Studio work is where most artists spend most of their time, with some of the world’s greatest having established long standing work relationships and collaborations with other musicians in this industry.
Its importance cannot be understated, however there is no denying that this type of partnership does not come without its challenges, either.
Incredible collaborations
Collaborations come in all shapes and forms; two unlikely artists come together in the studio to produce some of the biggest hits ever released onto the charts.
Musicians of various genres often collaborate to produce memorable tracks; while in other instances they team up for charitable causes in order to spread a message and raise funds. Some of the greatest music collaborations in history include:
- Beyonce and Jay Z – while the pair are together as a music superpower, the pair have collaborated on tracks in the past, including “Crazy in Love”, which went on to be a huge hit. The duo both have different styles of music but they were able to share a studio in order to blend the two together to create the iconic hit.
- Run DMC and Aerosmith – another collaboration that may not have been expected to work as well as it did when it was first revealed is the one between Run DMC and Aerosmith. The two groups are extremely different in terms of the music that they record, but they managed to blend the two together to create “Walk This Way” and an iconic tune in the process, despite their alleged lack of respect for each other.
- Linkin Park and Jay Z – Linkin Park and Jay Z’s “Numb” track is widely considered one of the greatest tracks ever released to a new generation of music lovers, appealing to different subcultures while reaching all corners of the globe.
- David Bowie and Queen – Bowie and Queen were two of the biggest musical acts at one point, so their partnership and collaboration on “Under Pressure” is remarkable. Even as pressure mounted between them while creating this song together in studio, both made sure it worked to ensure success when released it for public release.
The studio is key for creative collaborations
It is impossible to deny the importance of a music studio, especially when looking to create an effective collaboration between two or more artists. The studio is the hub where artists are able to work together and create a track which they believe will be able to accomplish what they set out to do, whether this be for charitable reasons or just to simply record a potential No. 1.
While there are various templates and software programs available for producers on the internet who can create their own tracks and even royalty free music that can be used by anyone for whatever they need and want, there is a particular environment that a studio can provide.
Studio environments create an air of professionalism for artists working within them while offering access to all the high-tech equipment necessary to record a song. Producers are able to sit behind windows and alter any sounds that they hear, while artists can assess how their vocals blend in sync with one another.
Collaborating is far from easy
While it might seem like a winning idea to put together some of the best and biggest artists on a track, it is not a technique that always works in the way that is intended. There are some artists that are able to collaborate more effectively than others for a variety of different reasons.
As people, their characters or personalities may not always clash with the other individual. This could potentially cause issues, despite the fact that they may have the right sounds together. Moreover, ego can come into play as one artist may want a bigger role on a track and have the spotlight, which could potentially cause issues when it comes to recording.
Responsibility and professionalism can also be crucial aspects of a collab. Everyone participating needs to give their all – regardless of whether they are the lead or the main act – while they would both need to take on certain responsibilities, such as promoting the track and ultimately sharing the success or failure that may happen when it is released.