Collaborations on ccMixter

The collaboration site ccMixter is based on the Commons Creative License where it is allowed to build new artworks on top of already existing artworks. It is basically Open Source for music! The focus is on vocal seps, called A Capellas on the site (sep is short for separate, so a vocal sep is a track that contains vocals only). It is a real challenge to add instruments to a dry vocal, not least because the tempo might be varying and the tuning can be between two semitones. There is often a considerable overhead on setting up the project in your DAW before you can even start thinking about what you are going to record. On the plus side, you can let your imagination run wild since there is no backing track that can point you in a certain direction and the vocals are often very good.

Espero (MegaMellow jazz mix)

Here is an excellent song by SilviaO. Her timing and pitch is absolutely perfect so her vocal track hasn’t been changed. A bit of reverb is added, that is all. I recorded a double bass (Spectrasonics Trilian) triggered from a midi controller, and a jazzy guitar.

Soul of Da Insects

The raw vocal track by jacindae had a very high level of background noise and it was tricky to filter it out. The song has a great feel, classical and modern at the same time. Listen for the ‘insect breakdown’ at 2:35. So imaginative. I added drum loops, some discrete synths, and also applied highpass to the vocals in places.

White Cube Remix Project

Members of ccMixter were invited to contribute to the White Cube art project at Oslo’s RAM galleri. A mix tape of the contributed tracks were played during the exhibition. The A Capella was a poem recited by SackJo22. My trendily titled Tribal Chill Mix is inspired by the peace and tranquility I feel when I walk around a museum.

Finally, let me highlight another contribution to the White Cube project from magvamander. His version sounds very different from mine and yet it has a similar mellow feel. Here is the great video he made to go along with his track.