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I listen to Depeche Mode. (Yamaoka, 2002)
Depeche Mode is an electronic music group known for their dark and introspective themes, similar to Akira Yamaoka's compositions.
They explore genres including synth-pop, new wave, and alternative rock. Their music features synthesizers, drum machines, and melodic basslines. Depeche Mode's sound is characterized by synthetic drums, atmospheric textures, and distinctive baritone vocals. In terms of production techniques, they experiment with sampling, sequencing, and layering to create their unique sound. In comparison, Yamaoka's music incorporates synthesizers and atmospheric soundscapes akin to Depeche Mode.

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It is true that I have been influenced by Angelo Badalamenti. (Yamaoka, 2002)

Angelo Badalamenti, a renowned composer known for his collaborations with director David Lynch, particularly for the TV series Twin Peaks.
One notable composition is "Falling," Twin Peaks' haunting theme song. "Falling" showcases Badalamenti's signature style, combining dreamy melodies with dark undertones. The composition features lush orchestration, with prominent use of synthesizers, electric guitar, and ethereal vocals by aspects that all feature throughout Akira Yamaoka's compositions.
The misty small-town aura of Twin Peaks is reflected in Silent Hill both musically and visually, affirming Badalamenti's influence on Yamaoka.

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Trent Reznor from NIN is my main inspiration in music style. (Yamaoka, 2012)
The cold and rusty feeling made only possible by industrial music was very fitting to the theme of Silent Hill.
(Yamaoka, 2002)

Nine Inch Nails (NIN), a rock band formed by Trent Reznor, are known for their industrial rock sound.
Often exploring themes of angst, despair, and introspection, Yamaoka's compositions mirror this.
NIN's instrumentation includes guitars, synthesizers, drums, and samplers, creating a dark ambience.
In contrast, Yamaoka's music leans towards Ambient and Industrial, utilizing eerie soundscapes, distorted guitars, and haunting melodies.

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The Beatles and Elliott Smith, while separated by decades, share a common thread in their music. Both artists, rooted in the genre of rock, have a penchant for non-conventional vocals and intricate guitar-playing. Smith's music, often characterized by its melancholic tone and introspective lyrics, mirrors the emotional depth found in many Beatles songs. His use of multi-tracking, a technique popularized by The Beatles, is evident in his layered vocal harmonies and complex guitar arrangements. Furthermore, Smith's music often employs musical devices such as unusual chord progressions and key changes, reminiscent of The Beatles' innovative songwriting. Smith often covered their songs and cited them as a major influence in his music.

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Bob Dylan's folk-rock music, characterized by his distinctive, raspy vocals and profound, poetic lyrics, has significantly influenced Elliott Smith's indie folk style. Both artists share a penchant for non-conventional vocals, with Dylan's raw, emotive voice mirrored in Smith's soft, whispery tone. Their guitar-playing techniques also exhibit similarities, with both utilizing fingerpicking styles that lend a unique texture to their music. Thematically, Dylan's introspective and socially conscious lyrics find echoes in Smith's deeply personal and often melancholic songs. Smith's music "bears the unmistakable imprint of Dylan's songwriting style"

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Nick Drake and Elliott Smith, both pivotal figures in the folk genre, share a profound intimacy in their music, characterized by non-conventional vocals and intricate guitar-playing. Drake's music, with its melancholic undertones and complex fingerpicking style, seems to have significantly influenced Smith's own approach. Smith's vocals, like Drake's, are soft and introspective, often layered to create a haunting effect. Their guitar work is similarly intricate, with Smith's multi-tracked acoustics echoing Drake's unique tunings. Both artists explore themes of loneliness, despair, and introspection in their lyrics, but it's clear that Drake's earlier work laid a foundation for Smith's poignant storytelling.

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Wayne is more the rapper side of me, the stuntin' side.. Flexin diamonds and all that. (MONTREALITY 2019)
Lil Wayne has impacted YNW Melly stylistically.
Wayne was the first rapper to tattoo his face and wear dyed dreadlocks inspiring countless rappers after him.
He birthed the Young Money militia. He signed two G.O.A.T.s, Drake and Nicki Minaj. (kemethigh, 2022)
Defining modern Rap through auto-tuned vocals, 808 basslines and trap drums alongside collaborator T-Pain, Wayne pioneered in his usage of experimental production.
Wayne's addressing of social themes in his music detailing street life are aligned with the themes in Melly's work.

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Michael Jackson's influence on YNW Melly is undeniable.
I like everything about Michael Jackson... with Michael Jackson it's my creativity side. My music videos..(MONTREALITY, 2019)
Jackson's use of technology in his music videos was revolutionary, setting new standards for visual storytelling.
This sentiment is reflected by Melly:
My music videos this year gonna change the game. (MONTREALITY, 2019)
Additionally, “Waiting on You” borrows the familiar keyboard riff from “Human Nature”.
Jackson's iconic move, the Moonwalk, was performed by YNW Melly in a video posted to Twitter.
(YNW Melly Samples Michael Jackson Hit on “Waiting on You,” 2019)

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I looked up to Chris Brown off the rip. I started studying Chris Brown, you know? Watching his every move. (Montreality, 2019)
Chris Brown is an R&B icon, an undeniable influence in Melly's artistry, with auto-tune, synthesizers, and guitar/piano melodies in their music.
Chris's music features similar themes of love and heartbreak.
Chris adopted the Moonwalk from Michael Jackson.
Melly is seen using it in the clip for his 2019 single "Gang".
Chris Brown is an artist Melly grew up listening to (Holmes, 2018) and sampled on “Slang That Iron”.

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Akira Yamaoka is a renowned Japanese composer who has influenced my artistry with the soundtracks he composed for the Silent Hill franchise, an obsession of mine.
I am drawn to the haunting ambience he creates through his use of synthesizers and the feelings of dread and nostalgia his work invokes.
I like his dark piano melodies but am most interested in his emotional acoustic guitar riffs and electric guitar melodies. which blend effortlessly into the aesthetic of Silent Hill.
His music emotively explores themes of isolation and fear which I relate to.

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Elliott Smith is an artist who has inspired my guitar playing and songwriting.
Smith's music is a blend of indie and lo-fi.
Smith's use of delay and 4-track recording in his production create haunting, beautiful harmonies: On his solo albums, ... precisely double tracked guitars and vocals ache with guilt and longing. (Elliott Smith: On the Joy of Recording, 1997)
Smith's lyrics explored themes like mental health and alienation, resonating with me emotionally.
Smith's vocal style is characterized by his whispery, spiderweb-thin delivery (Elliott Smith - Huey, 2023).
Akin to YNW Melly, Smith hails from a small town which I relate to.

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YNW Melly is a Rap/R&B Artist who has influenced me to develop my vocal techniques and incorporate storytelling into my lyricism.
His music blends Trap and R&B.
Melly uses auto-tune on his vocals and samples R&B Artists: "Slang That Iron" flips Chris Brown’s slow-rolling breakup anthem “Say Goodbye” into a self-protection ballad. (Dandridge-Lemco, 2018)
Musically, production involves 808 basslines, bright production and soulful piano melodies.
Melly uses varying vocal techniques: mellow delivery, bright singing, and aggressive rapping.
He also employs repetition in his choruses.
Social themes revolve around violence, relationships, and personal struggles, creating uncut realistic ballads about death and the places where it festers. (Holmes, 2018)