Mixing/mastering has stunted musical originality

For those that like songwriting/record/producing, the mixing/mastering phase has become so rigid and seemingly for audiophiles. Forget writing and producing a unique piece of music. All tracks must have every possible frequency. Don’t forget this needs to sound good on Beats Headphones and each music service has a separate limiter algorithm. You need to sound like Tame Impala or it’s not that good.

There’s a ton of stuff pre-2015 that is just not mixed/mastered well that is still unique and full of power & life. 240p live tracks from 80s/90s, with wonky bass or no bass at all, on YouTube still have so much originality; soul and beauty in their sound! Find any demo track from pre-2000s artist - they sure don’t sound like they belong on a state of the art speaker; but boy are they moving and one of a kind.

Is it better to have a sterile track with no soul, or a crude track with honesty and merit?

Mixing/Mastering should be an embraced creative tool not to fit within a box - but to further make your sound unique!