In the age of MySpace and YouTube, a multi-million dollar industry is sinking into the ground as
record labels can no longer state that they are the only path to fame. These days, it is all about self-commodification, and if you think you’re the next Rihanna then the test of your ability doesn’t come in the form of a producer stamping YES or NO on your career potential. The test of your ability is measured in Youtube video hits, and for one musician from Los Angeles, California, the numbers don’t lie. His video "Hip Hop Violin with Inka One" has already received over three million hits, and he has been rated #8 as the ‘Most Linked Video’ on the web.
Paul Dateh’s sound is totally unique, mixing his classical violin background with his college Jazz voice training and a love for hip hop into something that no one can really describe other than "the next Miri Ben-Ari". I became a Paul Dateh fan after hearing a few of his songs online, as I’m always fascinated by those who can take two seemingly opposite genres of music and fuse them together. I guess after watching those Youtube videos a few times, his face and his music stayed in my mind.
Paul’s love of hip-hop has certainly shaped his musical style. Drawing from influences like A Tribe Called Quest, Atmosphere, and Blueprint – the latter being a group he just came back from a European tour with - he’s hoping to collaborate with more DJs and artists in the years to come. For now, he’s busy working on his first album, which is amazing considering the publicity he has gotten without having made a record yet. And in this case, Paul is continuing to do things his way.
With DJ Johnny Juice behind the mixing and producer Oren Yoel spearheading one of the tracks, there is certainly an anticipation buzz among Paul’s 6,000 YouTube subscribers and even beyond the online world. With free publicity like this, Paul isn’t necessarily looking for, or needing, a record label backing.
Paul’s a firm believer in making his music available to anyone who wants to access it. He stated in an interview with Trace Magazine "If you really like my music, but for some reason you can’t pay for it, I’m not going to punish you for that. But if you want to buy a CD, I’m not going to punish you either! Buy my CD and take it home!" The inner workings of the music industry are shifting at lightning speed, so there is no telling when record labels, along with cassette tapes and CDs, might become a thing of the past. All I know is, if something is genuinely good, like Paul Dateh’s fierce violin skill and songwriting ability, people are going to love it regardless of whether it’s on a Columbia Records vinyl or downloadable on Fairtilizer. In any case, if you want to check out Paul’s stuff, hit up Pauldateh.com for upcoming shows and more info on his new EP releas
