Genealogy Tree by Xavier Hall

Me

1032699_2_2 — 2024-02-05 06:32:42 UTC

Radiohead

1032699_2_2 — 2024-02-05 06:33:04 UTC

The most interesting thing about Radiohead I love is the ability to go from song to song without getting old or boring. Each track of theirs stands out with its own distinct dynamic range, tone colour, and structure, offering a captivating musical journey with every listen. Radiohead stands out to me as one of the most adaptable bands, continually evolving their sound and style with each album, from rock to jazz to electronic influences.

R.E.M

1032699_2_2 — 2024-02-05 06:36:22 UTC

R.E.M. served as the catalyst for Radiohead's style of songwriting, as Thom Yorke was clearly inspired by R.E.M frontman Michael Stipe's strong focus on lyricism and story-telling. Radiohead carried on with R.E.M's legacy through their colourful use of lyrics, often sounding like poetry, writing about stories or feelings.

In a statement from Thom Yorke, he says this about Michael Stipe; "Michael Stipe from R.E.M. is a genius. A master when it comes to conveying impressions. His lyrics are like a car ride along a street full of traffic signs and billboards. A neon-coloured trip, total cinema in your head, and endlessly inspiring. I assume that there is wisdom in all of his lines."

Jeff Buckley

1032699_2_2 — 2024-02-08 01:01:56 UTC

The most obvious connection between Buckley and Radiohead is their passionate use of the voice to convey emotion into their music.

In an interview with Vox, Radiohead bassist said, “When we were recording ‘Fake Plastic Trees’, we went to see Jeff Buckley play at The Garage. Then we went back to the studio and tried an acoustic version of ‘Fake Plastic Trees’. Thom sat down and played it in three takes, then burst into tears afterwards. And that’s what we used for the record.” (Dalton, 1997)

Clearly, Buckley's soulful vocal delivery and profound lyrics resonated deeply with the band, inspiring them to delve into similar emotions within their own music.

Talking Heads

1032699_2_2 — 2024-02-08 01:02:21 UTC

The most obvious connection between Talking Heads and Radiohead is the fact that Radiohead got their name from one of their songs. However, the deeper connection is through their experimentalism and avant-garde approach to creating music, a fact that Radiohead have used as a symbol of inspiration. Despite having a different sound, Radiohead used Talking Heads' new wave/post-punk aesthetic as the foundation of their own. (Ferrier, 2024)(Page, 2023)

Whilst on BBC's Desert Island Discs, Thom Yorke said of the Talking Heads 1980 album, 'Remain In Light', "I’d literally never heard anything like it.” “Talking Heads did something with a studio that had never been done before. And even at a young age, I could see that.” (BBC, 2017)

Radiohead would go on to make albums using techniques such as sampling, electronic manipulation and unorthodox recording methods, something that correlates with the work of Talking Heads

John Mayer

1032699_2_2 — 2024-02-08 01:20:31 UTC

My attraction towards John Mayer's music comes from the fact that, while he is most often credited as a singer-songwriter, his most notable distinction comes from his ability as a guitar player. As he blends the two of these attributes, he writes songs that can be simultaneously catchy and soulful, using a myriad of influences ranging from early blues, to 80's and modern pop.

Jimi Henderix

1032699_2_2 — 2024-02-08 03:36:26 UTC

Hendrix may be the most cited influential musician of all time, with his music and his unique sound pioneering the way the the guitar is played. One notable example was his use fretting notes with his thumb, allowing him to play far more 'Hendrix-style' licks and chord voicings. This is a technique that appears in many of Mayers songs, including 'Who Did You Think I Was. Hendrix also pioneered the use of high gain amps and feedback, as well as studio effects. Mayer uses Hendrix's sound to colour his own. Not to mention, Mayer has covered Henderix numerous times, both live and in studio.

Stevie Ray Vaughn

1032699_2_2 — 2024-02-08 03:44:15 UTC

Vaughn is by far Mayer's most influential artist, going as far as to hire Vaughn's guitar technician to replicate his sound. (Ze, 2019).

Mayer sought to emulate Vaughn through the tone of both his voice and guitar, as well as using Vaughn's style of guitar playing; from string bending to shuffles and double stops. This can all be heard everytime Mayer picks up an instrument.

Eric Clapton

1032699_2_2 — 2024-02-08 03:59:16 UTC

Clapton is considered the original 'guitar hero' for most people, helping inspire artists from the 60's to the modern era, including Mayer. After all, nobody will write 'CLAPTON IS GOD' because you were an average player. Alongside Hendrix, Clapton also used guitar pedals and effects in his songs, particularly during guitar solos, using wah pedals to give more soul throughout. In an interview with Guitar World, Mayer said, "I always wished that I could have a song that was on Eric Clapton’s Journeyman album,” he said. “I loved him so much that I’m not afraid to go, ‘I just want to feel what that’s like.”