final couple years on non-male producers. There are such a lot of on the market, however the actual query is are artists giving them the identical belief as male producers? I don’t suppose that’s a black and white reply, however for as many non-male producers I do know of, not plenty of us are getting the identical quantity of labor. I attempt to not let these frustrations take my consideration, however that’s one thing that may be on my thoughts. (Nevertheless, I don’t wish to decrease that we’re in a time the place girls are extra concerned in locations that we weren’t earlier than.)

Positive, it’s exhausting, the gripes of being in an business that’s male dominated, however I additionally prefer to reframe that and have a look at it as a bonus.

I’ve been holding my head down and specializing in who I’m and what I convey to the desk, and that’s what’s going to make an expertise with me lots totally different than most males on the market. And I hope that each one non-male and feminine producers can give attention to their very own objective and targets with out getting discouraged. We convey rather more than good manufacturing to the desk, and that’s what I’ll proceed to maintain doing. – Bantug

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