Awhile ago, I was YouTube surfing when I stumbled upon a video that really caught me off guard, jaw-dropping off guard. No, it wasn’t anything horrible, just a college kid from Sarasota singing. But what was amazing about the seemingly simple video was his voice -- he could manipulate it so well and so fast. Truly raw talent.
So, I watched all of his videos which are majorly filmed in the sound room at the Ringling College Art and Design, where 22 year-old Nick Pitera attends for animation no less. They’re simple videos, just one angle, the backdrop of the sound room and Pitera serenading the camera.
Technology is what’s getting his voice out there and other’s as well, but also what’s destroying pure talent and replacing it with digital manipulations. There’s no denying that many of today’s popular acts have undergone the technological scalpel.
It seems, to me, the best way to see if a band can really hold up to what’s on its record is to see them live…or a recorded live performance. Some artists, however, still find ways to cheat their fans and essentially themselves, think the Ashley Simpson debacle of ’04. Since that fateful day, things just haven’t been the same for Simpson, leading me to believe that live performances can truly weed out the talent from the bullshit.
Obviously most bands don’t employ the same tactics Simpson does and it’s hard to compare acts like Against Me! to pop prima donnas, but when it comes to the digital world, the lines between harmful and helpful blur greatly.
Honestly though, what can be done? Does cheating in the real world transcribe to cheating in the music industry? You can call it digital enhancement, call it whatever you want, but breast augmentation is just another term for boob job, and we all know you’re fake.
Back to Pitera, the counter tenor can sing duets solo, imitate the vocal likes of Judy Garland along with Alicia Keys, and despite his sometimes laughable facial expressions, will prove himself. Just watch.
