Documenti di Didattica
Documenti di Professioni
Documenti di Cultura
Contents
Page Number
Introduction
Literature survey
Magazines
Online Interviews/Sources
Albums
Youtube Videos
Indicative Reading
Methodology
Resources
Timeline/Gantt Chart
10
Bibliography
11
Introduction
The aim of this final project is to produce and engineer a UK Garage style
album, in a live studio with musicians/strictly audio instruments. The main
reason for choosing this concept relies on the want to challenge my existing
abilities in a live studio environment, along with the endeavour of improving
my creative and technical skills.
Since embarking on my initial access to music course up until this point, it has
been a vast learning curve in all aspects of production. I feel that this project
is a prime opportunity to integrate everything I have learnt so far and produce
a collective of tracks which can be showcased.
The background behind the concept of this project lies within the musical
works of UK Garage producer MJ Cole. Mj Cole who's real name is Matt
Coleman, is a 'classically trained pianist and oboe player' 1 and his approach
to producing music avoids the sampling of pre-recorded sounds, but instead
involves playing everything live where possible. 2 When listening to MJ Cole's
music against other producers within the same genre, his has always stood
out in a unique way and with the saturation of VSTs in modern day production
it feels necessary to create this album with a different process.
Online Interviews/Sources
It has felt necessary to delve into current music industry acts, who are fusing
live instrumentation into House orientated percussion (4/4 rhythmic MIDI
drums). The main difference with this act in comparison to the ones who are
taking electronic dance music and replacing the elements with live
instruments (Goldie), is that Clean Bandit are originally trained in classical
music and are now incorporating digital instruments into their material. They
also explain the creative process behind their chart hit 'Rather Be', which is
very interesting, as the main string hook started off as a programmed synth
line on a laptop keyboard. They also mention that strings in their songs are
used to add texture.
Reading this interview has been a great reference point for this final project,
as MJ Cole details his approach to making music via means of live
instrumentation. This has also been inspiring in that MJ Cole likes 'to play
music and manipulate sound'3 and this is an element of production process
that I can implement into this album. Using various types of processing such
as reversing samples, time stretching will prove interesting in the creation of
this work.
3
3 Ibid
The track entitled 'Rather Be' written by Clean Bandit, was also co-written by
Englishman Jimmy Napes. Jimmy also co-wrote UK Dance/Garage act
Disclosure's album 'Settle'. His musical idol is MJ Cole and this is a very
strong link between the inspirations for this project. Why is this though?
Further research needs to be undertaken to ascertain why.
This Youtube video breaks down certain aspects/processes within the studios
at City College East, which can sometimes seem overwhelming. Using the
patch-bay, inserts and sends for pre-amps/reverbs etc, will be implemented in
this project and this has served well in familiarising myself with these
techniques.
Albums
Listening to this album has been insightful, not only in the listening of tracks,
but also to view the artwork of the album. The artwork plays on the 'quality
goods' idea of Garage music, for example a bottle of champagne, but a little
twist is added with oil spilling out from it. 4 This is a good starting point to begin
considering how this project will be formed.
Youtube Videos
Clean Bandit - Rather Be (feat. Jess Glynne) - Later... with Jools Holland
- BBC Two
This live performance is a great example of a current act who are able to fuse
dance music with live instrumentation. What is insightful about this video is
the fact that the drummer is playing an electronic triggered drum kit (not
acoustic), hes only playing kick, hats with an infrequent snare. This style of
playing to create a more complex drum shufe, could be incorporated into
my project to make the recordings more interesting/convincing. Drums could
be layered by drummer, as opposed to doing this in a post production
fashion (make the recordings more human).
5
4 Radio 1, Interview with MJ Cole by Radio 1 in 2000 | Interviews
<http://www.garagemusic.co.uk/mjcole2.html> [accessed 2 December 2014].
MJ Cole Crazy Love (Live 2000 BBC Later with Jools Holland)
This live performance is a great reference point for the start of my drum
recording process. A concern for this project is to transform very skippy
(programmed) drum patterns into ones which are convincing and complex,
when played on a live drum kit. It will be very beneficial for the drummer of
this final project to see and more importantly hear.
Indicative Reading
This book will be very useful in researching the use of microphones and
placement for many types of instrument, as well as EQ settings and choosing
outboard equipment.
This book is a bit dated, but nevertheless it will provide useful information on
dynamics, noise reduction, signal processing and microphone placement
techniques.
Given that this project will push me in the area of music theory, it will be in my
interest to delve deeper into the realm of music theory, learning more about
chord progressions. This project will aim to be contain a higher level of
musicality in comparison to the songs I usually produce and I will therefore
need to be prepared for it.
Methodology
The research methodology used for the development and creation of this
project will mainly consist of internet sources, for example interviews and
Youtube videos that will inform me of how to conduct my practices.
Microphone techniques will be researched by reading books/previous lecture
notes and to achieve the best results from the microphones, I will use the
website 'http://microphone-data.com'. The LRC at City College will also be
used to find any research in books, that will enable the contextualisation of
this project.
Finding musicians for this project will be involved in the research methodology
and I currently have a decent collective of musicians on board. To search for
other instrumentalists I will be using Facebook groups/forums such as
https://www.facebook.com/groups/138335529652538/?fref=ts, to search and
contact other talented musical students who may be open to collaborating. I
am also contacting other musicians who I know in the area of Brighton, to see
if they are interested in working together.
Given that this project will be centred around the production of a UK Garage
album, it will consist of approximately eight tracks. This limitation should allow
the album to showcase a variety of tracks, whilst providing a limitation that is
achievable within the time frame for completion and submission.
I will also be creating the artwork for this album, which will be created in
'Photoshop' software. I have limited experience working within this design
program, but through doing this myself I will be able to expand my skills. After
carrying out initial research for the artwork of this project, it may be suitable to
collaborate with another student (photographic/graphic design).
Resources
Timeline/Schedule of Work
10
Bibliography
Meet The Singer Whos Secretly Behind The UKs American Pop Takeover,
2014 <http://www.thefader.com/2014/10/29/jimmy-napes
MJ Cole - Crazy Love (Live 2000 BBC Later with Jools Holland)
<https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QG-rAxNrwSI [accessed 2
December 2015]
MJ Cole, Sincere (Talkin Loud, 2000)
Owsinski Bobby, The Recording Engineers Handbook, (Boston: ArtistPro
Publishing, 2005)
Roni Size BBC 1997 (1 of 2), 2011 <https://www.youtube.com/watch?
v=cxgNiLBtcUI&feature=youtube_gdata_player> [accessed 2
December 2014]
Roni Size Brown Paper Bag Live, 1997 <https://www.youtube.com/watch?
v=BRjqKOUKVLE&feature=youtube_gdata_player> [accessed 10
December 2014]
Success - Wookie, 2013 <https://www.youtube.com/watch?
v=okfFbBBTEX0&feature=youtube_gdata_player> [accessed 2
December 2014]
The David Ricard Big Band: A Big Band on a Budget! Sound On Sound
Magazine (2015)
Theo Parrish - Footwork (A1), 2014 <https://www.youtube.com/watch?
v=riLvXufN8_c&feature=youtube_gdata_player> [accessed 9 December
2014]
THEO PARRISH (Slices Feature) 2014, 2014
<https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8YK3pPpvxc&feature=youtube_gdata_player> [accessed 9 December 2014]