Folk Music

Folk music includes both traditional music and 20th century music which has evolved and developed into the folk music which can be recognized today. The term 'folk' came about in the 19th century but the style of music is in fact hundreds of years old. An often association  is traditional music from unknown artists. Starting in the mid-20th century folk music was given a new formula, which is often known as contemporary folk music or revival folk music, in order to portray a difference between earlier forms. This revelation of folk music includes various genres and fusions of other music, such as folk rock, folk metal and electric folk. Although, revival folk music is generally different and distinct from traditional folk music, they still have a variety of similar traits which include the same name and same performers and performance locations as traditional folk music. The traditional idea of folk expanded from folklore, which was created by William Thoms in 1846 and referred directly to the idea of ' suspicious and customs applied to those of an uncultured class'.  Within folk music the song itself  which is often a short tune with an instrumental piece, with repetitive sequences, that is played a frequent number of times. Binary forms are also essential of AABB and is extremely common in folk music. On occasions, in some folk music tunes are strung together in medleys or sets.

The conventions and codes often referred to the use of instruments which are often a variety and vast range of instruments, including the items such as acoustic guitars, Banjos, violins, pianos and even electric guitars depending on the cross-convergence of genres; like Folk rock, which an electric guitar would be more associated to. The video itself however displays the singer or the whole band, often in close up shots or long shots. The close up shots and the use of the artist distinguish where exactly the music is being produced from, as well as, showing the sheer expression of the artist. Plus, the depth put into the song. Increasing the intensity of the song and the connection between the audience and the artist, bringing the audience closer to the artist and drawing upon personal experiences.Feeling a clear unity between the artist and the audience. The use of the long shots in the video however establishes and captures  the scenery, grasping the setting, in order to understand the song or the feeling that the song produces. In folk music it is also easily to establish that it's traditional in all senses, ranging from the materials used in the clothing, the setting and the use of lighting. Folk music focuses heavily and solely on the natural environment, especially elements and items which are already and freely available in nature. This also consists of the location too, often being in open or abandoned settings, which can be secluded from society and neutral in every aspect, but primarily colour. The video itself also portrays a easily distinguishable narrative linking to the lyrics of the song, expanding the depth and emotion of the song, creating a greater linked chain between the audience and the artist. Therefore, making the audience able to relate to the artists situation of the song. The lighting in folk music videos is usually ambient or warm lighting, but depending on the cross-convergence into other genres the lighting can be artificial, creating intensity in the video and amplifying the essence of the lyrics. However, the video itself can also consist of vintage filters or drained colour to assist the organic, pure and wholesome approach of Folk music.

Bob Dylan-

Bob Dylan is an American Singer-songwriter, artist and Writer, he has been an influential music and culture icon for more than five decades. Many of Dylan's songs contained of a variety of subjects including politics, philosophy, social society and literacy ideas and aspects. He began to break the boundaries of music, by addressing such controversial topics. Dylan was inspired by many key figures, mainly performances by Little Richard, as well as, the songwriting of Woody Guthrie, Robert Johnson and Hank Williams. Dylan as an artist has grasp and adapted many musical genres over the expatiation of his career. As an artist he has explored a mass range of genres from Folk, Blues, Country, Gospel, Rock'n'Roll, rockabilly, even Scottish and Irish Folk music; Even embracing and exploring Jazz music. The instruments in which he uses is a keyboard, guitar and harmonica. He as an artist has toured from the 1980's with a host of key line-up artists, in what is considered to be a never ending tour. Over the years he has gained a variety of achievements but his most greatest quality is defiantly his song-writing. Dylan has sold over 100 million records, making him one of the best selling artists of all time. He has received a collection of awards including Eleven Grammy Awards, a Golden Globe Award and a Academy Award. He is world-wide respected artist gaining his name in the Rock and Roll hall of fame, Minnesota Music Hall of Fame, Nashville songwriters Hall of Fame and songwriters Hall of Fame. In 2008, he was awarded a Special Honour by Pulitzer prize jury for his profound contribution to popular music and American Culture. In May 2012, he was also awarded a presidential medal of freedom From President Barack Obama.    

The traditional forms of folk music videos are not the modern idea associated with Folk videos, they often were only the live performances of the artist or the band, which would become their music video. This is due to the fact that Folk was something that  people wanted to hear and can create a visual representation of a video on their own accord. During the time of Bob Dylan it was very unlikely that the audience had a means to actually view a fancy video, with televisions being a new idea on the scene and radio being the main source for hearing music, videos were not needed as people couldn't view the videos. In contrast, many artists at this time also didn't gain huge profits from their music as vinyls were the predominate source to hear music and  the era of cassettes also begun, but were sold for low prices or at high price, that people couldn't actually afford. Therefore, less money was gained by the artist. Due to the idea that the artist didn't have huge expenses, they didn't in fact have the money to create luxurious and lavish video's for the public to view. It would create unnecessary costs for something that the artist can't in fact afford and something that the public couldn't view due to the high costs of the new technology, the television. On the first television there were only 3 channels and the real music surrounded program was Top of the Pops, incorporating live performances by the artist; meaning also no video was needed if live performances were visible to the audience. To conclude, music videos were not needed in this era due to the limit of technology, but as technology and artists progressed they needed to find new and inventive ways to remain the attention of the audience, as well as, amplify the image of the artist, Music videos became the means to achieve this. 

Joni Mitchell-

Mitchell is a Canadian singer-songwriter and painter. Mitchell's work is highly respected by critics, including the likes of the rolling stones who called her 'one of the greatest songwriters ever'. Her lyrics are known best for their personal relation to feeling of romantic longing, confusion and joy. Drawing conclusions on personal experiences. Mitchell first begun singing in small nightclubs and busking on the streets. In 1965 she moved to the United States and begun touring, eventually settling in California with songs like 'Big Yellow Taxi' and 'Woodstock'  which helped mould and create the well-known artist that she is. Later on in her career, Mitchell changed record labels and begun to move into the Jazz style of music, in which she released her best-selling LP, including radio hits like 'Help me' and 'Free man in Paris'. Throughout her career her genre category changed, she experimented with a variety of genres. These genres include Jazz, R'n'B, Rock and Roll and non-western beats. As time and age went on she began to also explore electronic music. However, throughout these music phases she remained to use her guitar which was a distinctive trait for her as the guitar was often over-tuned. In her career she has gained 9 Grammy Awards for various elements including Best Folk performance, Album of the year and Best album notes. Recently, however Mitchell has become less active in music due to a variety of health problems, including a brain aneurysm, leaving her needing rehabilitation in terms of walking, but she still remained to paint throughout the process. Overall, it's clear to conclude she is and will remain a true musical legend with her legacy to remain to live on.

Female icons in Folk music were very rare as many of them were solo male artists or male duets, even male folk bands were quite unique at this period of time. However, Mitchell became the key break in female Folk artists, at this period of time woman were still looked down upon as house wife's who are created to be in the kitchens, looking after their husband's and children, putting their dreams last. Meaning, woman were pushed aside in music and frowned upon. But, when women's rights came into place more women were less repressed from their dreams and had the rights to do as they please, meaning more female artists came forward in music. Women who dreamed of being a singer also put their dreams aside because they wanted a family, fearing they would not be able to juggle being a mother and also a female singer. The pay gap also played a huge role in music as women would earn much less than male singers, meaning their sole love for music would have to be enough instead of relying on music as an income, expressing that the female artist would need another job just to survive and less time spent on music, creating less success of the the female artist. At this period of time more sexualisation on women came into play, as female artists into the late 1960's and 70's were expected to follow the fashion trends of twiggy and other icons, with the likes of short skirt. Many women disagreed with this and refused, dropping their music career and dropping music altogether, or distributing their own music, which was less like to make success due to their limits of marketing as that's want was expected from the music company that the artist was signed too. As well as, once word got around that the artist dropped from the label, a automatic stigma came that the artist must not be very good, so people switched off from that artist. In conclusion, even though women's rights had progressed society was still slow in understanding that woman are equal to man and the pay gap put female artist's off music. Fashion and models also played a part as the image of the artist began to count due to rise in those purchasing television and being able to see the artist. Overall, females were penalized due the sex they were given in contraception.    

Mumford and Sons-

'Mumford and Sons' are a band in which combined in 2007, in London. The band consists of 4 members all having their own musical qualities, factors and contributions to the band, in forms of having many skills. The members; Marcus Mumford who is the main singer of the band, he can also play instruments including acoustic and electric guitar alongside being able to play the drums. Ben Lovett however is key to band, being able to play the keyboard, piano and synthesizer. Winston Marshall in contrast plays the electric guitar and banjo and Ted Dwane being able to play the bass guitar and double bass. They also all contribute on the vocals, demonstrating a multi-talented band who display a true instinct for folk music. The genres of music in which they are categorized to are: folk rock, alternative rock and folk. In there music career so far they have produced and published 3 studio albums:  Sigh No More (2009),  Babel (2012) and Wilder Mind (2015). They have as a band also released two live albums which are; Live at Shepherds Bush Empire (2011) and  The Road To Red Rocks (2012). Throughout the extent of their career they have also gained a number of music awards and nominations, With Sigh No More gaining the band a Brit Award  for Best British Album in 2011 and Six Grammy Award nominations. The rise of the status of the band in the US appeared through a live performance on the 2011 Grammy Ceremony with Bob Dylan  and The Avett Brothers. For their second studio album the band retrieved Eight Grammy nominations and the Grammy Award for Album of the Year. Along with winning a Brit Award for Best British Group in 2013. 

Within the band 'Mumford and Sons' they are very stereotypically Folk, in terms of the lighting in which is visible, as it has a haze to the overall construct of the video. Producing a saturated effect, increasing the idea of folk being a traditional means of music, enhancing the old-fashioned idea associated with folk. The lighting is also very much artificial, with the opening scene demonstrating two dominate light bulbs, which are evenly distributed across the screen, taking the eye of the audience across the whole screen, drawing their attention instantly. The two light bulbs keep the image simplistic, something very common with folk traditions. Often only focusing on the song and the artist, this way it remains within folk traditions of solely and specifically focusing on the quality of the music being heard. The intensity of the light assists to focus on the artists and the quality of the music that they are producing. The light in aspects of the video even casts shadows upon the artists, creating a contrast between light and dark, strengthening the depth in the video, as well as, the depth to the meaning of the song. This darkness produces silhouettes, forming shells of the artists and as if they have lost parts of themselves, showing through the lyrics that they have in fact inflicted pain on someone else but not recognizing the mistake until that person has left. Demonstrating a clear link between the lyrics of the song and the use of darkness to display the emptiness felt from the mistakes in which they have made. However, the use of acoustic instruments such as guitars, drums and banjos; with the instruments and lighting harmonizing, gently creating a vintage design and look within the band. Heavily and distinctly indicating that they are a folk related band. The use of costume within the video, uses very traditional fabrics indicating the use of natural materials and fabrics used incorporating the likes of tweed, woolen fabrics, cotton and leather. Portraying a very grounded, earthy and natural approach, commonly associated to those of folk genre. The fitting of the clothes on the artists are generally loose with dull colours due to the natural colour of the used materiel. The clothing is not skin tight clothing often associated with R'n'B or Pop music. In this video it portrays instrumental parts with sole focus on the instruments, demonstrating the power and force put into the playing of the instruments, showing their passion for music, as well as, making the band authentic to folk and the audience. The fact that the band are unshaven, adds to their image of folk and makes them seem in one with their body and the natural hair produced by their body. The representation of age in this video represents the band to be much before their time, as the clothing shows the fact that they are shown to much more older than they really are, to link to the traditional forms of folk music. The age can also be linked to sexuality as they are portrayed as very masculine with the beards and fall headed hair. However, one the members actually subverts the stereotypes with wearing a very floral suit jacket, giving him a feminine quality, creating a link to a female audience. The fact that they are manly with beards means they target males who want to be them and females who want to be with them. The use of the lead singer wearing an earring, adds an elegance to him, giving him a less harsh look  and making him more approachable to the audience. The use of an earring also keeps them fresh and youth related by having shiny jewellery, as well as, portraying an element of glamour to a rough, imaged band, creating an contrast and balance between new and old.

Representation of light

Representation of setting

Lead singer

Other band members

Instrumental representation

Band representation

Ben Howard-

Ben is an English Singer-songwriter, he actually self-released his Debut Games in the Dark (2008) with two more EPs; These Waters ( 2009) and Old Pine (2010). Ben is now signed to Island and Communion. However, his major debut studio album came in 2011, Everyday Kingdom followed by Ben Howard live (2011) and The Burgh Island (2012). In 2013, Ben gained as Brit Award for Best British Male Solo artist. He also performed at Glastonbury in 2013. He released his second studio album, I Forget Where We Were, in October 2014. As a Child, he was raised by musical parents who exposed him to early folk artists for the 1960's to 1970's including John Martyn, Van Morrison, Simon and Garfunkel and Joni Mitchell. Which were to become his strong influences in the Folk music. Howard begun to write songs at the age of Eleven. He is also a man very talented with the guitar, but as kid he also played other instruments. After attending King Edward VI community collage and Torquay  Boys' Grammer school he went on to study journalism at the University Collage Falmouth. However, six month before he was due to complete his course he decided he preferred music and pursued it as a career. Furthermore, his reputation grew Around Devon and Cornwall, spreading across the UK. After a month, of sold-out tour dates in the Europe and the UK, he was eventually offered a contract to Island records. The genres of music that Ben is related heavily to is Folk and Folk rock music.

Ben pushes the boundaries of modern Folk music, using extreme prolonged shots in his music videos which show simplicity of the characters and the elegance of the lyrics take centre stage in the whole creation. His music videos show and demonstrate a different side to Folk music, rather than focusing on him as a singer, in the music video he has created a narrative. A narrative of two people spending time at the beach, but it's slightly has a more indie vibe through the idea that the characters are portrayed as emotionless. The use of having a female and male in the video shows equality which differs from the fact of Folk music in the era of Joni Mitchell, showing a change in women and there purpose in Folk music, stepping up from the 1960's folk ideology. The shots of this video also differ from the 'Mumford and Sons', as many of the shots in this video are long and display a lengthy period, showing the variety in which Folk video's can produce. This video also subverts the conventions in having long timed shots, but these long timed shots also create cross-convergence into another genre of indie. To conclude, Ben is another example of modern Folk which explores the modern feel of Folk rather than the traditions of Folk music, adventuring into the modern age of music. 

10 Year Prediction-

In 10 years,  I feel that female's will rise onto the folk scene, as well as, male Folk bands and Folk will increase in reputation, becoming a genre that is more and more of what society will listen too, I feel that folk is a innocent genre in remaining child friendly through the lack of sexualized images portrayed. But, I feel that folk has become much more equal in men and woman, as equality has continued to grow into the fact that there is less of a pay gap, even though it still remains. People are learning to follow their true passions, rather than being tied down with marriage and children and even being able to balance a life between the both. Overall, I feel Folk will remain with it's true roots of tradition, and keeping the tradition of Folk alive. I feel though that there will be a sub-convergence genre that falls under the influence such as  R'n'B or Rap which will show a sexual nature, in the innocence genre of folk.