Pt.
IsraTrance Senior Member
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Posted : Mar 5, 2011 23:22:21
Hei ::
I was just wondering and would like to read some thoughts from you people about the notion of compiling albums. How do go about doing it? I know i.e. that a3k from this board was supposed to compile an album a while back, don't know if it ever became a reality though. Got some words to share with us?
So.
How and why did you get offered the job?
How do you approach the challenge?
How do you search and gather tracks?
What’s the usual process, how do you like to work towards your goal?
Is there usually a theme in mind and do you choose tracks accordingly?
How do you know that the tracks fit in the universal puzzle of cosmic play, you feel it or?¨
How much acid do you drop while creating the intricate story that you’d like to unfold and present to fellow trippers?
Whats the preassure like, there has to be some!
I’m sure there are more important questions I’m forgetting to ask here so please help me fill in the blanks on how you operate to create the best coherent psychedelic journey possible.
Elad
Tsabeat/Sattel Battle
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Posted : Mar 5, 2011 23:37
Quote:
On 2011-03-05 23:22:21, psytones wrote:
How and why did you get offered the job?
- i offered it to myself , cause i feel like it.
How do you approach the challenge?
-with a smile
How do you search and gather tracks?
- ask as many friends i can to send the best tunes they have..
What’s the usual process, how do you like to work towards your goal?
-listen to many demos and pick the best
Is there usually a theme in mind and do you choose tracks accordingly?
-the theme became obvious around the 3rd or 4th track.. sound and genre wise..
How do you know that the tracks fit in the universal puzzle of cosmic play, you feel it or?¨
-only by feeling and taste
How much acid do you drop while creating the intricate story that you’d like to unfold and present to fellow trippers?
-0
Whats the preassure like, there has to be some!
-from the artists you not take after listen to their demo..
I’m sure there are more important questions I’m forgetting to ask here so please help me fill in the blanks on how you operate to create the best coherent psychedelic journey possible.
how long it takes?
-took me 2 years to end up with what i think is near perfect playlist
Pt.
IsraTrance Senior Member
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Posted : Mar 5, 2011 23:55
^Thanks and nice!
i understand that the theme or 'feel' of the compilations becomes obvious after the 3rd or 4th track. But I would presume that some compile with an agenda of sorts intact. Whether it's a mythological figure, world situation, part of galaxy, a smell, colour, weather condition, an element etc ect ect.
I feel that there are too many compilations that often just have a name&theme but the tracks doesn’t Really represent that theme. If you know what I mean. Then again it’s not always obvious to the listener, maybe there is a very strong connection to the theme chosen/album name/art but the listener, like me aren’t able to catch it .. . u knuw?
2 years is a respectable long time to gather the perfect playlist to a brilliant compilation. It’s maybe a bit too long? Btw. To which compilation are you referring?
Elad
Tsabeat/Sattel Battle
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Posted : Mar 6, 2011 04:11
yeah that can be nice to make theme thing.. i remember cd with only tracks with cartoon samples and one made only by females etc.
i didnt had it in mind , just a good flow dancefloor psy , the name and cover chose by graphic artist.
its the v/a on my signature btw 'galactic synthetic' for free download
2 years was long but i had no budget so that made it real hard.. when labels could afford 300eu per track it was way easier to get better music.. but lucky i got some good friends that also make great music and believe in sharing
Outolintu
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Posted : Mar 6, 2011 10:52
Quote:
On 2011-03-05 23:55, psytones wrote:
I would presume that some compile with an agenda of sorts intact. Whether it's a mythological figure, world situation, part of galaxy, a smell, colour, weather condition, an element etc ect ect.
I feel that there are too many compilations that often just have a name&theme but the tracks doesn’t Really represent that theme.
yeah, and you know know why?
imo it's because the compiler has first this grand idea and tries to force a compilation of tracks to fit the idea.
it's like being a scientist who tries to bend the data, test results to fit a theory.
some djs (with good connections) have the advantage of ordering specific tracks for their comps asking artists to make a new track involving certain elements or feelings etc. this way the end result can be good but it requires a lot from the compiler.
but the best way to compile a compilation imo is to go with the flow: gather lots of music, find those 3-4 tracks that inspire you as the compiler, build a meaningful journey around them, listen to the whole story and then after the track list is ready you start to think about a concept for the compilation. what are your feelings, thoughts, visions you get while listening to the tracks on this compilation?
"no one ever sweats on a plug-in" -moby
Pt.
IsraTrance Senior Member
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Posted : Mar 6, 2011 13:36
Quote:
On 2011-03-06 04:11, Elad wrote:
i didnt had it in mind , just a good flow dancefloor psy , the name and cover chose by graphic artist.
its the v/a on my signature btw 'galactic synthetic' for free download
And thats when the job of the graphic designer has an important job to joint the tracks up to an image and text that actually makes sense to the music, story and vibe involved.
Niceness!
Quote:
On 2011-03-06 10:52, Outolintu wrote:
imo it's because the compiler has first this grand idea and tries to force a compilation of tracks to fit the idea.
it's like being a scientist who tries to bend the data, test results to fit a theory.
some djs (with good connections) have the advantage of ordering specific tracks for their comps asking artists to make a new track involving certain elements or feelings etc. this way the end result can be good but it requires a lot from the compiler.
Ah! Didn't really think about it like that but thats a great analogy and makes perfect sense. Nice one!
Thats for sure and when that is done the result might lead to absolute interstellar magical bliss. (May happen anyway ..)
Beat Agency
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Posted : Mar 6, 2011 14:47
If a label and a "compiler" dictate the artists in how their music should be done then they would get "The Bird" from me.
www.beatagency.dk
Pt.
IsraTrance Senior Member
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Posted : Mar 6, 2011 14:58
Quote:
On 2011-03-06 14:47, Beat Agency wrote:
If a label and a "compiler" dictate the artists in how their music should be done then they would get "The Bird" from me.
Without reading too much into your answer and avoiding putting words in your mouth: If a friend, a label, a compiler comes to you with enthusiasm about an idea, a project, a vibe and feeling for a compilation and asks if you [because he or she loves (you and) your music] would like to join by making a track in that vision-zing spirit, you would flip him/her the finger and ask to bugger off?.. .. Okay. Then again, to 'dictate' anyone is a no go. Good communication is essential! It should be a working collaboration process between label/compiler and artist to create the best and most fitting track possible. Feedbacks etc.
Beat Agency
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Posted : Mar 6, 2011 15:23
I am the type of artist who demand my absolute musical freedom and if a label ask me to make a tune then i expect them to give me 100% freedom. Otherwise they should ask another artist that have a sound that is close to what they are seeking. Of course I wont deliver a downbeat tune if it's psytrance they want.
I have way too many times experienced labels or compilers asking me to change this and that. Bottom line is that if they ask me to make a tune it must be because they know my music and what I am all about as an artist.
It should never be a working progress between the label and the artists. The artist deliver the music the label release and promote it. Simple as that. The label can say no thanks or thank you at delivery time but does not have any saying in the making of the tune.
And yes Hr. Brunost if the theme in the compilation is religion or mumbo jumbo pseudo "cosmic energies" then you'll see me flip the "Bird" for sure www.beatagency.dk
Nectarios
Martian Arts
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Posted : Mar 6, 2011 15:54
Well, assuming people know who does what and in what way, I think its good for people to present a theme and assign a concept for each track...or the whole compilation.
I don't think people think much of compilations these days...its just dancefloor peak time material...
Its down to the person compiling the CD, the amount of tunes s/he gets and the influence s/he has on the scene/level of connection/communication with the artists s/he has in mind for the CD.
I would not mind participating in a theme CD. It would be a nice challenge/fun thing to do. Obviously if I was asked to make a darkpsy/full on tune, I would not take them seriously.
But yeah, in my opinion there are not enough "concept" VAs around these days. It would be nice if compilers and producers put some more thought into it.
Pt.
IsraTrance Senior Member
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Posted : Mar 6, 2011 15:58
Quote:
On 2011-03-06 15:23, Beat Agency wrote:
I have way too many times experienced labels or compilers asking me to change this and that. Bottom line is that if they ask me to make a tune it must be because they know my music and what I am all about as an artist.
Fair enough. Well based on my own opinion, viewing from both sides. As long as it doesn't becoming overly annoying, I wouldn't mind feedbacks to land on a spot where the track becomes perfect to fit into a theme of i.e. 'Snow Crystals on the North Pole'. It's hard to determine how a track directed at that theme would sound, so it's important what you say to respect the artists view. For sure! There is a fine line here. But if I would be the compiler an receive a great track from you regarding that theme and the track sounded like Chinese Astor physics (whatever that sounds like) with samples of tulips in Amsterdam, I would politely ask for some changes to make it fit better to the theme at hand while pointing out where and what I think is perfect about the track, or if you would consider starting a new track. But by this time the magic might be over from the producer’s side and the result would become effected by it. I donno, I'm just saying to compile something after a theme can't be easy from either sides. Hence why I guess to select 3-4 tracks then build a theme around is better for most cases. *sorry for my bad example. I just think that to work together sounds like a nice idea. Though ideal, it may not always be so realistic.
Quote:
On 2011-03-06 15:54, disco hooligans wrote:
I would not mind participating in a theme CD. It would be a nice challenge/fun thing to do.
But yeah, in my opinion there are not enough "concept" VAs around these days. It would be nice if compilers and producers put some more thought into it.
Hear hear!
Beat Agency
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Posted : Mar 6, 2011 16:16
If I was asked to interpret as an example The North pole in a tune and I said yes then the end result would be my interpretation/vision and if the compiler did not like my interpretation then bad luck. I would not start to change my interpretation because the compiler did not understand my vision or because it did not fit into the compiler's concept. Then I would just ask the compiler to move on with another artist. After all it's my interpretation and vision that counts regarding my music when I am asked to make a tune. Otherwise the compiler just as well do the tune on his own
IMO it's not OK to change an artists work to suit your own vision or idea.
Imagine you want a certain painter to paint you a picture because you love his/her art and want one on your wall next to other favorite painters. Would you also ask the painter to add a blue color where he/she added a red in order for it to suit the other paintings on your wall? I know some companies etc. ask for specific colors and IMO this is also dead wrong but at the end of the day it's up to the painter to say no or yes.
www.beatagency.dk
Pt.
IsraTrance Senior Member
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Posted : Mar 6, 2011 16:24
Quote:
On 2011-03-06 16:16, Beat Agency wrote:
Imagine you want a certain painter to paint you a picture because you love his/her art and want one on your wall next to other favorite painters. Would you also ask the painter to add a blue color where he/she added a red in order for it to suit the other paintings on your wall? I know some companies etc. ask for specific colors and IMO this is also dead wrong but at the end of the day it's up to the painter to say no or yes.]
True .. But what if this was a ,,special" wall and all the artists was into the 'paint around a theme and it was important for the wall that the flow was coherent and the compilers view was important to perfect the whole picture? Would you not then bend your own rules to make the best possible result? Other than that I agree 99%. (I'm leaving soon so if this continues, I apologize for not replying if you have words that needs a reply.)
Regarding the underline in your quote. Most artists are sære/quirky about their work, which is one of the elements which often make them into an artist in the first place.
Beat Agency
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Posted : Mar 6, 2011 16:31
Again it is the artists interpretation that counts in the music and at the end of the day it's up to the compiler to compile the tunes the compiler think fit into the vision. If my interpretation is not what the compiler want's then peace with it. That's why a compiler should compile a lot of tunes in order to pick the right ones according to the compilers vision.
I once had TIP Records asking me to remove an American Native Indian chant because it did not fit into their release vision. I kindly declined and told them to ask someone else. The point was that without the chant it was no longer the same tune and my vision of the tune would have been destroyed.
www.beatagency.dk
Pt.
IsraTrance Senior Member
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Posted : Mar 6, 2011 16:35
Ok, just curious, which compilation was this and was it just about removing the sample or to make something else of the sample vibe? I guess to remove a sample like that would empty and almost kill the track, unless the track itself was/is extremely good able to stand on own legs (which it should anyway, right?) And do you feel that the sample was coherent with the compilations vision? (I don't know if you first got instructions or how you where approached)
^Question, have you (or any other artists reading) ever been a part of a 'concept' album/compilation? How did you work to get the result needed to complete the concept vision?
