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December 26, 2006
Judge not, lest ye be judged
With the deadline for submissions for the Inland Empire Music Awards now passed, I am up to my ears in music to judge. And for those of you who submitted your work, the judging process should set your mind at ease.
As one of the four judges I was sent eight CDs with about 18 tracks on each disc. I was told by founder and producer Martin Brown to judge each track on a scale of 1 to 100 and to be consistent.
I was also told not to judge the tracks based on sound quality.
“It isn’t about how much money they spent,� Brown said. “It’s about the music.�
So far, the competition is stiff. I have not recognized any of the music as of yet, but everything is strong. The Inland Empire really gave it their all this year and now the judges have some decisions to make.
But as cliche as it may sound, all of the applicants are winners in my eyes. The fact that each band wrote their own music, perfected their instruments, came out with a CD and then submitted their work, shows true commitment to the craft.
Having spoken with many Inland Empire musicians over the past year I understand the difficulty of putting together a CD without actually having done so myself. It’s hard work and in many cases personalities clash, friends are lost and musicians find themselves going solo.
I have met few bands that have always been together. Most musicians have made their way through several bands before settling or throwing in the towel. But to submit to an award show like the IEMAs and possibly walk away with an award is opportunity for local musicians to have something to show for all of their hard work.
On Saturday, Jan. 6, I will be judging the live performance category at a show at the Vibe in Riverside. And once again I look forward to further exposure of the talents of the Inland Empire.
Posted by Darcie Flansburg at December 26, 2006 10:45 AM