How Low? En estetisk undersökning av dynamikens roll i musiken av Nirvana

Sammanfattning: Nirvana is one of the biggest bands to come out of the 1990s rock scene, and one of their most well-known characteristics is their sound and style. With the combination of punk, pop and metal, they established themselves as a powerhouse in the Seattle grunge scene. One of the more interesting characteristics of their sound is their use of dynamics and transitions between quiet and loud. During this thesis the author will be examining Nirvanas use of dynamics and the role of the dynamics in three of their songs. The way this conclusion will be reached is through an aesthetic investigation, existing interviews of the band and producers whenever it is possible the authors analysis and investigation of the music, the use of contrast of dynamics and the roles that the dynamics have in their music. The analysis reveals that Nirvanas use of dynamics is nuanced and depends on the song. In one song it could be used as a way to push the song from a calm and quiet verse to a danceable rhythm, a way to strengthen the emotional shift between good and bad and just as a way to really enhance the already negative emotion of a song by just making everything louder and more desperate. It also revealed the certain roles the different members had in making and selling the dynamic shift. It shows that the role the dynamics in their songs take was based on the songs themselves and was an everchanging aspect of their music.