Really just by mixing tracks so that there aren't too many harsh, treble-y elements in them. We use modern samples and drum machine sounds, but try to imbue the tracks with that classic soul and reggae feel in terms of the effects that we add.Ĩ You’ve lamented about the sound of modern pop on big club systems, and that Hot Chip’s sound is a product of wanting to make club music that is pleasant to listen to. It’s a sound that I associate with ’70s R&B and reggae mostly, and that can be a good reference point for Hot Chip’s music. The spring reverb section has a lot of character and soul to it. 7 What about the Galaxy Tape Echo plug-in resonates with you? I also use the Moog Multimode Filter plug-in to liven up sequencer patterns and add forward motion. The Galaxy Tape Echo in particular is a good tool to reach for in terms of adding that organic feel. It not only thickens the sound, it makes it longer, which enhances the groove. I will also put a slapback delay on hand claps or snare tracks. I use the Galaxy Tape Echo and Cooper Time Cube MkII plug-ins a lot for that. That’s a simple way to make patterns swing and groove with more nuance. One trick I use a lot is I put rhythmic delays on hi-hats and percussion. How do you ensure that Hot Chip tracks have the right movement and feel? 6 Nothing is more important to dance music than the groove. In general, taking a moment to ponder your stylistic references, and carefully choosing a production style to juxtapose on it will make your ideas more personal. It’s simple, but doing that can really add complexity - both sonically and rhythmically - without being overtly retro or from a certain era or style. How do you do that, yet retain an identity with your tracks?Ī good way to give a track its own identity, is to layer an old synth or drum machine with one that has new, very modern sounds. If I want soft synths to sound more analog, I’ll add the Studer A800 Multichannel Tape plug-in, or distortion from my Thermionic Culture Vulture hardware.ĥ Hot Chip brings a lot of different dance elements together, including disco, techno, funk, and house. Using an unadulterated soft synth sound can also give a retro-ish track a little more modern sheen, which is cool. Do you concern yourself with making software synths sound more “real?”ĭepending on the song, I will embrace the more “artificial” nature of a soft synth, especially if I want the part to pop out a little. 4 You use a mix of vintage synths along with software synths. As a human and a listener, I think you can love, be excited, and relate to a piece of music more easily when you can hear the humanity in it, even if it’s not obvious. The audience can feel that and it is a good thing. It starts by appreciating that mistakes are evidence that an actual human made the track. How do you get to a point where you can embrace mistakes as part of the character of the music? That being said, sometimes it’s fun to quantize something in a creative or unusual way - you can definitely create strange rhythmic effects and grooves that can be a basis for a whole track.ģ You have mentioned how less-than-perfect tuning, timing, or mix issues can make tracks feel alive and human on a subliminal level. But apart from that, we generally to keep the natural feel of the player intact. For example, when we’re using layers of kick drums, we will quantize them so they don’t flam and sound horrible. Well, we quantize when absolutely necessary. It has been used since Sly and The Family Stone, so it’s not a new invention, but it’s an exciting texture that can transform a track. The part robotic, part human feel that you get by mixing a drum machine and a human player is often really interesting and funky. Is that an effort to give your grooves more depth? 1 One of Hot Chip’s calling cards is the mix of live drums and electronic beats. Here, Goddard ruminates on the ins and outs of dance music, crafting the perfect future/retro drum tones, and keeping the humanity intact in his tracks. A prolific figure in the studio, Goddard is also an in-demand remixer, a member of the band 2 Bears, and a respected solo artist who has released multiple projects under his own name. Hot Chip’s latest album, Why Make Sense?, draws significant power from both the vocal and production chops of Joe Goddard. The resulting fusion has earned the London-based group both Grammy Award and Mercury Prize nominations, in addition to a rapidly expanding global fan base. For 16 years, Hot Chip have been perfecting a unique blend of dance and electronic indie rock, replete with hip production prowess.
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