Inspiration Information: Channeling Influences with Yu Su

It’s easy to take the accessibility of music for granted these days. Music lovers in the 21st Century have the means to explore a dizzying expanse of sonic culture in a short space of time, following their interests in hyper-specific routes through new and old music. That’s yielded its own…

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Enter the Temple of Boom: Acoustic Kicks

Late last year, David Abravanel took us on a journey through the history of the electronic kick drum. Now, he’s back with a look at acoustic kicks. This article also features insights from Abe Seiferth, a producer, engineer, and musician whose credits include Yeasayer, Neon Indian, RAC, and many others.…

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Live Track Deconstruction with Photay

Photay deconstructed ‘Pressure’ in front of a live audience at Loop 2018, in a session moderated by Dani Deahl. The video breaks down how layered vocals recorded with the natural reverb of a New York bunker can fit with harsh, stock drum sounds and software instruments. Through live demonstration and…

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From the Ground Up: Watch Tracks Being Built in Our New Series, Made in Ableton Live

The limitless possibilities at the start of a new project can make it hard to know where to focus your inspiration. With that in mind, the new Made In Ableton Live video series follows nine artists as they take a track from conception to completion. Every step of the way,…

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Mixing Textures: Flore on Fluid Club Music

Borders between electronic music genres are gradually disappearing as more producers diversify their sound. Donato Dozzy, the Italian maestro known for his lush brand of minimalist techno, surprised fans last year when he went drum and bass on a remix project. Hip hop legend J Rocc did a similar about-face…

May 2020

Beyond the Echo Chamber: Inventive Effects Using Live’s Delay Devices

What would electronic music be without the time-honored delay effect? From enriching sounds and expanding rhythms to filling out space and sending sounds skywards, delay has vast potential for sonic exploration. With the complexity of the delay devices included in Live, the possibilities run deeper than straight-forward echoes and feedback.…

May 2020

Body Meat: Blending Worlds

Christopher Taylor in studio. Photo by Beth Town When Philadelphia-based electronic musician Body Meat (Christopher Taylor) dropped his seventh album Truck Music last year, listeners could hear the deft and acrobatic fusion of genres like trap, glitch, Chicago footwork and R&B. Truck Music is a sliced and chopped genre patchwork,…

May 2020

Flair on the Fly: Eight Creative Drum Sequencing Tricks for Push

When it comes to sequencing beats, being able to capture some in-the-moment energy can make a huge difference to the feel of your track. Whether on stage or in the studio, Push can be used in all kinds of ways to help liven up transitions between patterns and create dynamic…

May 2020

Half Waif: Making Space to Create

Photo by Tonje Thilesen Half Waif is the sound of a creative mind constantly searching for balance. The music created by New York-based artist Nandi Rose is a painfully sweet push and pull, walking the line between light and dark, analog and digital, and themes of both solitude and community.…

May 2020

Clarice Jensen and Sowall: Improvising Between the Lines

In a first-time meeting at Loop 2018, cellist and composer Clarice Jensen joined hip hop beatmaker Sowall for an improvised live set based on a small collection of pre-agreed rules. Despite distinctive and contrasting musical backgrounds, Jensen's improvised cello loops are complemented by intricate beats provided by Sowall – first…

Apr 2020