From the smallest local weekend pub band right through to the biggest stadium artists, cover songs are a huge part of the music industry. They generate income for songwriters, publishers and the performing artists. But what actually goes into making a great cover version? Plenty of covers fall flat - lacking spirit, feel, technical ability, or missing the point of the song entirely.
To sharpen their craft, aspiring musicians and performers learn and copy the songs and performances of their idols. But why perform, re-record and re-release someone else’s copyrighted material in the first place? A few common reasons:
- To pay tribute to a song or artist that influenced you
- To bring a well-loved song to a new audience
- To put a fresh arrangement on a familiar piece
- To entertain a live audience who want to hear songs they already know
- To make a living as a working band
All of these uses require the original composer’s (or their publisher’s) permission, granted via a legally binding contract.
So what makes a cover version actually work? The answer is subjective, but here’s our take.
A cover needs something new and interesting - possibly unusual, possibly creative - to make it worth hearing. Freshness and originality draw an audience in. The ability to portray a well-known song in a different light, with honesty and a bit of humility, is what attracts people to it.
We take real pleasure in breathing new life into songs we love. We work hard to reproduce them in a way that does them justice, and to bring fresh arrangements to tunes people already know. Hopefully that comes across when you hear them.
What’s your favourite cover version - or your least favourite? And why?
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