Modulate This! - Electronic & Experimental Music Tech, Technique, & People

Sonic State Behind the Scenes Video - Howard Jones, Robbie Bronnimann, and Laura Clapp On Tour in Australia

I found this series of vides via pedx1ng’s post on the Ableton Live forum, who found it on Matrixsynth. These videos by Sonic State cover Howard Jone's tour in Australia. I've re-blogged them here with annotation.

I've always liked Howard Jones's music and the fact that he's not all about nostalgia but is still writing and experimenting with technology in Live performance.

Also, my first exposure to Ableton Live was at a Howard Jones show back in the day of Ableton 3.0. Like now, he was using it to play scenes on the fly so he wasn’t locked into one arrangement for the whole song. After the show, I ran home and did some research and then bought Ableton Live 3.0 right away. Thanks Howard and Robbie and Ableton for changing the way I compose :^).

Video 1: In this first installment, Howard Jones has Robbie Bronnimmann leave a blizzard strewn UK and head for Australia and meet up with Laura Clapp in Adelaide Australia. He also talks about he now uses the Roland Fantom G8 to simplify his rig and work in a graphical way. He also discusses the polyphony and feel of the Fantom.

Video 2: In this video Howard Jones and Robbie Bronnimmann are in Perth Australia and explain the how they use Ableton Live, and bus powered devices (Motu audio interface, Novation Remote SL, Novation Nocturn) on their tour in Australia. Robbie describes who he uses Live to trigger sequences on-the-fly, do real-time FX processing on backing tracks and live vocals using built-in Ableton Live plugins.

Video 3: Howard Jones has Robbie Bronnimmann, Laura Clapp at sound check in Brisbane. A little taste of "Always Asking Questions". Laura discusses how shes uses TC-Helicon Voice Live and a Novation ReMote SL Compact to create harmonies and vocal effects on the fly. The also explains that he's his own warm-up band as he's doing a 30 minute acoustic set prior to the electronic trio taking the stage.

Links:

• Howard Jones Web Site
• Robbie Bronnimmann MySpace Page
• Laura Clap Official Web Site| Laura Clap's Blog

Mark Mosher
www.markmoshermusic.com
www.modulatethis.com
www.twitter.com/markmosher

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One of the best parts about working on Modulate This is that I get to meet a lot of interesting artists, sound designers, producers and developers. So, I thought I'd do a post with links to sites where you can follow/add me. Check out the links below.

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http://twitter.com/markmosher. In addition to blogging here, I've taken to micro-blogging on twitter. It's less formal than on Modulate This and I post more often as I wander about the internet and such. It's more of a blend of music along with my my other interests in internet marketing strategy (day job), visual planning and productivity, life around Boulder/Denver.

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I try not and go on too much about my music projects in this blog and stick to posts that are educational and informational for electronic musicians and producers. However, if you want to connect with me as a musician use the links below.

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Kraftwerk Heading to Australia and Singapore

Hey all you electronica fans in Australia and Singapore. Kraftwerk, the godfathers of electronic music are heading your way. I've saw this show in Denver a few months back and it was fantastic. Checkout the Kraftwerk MySpace page (very cool design by the way) for more info and video from the recent Coachella 2008 show. Here are is a photo album from Coachella.

Nov 22 2008 8:30P SIDNEY MYER MUSIC BOWL MELBOURNE

Nov 23 2008 8:30P THE ESPLANADE PERTH

Nov 26 2008 8:00P TOWN HALL THE EDGE Auckland

Nov 29 2008 8:30P BRISBANE TURF CLUB BRISBANE

Nov 30 2008 8:30P HORDERN PAVILION, ROYAL HALL SYDNEY

Dec 3 2008 8:00P THE ESPLANADE THEATRE SINGAPORE

Mark Mosher
www.modulatethis.com

"Making Music with Ableton Live" with Laura Escudé @ PCAudioLabs Workshop Series in Van Nuys, CA on Setpember 28th

If you live or will be in California near Van Nuys and want to learn more Ableton Live here is your chance. Ableton User Group-LA Director and Ableton Certified Trainer Laura Escudé is giving a workshop on September 28th called "Making Music with Ableton Live".

Course Description:
In this one-day workshop, get ready to learn Ableton Live in depth and take your compositions and performances to a higher level. Students will learn the linear and non-linear aspects of Live, explore editing audio and MIDI, acquire workflow shortcuts, work with software instruments, and trigger sounds and effects for live performance. The student will learn much of the software’s features and capabilities, as well as how to create original compositions in their preferred skill set.

Click the poster to see a larger view. PCAudioLabs is hosting other workshops you might find of interest as well.

- Laura Escudé: Web site | MySpace
- Learn more about this and other PCAudoLabs workshops

Yazoo (Yaz) Goes On Tour in US for Some Unfinished Business

I've always been a huge fan of Vince Clarke's synth and compositional work with Depeche Mode, Yazoo, and Erasure. I was Googling around and discoverd that Yazoo (known as Yaz in the US) are touring.

Note that this is not some sort of "Nostalgia" tour. Many of these songs were never played out live. This is more like unfinished business for Vince Clarke & Alison Moyet. As you can see from the live performance video above, they have a contemporary light show and Vince Clarke is laptop based and running Logic and various soft-synths.

Native Instruments recently posted an interview with Vince Clarke on their site here. In the interview he talks more about his stage setup.

For even more on the tour and some cool behind the scenes videos on why Yahoo decided to tour checkout the official Yazoo site  http://www.yazooinfo.com/.

If you are looking for Yazoo mp3s, checkout the Amazon widget to the above.

In closing,  I'll leave you with video from Yazoo's huge hit from the"Only You".

 

Mark Mosher
www.modulatethis.com
www.markmoshermusic.com

Modulate This! Interview with Ramin Sakurai of the Supreme Beings of Leisure

The Supreme Beings of Leisure are an electronic/trip-hop band based out of LA, California. According to their entry on Wikipedia “The release of the first Supreme Beings of Leisure album sold over 250,000 units with very little promotional touring. Instead, SBL opted to use the internet to market and promote the album, being the first band to ever do a "Virtual Internet Tour", and among the very first to use Flash animation for their videos. The "Supreme Beings of Leisure" peaked at 47 on the Billboard Heatseekers chart according to allmusic.com, and is in the top 100 of the Trip-Hop Dance & DJ music category according to Amazon.com sales ranking.”

The band is currently a DUO made up of original members Geri Soriano-Lightwood (Singer/Songwriter), Ramin Sakurai (Multi-Instrumentalist, Programmer).  In addition to working with SBL, Ramin produces, remixes, and composes music for artists, television and movies.  After a  5 year extended break SBL released its third major studio album, 11i, on February 12, 2008 with Rykodisc Records.

I recently had an opportunity to ask Ramin a series of questions about the making of 11i, and on the affect of technology on his process for making music.

Enjoy the interview and visit www.myspace.com/supremebeingsofleisure for more info on the band.

Mark Mosher
www.modulatethis.com
www.markmoshermusic.com

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Mark Mosher: What was the primary music production software you used in the creation of 11i?
Ramin Sakurai:  That would've been Protools versions 6-7. Some of the songs started off in other programs like Live or Reason but they always ends up in Protools.

Mark Mosher: Can you give us brief overview of your studio rig?
Ramin Sakurai: The main studio rig consists of a Protools HD3 with two 192 i/o's and a G5 dual 2.5ghz. I run a 3.1ghz PC for GIgastudio. I use quite a bit of outboard gear as well. I believe a record can be recorded and mixed entirely in the box but you need a little help with some analog gear. I use Avalon, multiple API, NEVE-type preamps along with various compressors.

Mark Mosher:  How has the advancement of music production software and ability to produce from a laptop changed your workflow for this album?

Nine Inch Nails (NIN): GHOSTS I-IV Now Available

Nine Inch Nails has released Ghosts I - IV, a collection of  36 track instrumental Tracks. The collection contains "almost two hours of new music composed and recorded over a ten week period last fall".

NIN is using an interesting pricing model:

• A free download of Ghosts I (the first 9 tracks)
• $5 download of Ghosts I - IV (all 36 tracks)
• $10 2xCD set
• $75 Deluxe Edition Package are available.

All files appear to be DRM free!

According to the FAQ page for the Ghosts I-IV, the songs are licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution Non-Commercial Share Alike License. There is a teaser on this page about an "exciting partnership experience".

Go to nin.com for more information.

Mark Mosher
www.modulatethis.com
www.markmoshermusic.com

Kanye West plays 'Stronger' at the Grammys with Surprise Appearance by Daft Punk Playing JazzMutant Lemurs

(Daft Punk's official post-Grammy press photo from http://www.brooklynvegan.com/archives/2008/02/daft_punk_serio.html)

I just finished watching the 50th Annual Grammy awards. One of the highlights for me was Kanye West's performance of 'Stronger' with special guest appearance by Daft Punk. According to First for Music News, "This was the French duo's first-ever television appearance in their 14-year history."

What were those fantastic touch-screen controllers they were using? Well they were JazzMutant Lemur's and they were being used to trigger samples and synths. If you want to learn more about how Daft Punk uses Ableton Live to maniluplate samples and produce music checkout this interview with Thomas Bangalter.

Learn more about the Lemur at  http://www.jazzmutant.com/, but be prepared for sticker shock as the Lemur goes for about $3,300 US.

Mark Mosher
www.modulatethis.com
www.markmoshermusic.com

Preview of New Supreme Beings of Leisure Album 11i

For you Electro-lounge lover's out there (I include myself in that group), the new Supreme Beings of Leisure album 11i hits stores on February 12th, 2008.

You can preview five tracks from the album on Supreme Beings of Leisure MySpace page. You can preview all the tracks and pre-order on Amazon (click the album cover below).

Track Listing: This World Mirror  Swallow    Good    Pieces Angelhead - featuring Lili Hayden Ride Oneness Everywhere Lay Me Down

The MySpace page also contains notes from Ramin Sakurai and Geri Soriano-Lightwood (the guiding forces behind the band) about the new tracks and offers some insight into their fivew year break from recording.

More Links:

• http://www.myspace.com/supremebeingsofleisure
• Want them to play in your area - "Demand it!" with eventful

Mark Mosher
www.modulatethis.com
www.markmoshermusic.com

US MySpace Music Tour Underway with Hello Goodbye, Say Anything, Young Live , and Polysics

Saw that this tour was under way. Those of us in Colorado can catch it at the Parmount on Oct. 20th. More info here - http://www.myspace.com/myspacemusictour.

The Poloysics - all the way from Japan - are in the lineup. Below are some videos of the Polysics. Check out their MySpace page here http://www.myspace.com/polysics.