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Interesting read, although I'm a little less disheartened than you are I believe. I think this post has a lot in common with the "do you still make ReMixes" thread of a while back, since it touches upon why you are an artist, and what you expect to get out of it. If you truly want a personal connection with your audience, then I understand the online world can be a little disheartening. I find that the best connections with the audience come from live shows. But, other personal connections I get is with peers, and that is MUCH easier online. Working together with others, getting feedback from judges at OCR, discussing exactly the things we are discussing now - those are valuable things only made possible through the possibilities of an online community and social media. Yes, social media (and/or internet 2.0/3.0) can bring out the worst in people and there is indeed so much content that it makes it hard to stand out. But I have YouTube videos, music, art and more that I frequently enjoy and keep coming back to and I am certainly not alone. Yes, it makes it hard for us to be noticed when there are so many others out there, but without it we wouldn't be noticed at all. I wouldn't be able to be an artist and to do the things I do without these technological developments. Furthermore, I think that we now live in a period where apps and social media rise just to get that personal connection with an artist as long as you are also an artist "offline". Especially here in the Netherlands (where you're also based I see) there are more and more initiatives to be able to meet personally with artists, see niche performances or art and to connect on a deeper level. So while I really recognize and understand the dark side of it all (and we've all had bad experiences), I also think it gives us possibilities that we didn't have before. It's up to us to determine why we do what we do and what we want to get out of it, and then decide on the ideal platform to pursue that. Because just randomly dropping something online (facebook/youtube/wherever) will indeed lead to just a consumerist connection. At least that's what I think of the issues you described P.S. I also have high regards for the "commercial" artists that are perhaps not always the best in their musical skills, but as entrepreneurs and business(wo)men, they have a lot of skills to be able to get where they are. If building a company or a brand is your passion, and you can combine that successfully with an art form, it takes a lot of determination and skills to be able to achieve success and I really respect that.

It's time for BadAss to return! David L. Puga and I return to direct BadAss: Paragons and Renegades (title may change). But this isn't your "regular" BadAss; this time the heroes get the spotlight! From the grittiest anti-heroes to the most determined heroes, it's time for the protagonists to show us what they've got! The album itself will have genre restrictions like previous BadAss albums, but with a twist: there's one 'Paragons' disc (mainly directed by me) and one 'Renegades' disc (mainly directed by David), each with a different genre. So let's see who wins while still being a BadAss doing it! The Paragon disc is about adventure, determination and courage. Think of the Chrono Trigger theme, "Flameheart"by Two Steps From Hell (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BQMpRWuT6hk), and the 'X-Training' theme from X-Men First Class (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BUCA6w0Zz-k) but it is certainly not limited by orchestral. Rock themes like the 80s/90s cartoons and shows (Biker Mice from Mars, Power Rangers or Airwolf) are also good examples and electronic music is certainly appreciated as well! Base line: getting you pumped up and ready for adventure! Make sure to send me an example of the vibe you're going for to check if it fits the album! The Renegade disc is more "regular" BadAss style, especially BadAss II. In other words, not the big epic or symphonic rock from BadAss 3 (which is perhaps better suited for the Paragon disc), but raw and gritty is the name of the game and rock and dark electronic music will be the go-to style here. We want to show the world that protagonists can be at least as BadAss as the bosses, so let their inner darkness out on this side of the album! For references (and awesome music), check out BadAss 2. Be sure to check in with David if you want to make a mix for this disc! More details will follow, but we're aiming for about 20 tracks (balanced between the discs) and we want to complete this in about a year (BadAss 3 took 14 months to be sent to eval, so let's see if we can do it in 12 this time around!). And suffice to say, only (anti-)hero themes are eligible this time around! Are you going to be part of the next BadAss album? Let's see if you've got what it takes! Directors: David L. Puga (The Joker) Pavos Audio Engineer: Stevo Bortz (Level99) Tracklist (18): Paragon (9): "The Hidden Ones (Assassin's Creed 2 & Origins - Ezio & Bayek)" by Pavos "Time Warrior (Chrono Trigger - Crono)" by Sam Dillard "Chariot of the Moon (Final Fantasy 4 - Cecil)" by Rebecca E Tripp "Revenge on the Terror From The Deep (Chrono Trigger - Magus)" by Audio Mocha & Pandora's Bread "Human After All (Sundered - Eshe)" by David L. Puga, XPRTNovice "Part of Me (Celeste - Madeline)" by HeyMagurany "Whip of Justice (Castlevania 4 - Simon Belmont)" by HoboKa, sykozealot "Apex Predator (Metroid Series - Samus)" by Chernabogue "Spirit of the Sword (Zelda Skyward Sword - Fi)" by McVaffe Renegade (9): "Devils Lament (DooM Series - Doom Slayer)" by Lashmush "Fire Cleanses All (Gargoyle's Quest - Firebrand)" by Mak Eightman "Blood is Everywhere (Blood - Caleb)" by Clem "Eternal Shadow (DMC5 - Nero)" by Steele "Bassbag (Duke Nukem 3D - Duke Nukem)" by bLiNd "Righteous Ragemaster Rocketship Rampage (ToeJam and Earl - Toejam and Earl)" by Garpocalypse, Willrock "The Butcher of Bavikin (Witcher 3 - Geralt)" by Gunderslam "City of Lost Things (Earthworm Jim - Earthworm Jim)" by Justin Lassen "And Hell Followed Him (Darksiders 2 - Death)" by David L. Puga, Mak Eightman

Very interesting concept this time around!