edseldopefan.org

Welcome back to our series Edsel Wins! We’re posting support and positivity for Edsel every day until his birthday! It’s my hope with this series, long term admirers and new ones too will celebrate all the reasons why it’s pretty damn awesome to be an Edsel fan. Today’s win focuses on what an incredibly talented musician he is. This is: the music of Edsel Dope.

Many fans of Dope note that their music is very underrated by the musical mainstream. Or, conversely, that they are pegged into one small box and that’s where they have remained. So let’s explore that idea today. Are you ready? I am too, so let’s jump right in!

A Diverse Talent

Sometimes when I mention Edsel, people say something along the lines of “Oh, isn’t he the Die MF Die guy?”. Yes, that would be him, and don’t get me wrong! I like that song, it’s awesome. But it is barely scratching the surface of an intriguing catalogue of music.

With the release of Group Therapy in 2003, Dope fans saw the tracks “Sing” and “Easier” show a more vulnerable and melodic side to the band. Though this was called a departure, I tend to think of it as just another side of a complex artist. Art isn’t linear: there’s always room to explore, evolve and show different sides of yourself. That’s what makes music interesting! Think of how boring music would be if everyone stayed in one narrow lane. Never deviating, never trying new things. How depressing.

Subsequent albums have also run a gamut in terms of tone and style, most notably with Blood Money Part Zer0. From the uncompromising and relentless No Respect, to the EDM tinged Dead World and Lovesong, to the brutal ferocity of Wide, it’s a record that shows how diverse Edsel’s talent really is. It does seem like he can do whatever style he puts his mind to, and show different sides of himself while still remaining authentic to his vision.

Edsel has never been hesitant to take his music in directions people wouldn’t expect. Not only are Dope’s musical releases proof of this, but Drama Club’s as well. Quite simply: Edsel plays the music he loves, and doesn’t worry about unnecessary stuff like labels or fitting into one specific style.

Let it be said, I am no professional reviewer. I’m simply a fan that appreciates when artists I love try new things. Edsel has been a massive inspiration to me creatively, as has his fearless approach to doing what he loves.

Edsel Wins Day Two: Done!

The music of Edsel Dope reflects an artist unafraid to experiment with his sound. And we vibe with that big time here at edseldopefan.org. Stay right with us as we count down Edsel Wins in the leadup to his birthday on the 21st!

In our continuing celebration of Edsel’s birthday month, I will be doing a short series every day until the 21st called Edsel Wins! Edsel Wins will celebrate everything we love about the amazing Edsel Dope every day until his birthday! You know we adore our versatile king here, but do you realize just how multi talented he actually is? As if being a rock icon isn’t enough, there are so many facets to his legendary career!

An Impressive Resume:

• Music Legend: Without a doubt, Edsel is best known for being the vocalist for the band Dope. With Dope, he has created seven studio albums and this alone would be enough to cement his place in music history. But he hasn’t stopped there. With Drama Club, he pivoted in an entirely different direction and conquered the EDM world. His music has been everywhere from the WWE, to original compositions for sports programs to appearing on movies and TV. You might have heard his work and not even realized it!
• Director: Music legend not enough for you? How about the fact that he also directs? Edsel has directed many of Dope’s videos, creating a cinematic style and vision that is almost instantly recognizable. He has also directed videos for Static-X, bringing his talents (and that of Ecco Studios) to the forefront. Everything that Edsel directs has his undeniable polish and attention to detail, making his work absolutely stunning to behold.
• Media Entrepreneur: All that, AND he’s owner of a media empire? Hell yeah! Edsel is COO and owner of Ecco Studios, a 3D/4D capture stage in Los Angeles. Their client list is a veritable who’s who of glittering names: industry superstars like Industrial Light and Magic, Epic Games (who developed Unreal Engine, by the way), Sony Interactive Entertainment and of course, EA. They’ve also worked with Skydance Media, an American film company known for one of my greatest cinematic Roman Empires, Annihilation. (So many questions and no answers to be found! Gah!) Anyway, I digress. Edsel has the sort of clientele in this business that would make basically any company green with envy. You don’t get that sort of pedigree without a lot of hard work and a LOT of talent.

Edsel Wins Day One: Done!

With that, we bring Day One of Edsel Wins to a close. I hope this has given you some insight into Edsel’s brilliant career and how incredibly diverse it is. Keep coming back every single day until the 21st for more Edsel Wins as we celebrate everything we love about Edsel!