I was seven years old when I first set foot into a record store it was a sunny
foot into a record store it was a sunny
foot into a record store it was a sunny day in South of France and me and my
day in South of France and me and my
day in South of France and me and my brother were to pick out any album would
brother were to pick out any album would
brother were to pick out any album would like and I did so purely based on the
like and I did so purely based on the
like and I did so purely based on the aesthetics of the album cover as you do
aesthetics of the album cover as you do
aesthetics of the album cover as you do when you’re seven years old this album
when you’re seven years old this album
when you’re seven years old this album cover in particular was all black except
cover in particular was all black except
cover in particular was all black except for eight big shining silver letters
for eight big shining silver letters
for eight big shining silver letters that said Daft Punk I was intrigued and
that said Daft Punk I was intrigued and
that said Daft Punk I was intrigued and so I walked out with a fresh copy of
so I walked out with a fresh copy of
so I walked out with a fresh copy of Daft Punk’s discovery in my hands and
Daft Punk’s discovery in my hands and
Daft Punk’s discovery in my hands and even though my next few years were spent
even though my next few years were spent
even though my next few years were spent playing very aggressive punk rock music
playing very aggressive punk rock music
playing very aggressive punk rock music discovery would stick with me and later
discovery would stick with me and later
discovery would stick with me and later play a vital role in the way that I make
play a vital role in the way that I make
play a vital role in the way that I make music now I suppose many of you don’t
music now I suppose many of you don’t
music now I suppose many of you don’t know me my name is Sebastien I make
know me my name is Sebastien I make
know me my name is Sebastien I make music I produce write and perform
music I produce write and perform
music I produce write and perform usually under the moniker of cooter on
usually under the moniker of cooter on
usually under the moniker of cooter on and have been doing so for the last
and have been doing so for the last
and have been doing so for the last seven years so so why did Daft Punk’s
seven years so so why did Daft Punk’s
seven years so so why did Daft Punk’s discovery stick with me through those
discovery stick with me through those
discovery stick with me through those angry rock’n’roll days I’m pretty sure
angry rock’n’roll days I’m pretty sure
angry rock’n’roll days I’m pretty sure it has to do with the way they sampled
it has to do with the way they sampled
it has to do with the way they sampled music it didn’t sound like electronic
music it didn’t sound like electronic
music it didn’t sound like electronic dance music the way I was used to I used
dance music the way I was used to I used
dance music the way I was used to I used to hate dance music back then but the
to hate dance music back then but the
to hate dance music back then but the sounds of discovery they didn’t sound
sounds of discovery they didn’t sound
sounds of discovery they didn’t sound harsh or really electronic at all in
harsh or really electronic at all in
harsh or really electronic at all in discovery you could hear brass sections
discovery you could hear brass sections
discovery you could hear brass sections you hear
you hear
you hear funky tars and vocal chops but Daft Punk
funky tars and vocal chops but Daft Punk
funky tars and vocal chops but Daft Punk didn’t play all these instruments
didn’t play all these instruments
didn’t play all these instruments themselves they sampled older records
themselves they sampled older records
themselves they sampled older records they sampled their idols songs from pop
they sampled their idols songs from pop
they sampled their idols songs from pop funk soul and rock they pieced them all
funk soul and rock they pieced them all
funk soul and rock they pieced them all together and form sort of a collage of
together and form sort of a collage of
together and form sort of a collage of all the things they loved so sampling is
all the things they loved so sampling is
all the things they loved so sampling is when you take a piece of audio recording
when you take a piece of audio recording
when you take a piece of audio recording and
and
and use it in another audio recording you
use it in another audio recording you
use it in another audio recording you can think of it as recycling almost and
can think of it as recycling almost and
can think of it as recycling almost and what’s always fascinated me about it
what’s always fascinated me about it
what’s always fascinated me about it isn’t the ability to steal someone’s
isn’t the ability to steal someone’s
isn’t the ability to steal someone’s idea or another ones melody but the
idea or another ones melody but the
idea or another ones melody but the ability to capture an atmosphere from a
ability to capture an atmosphere from a
ability to capture an atmosphere from a different time in a different place and
different time in a different place and
different time in a different place and place it into our own into something
place it into our own into something
place it into our own into something unperformed a bowl I’m gonna play you a
unperformed a bowl I’m gonna play you a
unperformed a bowl I’m gonna play you a song by Eddie Jones this is more spell
song by Eddie Jones this is more spell
song by Eddie Jones this is more spell on you and it was released in 1979
on you and it was released in 1979
on you and it was released in 1979 [Music]
[Music]
[Music] as cool as cool as it sounds it does
as cool as cool as it sounds it does
as cool as cool as it sounds it does sort of sound like an average song of
sort of sound like an average song of
sort of sound like an average song of your mother’s old disco record but two
your mother’s old disco record but two
your mother’s old disco record but two French guys managed to find three very
French guys managed to find three very
French guys managed to find three very important brass tabs within this very
important brass tabs within this very
important brass tabs within this very short snippet this one this one and this
short snippet this one this one and this
short snippet this one this one and this one they slow them down and lift them
one they slow them down and lift them
one they slow them down and lift them and eventually came up with one of the
and eventually came up with one of the
and eventually came up with one of the most iconic album openers of all time
that was daft punk’s one more time and
that was daft punk’s one more time and I’ve grown to learn that so many of the
I’ve grown to learn that so many of the
I’ve grown to learn that so many of the songs I loved and had loved are based
songs I loved and had loved are based
songs I loved and had loved are based around samples like this where the
around samples like this where the
around samples like this where the source material isn’t so striking by
source material isn’t so striking by
source material isn’t so striking by itself but put into a different context
itself but put into a different context
itself but put into a different context or a different decade it becomes bigger
or a different decade it becomes bigger
or a different decade it becomes bigger than the sum of its parts it strikes a
than the sum of its parts it strikes a
than the sum of its parts it strikes a totally different nerve now I want it to
totally different nerve now I want it to
totally different nerve now I want it to be like Daft Punk so I did what they did
be like Daft Punk so I did what they did
be like Daft Punk so I did what they did I went to look for older disco records I
I went to look for older disco records I
I went to look for older disco records I sampled them in my bedroom and put them
sampled them in my bedroom and put them
sampled them in my bedroom and put them out for the whole internet to hear but
out for the whole internet to hear but
out for the whole internet to hear but then as it turns out there’s a thing
then as it turns out there’s a thing
then as it turns out there’s a thing called copyright who figures and it’s
called copyright who figures and it’s
called copyright who figures and it’s pretty heavily guarded and if you misuse
pretty heavily guarded and if you misuse
pretty heavily guarded and if you misuse it someone will get mad they will take
it someone will get mad they will take
it someone will get mad they will take your music off the internet and if
your music off the internet and if
your music off the internet and if you’ve made any money along the way they
you’ve made any money along the way they
you’ve made any money along the way they will come and take that too there are
will come and take that too there are
will come and take that too there are two key challenges and limitations when
two key challenges and limitations when
two key challenges and limitations when it comes to sampling one of them being
it comes to sampling one of them being
it comes to sampling one of them being these regulations revolving the audio
these regulations revolving the audio
these regulations revolving the audio recording itself and the copyright
recording itself and the copyright
recording itself and the copyright without the appropriate permissions
without the appropriate permissions
without the appropriate permissions which can be near impossible to obtain
which can be near impossible to obtain
which can be near impossible to obtain and often very expensive you might be
and often very expensive you might be
and often very expensive you might be headed towards a rather unpleasant legal
headed towards a rather unpleasant legal
headed towards a rather unpleasant legal ordeal and one of my favorite cases of
ordeal and one of my favorite cases of
ordeal and one of my favorite cases of such is the story of Frank ocean’s super
such is the story of Frank ocean’s super
such is the story of Frank ocean’s super rich kids we’re in the bridge section of
rich kids we’re in the bridge section of
rich kids we’re in the bridge section of the song Frank ocean’s sings about
the song Frank ocean’s sings about
the song Frank ocean’s sings about searching for real love in a way that is
searching for real love in a way that is
searching for real love in a way that is strikingly similar to that of a mary j
strikingly similar to that of a mary j
strikingly similar to that of a mary j blige song called real of in real of
blige song called real of in real of
blige song called real of in real of mary j blige sampled an audio rap group
mary j blige sampled an audio rap group
mary j blige sampled an audio rap group called audio – audio – had again sampled
called audio – audio – had again sampled
called audio – audio – had again sampled this drum loop from a 1979 record by the
this drum loop from a 1979 record by the
this drum loop from a 1979 record by the honey drippers and it was their record
honey drippers and it was their record
honey drippers and it was their record label that eventually sued Frank Ocean
label that eventually sued Frank Ocean
label that eventually sued Frank Ocean and could now claim ownership in all of
and could now claim ownership in all of
and could now claim ownership in all of these songs and this weird hierarchy of
these songs and this weird hierarchy of
these songs and this weird hierarchy of sampling and interpolation
sampling and interpolation
sampling and interpolation even though Frank ocean’s lyric had
even though Frank ocean’s lyric had
even though Frank ocean’s lyric had nothing to do we
nothing to do we
nothing to do we that drum loop from 1979 so we’ve now
that drum loop from 1979 so we’ve now
that drum loop from 1979 so we’ve now established one of the two key
established one of the two key
established one of the two key challenges the second one as I see it is
challenges the second one as I see it is
challenges the second one as I see it is the absoluteness of an audio recording
the absoluteness of an audio recording
the absoluteness of an audio recording it’s pretty much set in stone in the way
it’s pretty much set in stone in the way
it’s pretty much set in stone in the way that you can’t go back in time and ask
that you can’t go back in time and ask
that you can’t go back in time and ask Michael Jackson to sing something
Michael Jackson to sing something
Michael Jackson to sing something differently or ask Jimmy Hendrix to just
differently or ask Jimmy Hendrix to just
differently or ask Jimmy Hendrix to just play it cool on that solo part but what
play it cool on that solo part but what
play it cool on that solo part but what if you were to make your own samples
if you were to make your own samples
if you were to make your own samples wouldn’t you then avoid these
wouldn’t you then avoid these
wouldn’t you then avoid these regulations you don’t you would also be
regulations you don’t you would also be
regulations you don’t you would also be able to go back in time and make changes
able to go back in time and make changes
able to go back in time and make changes to the samples themselves three years
to the samples themselves three years
to the samples themselves three years ago I was tinkering around with a guitar
ago I was tinkering around with a guitar
ago I was tinkering around with a guitar if that for some reason reminded me of
if that for some reason reminded me of
if that for some reason reminded me of Ed Sheeran’s I see fire and instead of
Ed Sheeran’s I see fire and instead of
Ed Sheeran’s I see fire and instead of producing it out in the typical dance
producing it out in the typical dance
producing it out in the typical dance music fashion that I was used to at the
music fashion that I was used to at the
music fashion that I was used to at the time I decided to rather flesh it out as
time I decided to rather flesh it out as
time I decided to rather flesh it out as a more folksy symphonic piece which I
a more folksy symphonic piece which I
a more folksy symphonic piece which I wasn’t good at doing at all
wasn’t good at doing at all
wasn’t good at doing at all [Music]
I thought it sounded way pretentious and
I thought it sounded way pretentious and super corny and of course I scrapped it
super corny and of course I scrapped it
super corny and of course I scrapped it because I didn’t know what to do with it
because I didn’t know what to do with it
because I didn’t know what to do with it it didn’t sound like anything that would
it didn’t sound like anything that would
it didn’t sound like anything that would resonate with my audience at the time
resonate with my audience at the time
resonate with my audience at the time but one year later is that was browsing
but one year later is that was browsing
but one year later is that was browsing through old demos and folders as I heard
through old demos and folders as I heard
through old demos and folders as I heard that guitar riff again I couldn’t help
that guitar riff again I couldn’t help
that guitar riff again I couldn’t help but hear it as a sample it gave me that
but hear it as a sample it gave me that
but hear it as a sample it gave me that same sample urge that I was used to from
same sample urge that I was used to from
same sample urge that I was used to from way back when I sampled disco records
way back when I sampled disco records
way back when I sampled disco records and so I sampled myself only this time I
and so I sampled myself only this time I
and so I sampled myself only this time I stayed clear of all copyright
stayed clear of all copyright
stayed clear of all copyright infringement and was even able to go
infringement and was even able to go
infringement and was even able to go back in time and alter the sample itself
[Music]
[Music] crazy I feel the most woman is cold
crazy I feel the most woman is cold
crazy I feel the most woman is cold just in
just in
just in down to the saloon that song ended up on
down to the saloon that song ended up on
down to the saloon that song ended up on Kalani’s grammy-nominated mixtape you
Kalani’s grammy-nominated mixtape you
Kalani’s grammy-nominated mixtape you should be here and even though this is
should be here and even though this is
should be here and even though this is no this wasn’t a groundbreaking concept
no this wasn’t a groundbreaking concept
no this wasn’t a groundbreaking concept at all after all I just reused one of my
at all after all I just reused one of my
at all after all I just reused one of my old guitar ideas but this really sparked
old guitar ideas but this really sparked
old guitar ideas but this really sparked a completely different way from you to
a completely different way from you to
a completely different way from you to work I stopped worrying about ideas not
work I stopped worrying about ideas not
work I stopped worrying about ideas not being finished not fitting my project or
being finished not fitting my project or
being finished not fitting my project or brand or the politics of music and
instead I started encouraging myself to
instead I started encouraging myself to go ahead and copy other people other
go ahead and copy other people other
go ahead and copy other people other other songs that I admired only to
other songs that I admired only to
other songs that I admired only to sample them at a later point now there’s
sample them at a later point now there’s
sample them at a later point now there’s no secret that I can’t really play a
no secret that I can’t really play a
no secret that I can’t really play a guitar like Prince or John Mayer nor can
guitar like Prince or John Mayer nor can
guitar like Prince or John Mayer nor can I sing like Freddie Mercury but that’s
I sing like Freddie Mercury but that’s
I sing like Freddie Mercury but that’s become the most exciting and fun
become the most exciting and fun
become the most exciting and fun challenge of them all and I can’t it’s
challenge of them all and I can’t it’s
challenge of them all and I can’t it’s made me focus on things like how reggae
made me focus on things like how reggae
made me focus on things like how reggae drummers accent certain beats Motown
drummers accent certain beats Motown
drummers accent certain beats Motown recording techniques and common chord
recording techniques and common chord
recording techniques and common chord progressions in gypsy jazz and this
progressions in gypsy jazz and this
progressions in gypsy jazz and this obsession has grown into a pretty
obsession has grown into a pretty
obsession has grown into a pretty extensive sample library of my own it’s
extensive sample library of my own it’s
extensive sample library of my own it’s it’s really cool it’s like a personal
it’s really cool it’s like a personal
it’s really cool it’s like a personal record store where I can browse through
record store where I can browse through
record store where I can browse through for all bits and pieces of sampling
for all bits and pieces of sampling
for all bits and pieces of sampling inspiration like 80s
inspiration like 80s
inspiration like 80s smooth jazz number 2
smooth jazz number 2
smooth jazz number 2 [Music]
[Music]
[Music] now I would never really relief that ass
now I would never really relief that ass
now I would never really relief that ass is because it sounds like actual
is because it sounds like actual
is because it sounds like actual elevator music from the 80s but inside
elevator music from the 80s but inside
elevator music from the 80s but inside that little snippet I managed to find
that little snippet I managed to find
that little snippet I managed to find not quite unlike Daft Punk three little
not quite unlike Daft Punk three little
not quite unlike Daft Punk three little soundbites I sped them up and those
soundbites I sped them up and those
soundbites I sped them up and those three little soundbites eventually
three little soundbites eventually
three little soundbites eventually became the fundament for one of my songs
became the fundament for one of my songs
became the fundament for one of my songs called puzzled again strikes a totally
called puzzled again strikes a totally
called puzzled again strikes a totally different nerve than the original sample
different nerve than the original sample
different nerve than the original sample source and I have way more examples of
source and I have way more examples of
source and I have way more examples of this here’s dr. drum number two
this here’s dr. drum number two
this here’s dr. drum number two [Music]
I went for a 80s soulful R&B vibe but
I went for a 80s soulful R&B vibe but that sample ended up in a pop rap song
that sample ended up in a pop rap song
that sample ended up in a pop rap song by Pasha the Norwegian rapper called
by Pasha the Norwegian rapper called
by Pasha the Norwegian rapper called pretty boy bounce
pretty boy bounce
pretty boy bounce [Music]
[Music]
[Music] so none of these samples are modeled
so none of these samples are modeled
so none of these samples are modeled after specific songs more so after
after specific songs more so after
after specific songs more so after specific times and errors in music
specific times and errors in music
specific times and errors in music history and just this last week I was
history and just this last week I was
history and just this last week I was listening to a rather famous surf rock
listening to a rather famous surf rock
listening to a rather famous surf rock group and couldn’t help but get inspired
group and couldn’t help but get inspired
group and couldn’t help but get inspired to make a Christmassy doo-wop acapella
to make a Christmassy doo-wop acapella
to make a Christmassy doo-wop acapella sample only I didn’t have the Beach Boys
sample only I didn’t have the Beach Boys
sample only I didn’t have the Beach Boys there to sing it for me so I had to do
there to sing it for me so I had to do
there to sing it for me so I had to do myself
myself
myself [Music]
again as is it sounds very typical and
again as is it sounds very typical and classic and kind of boring but put some
classic and kind of boring but put some
classic and kind of boring but put some hip-hop drums on top
hip-hop drums on top
hip-hop drums on top [Music]
and suddenly it’s pretty bangin I have
and suddenly it’s pretty bangin I have more obscure examples like bossa nova –
more obscure examples like bossa nova –
more obscure examples like bossa nova – [Music]
[Music]
[Music] and as much as I hate to disappoint you
and as much as I hate to disappoint you
and as much as I hate to disappoint you that last one hasn’t actually found its
that last one hasn’t actually found its
that last one hasn’t actually found its home yet as is the case for most samples
home yet as is the case for most samples
home yet as is the case for most samples in this library but at least now I don’t
in this library but at least now I don’t
in this library but at least now I don’t feel like I’m wasting my time when I
feel like I’m wasting my time when I
feel like I’m wasting my time when I write really stupid music like that
write really stupid music like that
write really stupid music like that whereas I would previously look at maybe
whereas I would previously look at maybe
whereas I would previously look at maybe 95 percent of my work as just scrapped
95 percent of my work as just scrapped
95 percent of my work as just scrapped ideas or waste of time they’re now all
ideas or waste of time they’re now all
ideas or waste of time they’re now all potential samples and I could browse
potential samples and I could browse
potential samples and I could browse through my library all day but I’m not
through my library all day but I’m not
through my library all day but I’m not really here to promote my own music
really here to promote my own music
really here to promote my own music rather to try and spark an idea and see
rather to try and spark an idea and see
rather to try and spark an idea and see if there’s anything about this approach
if there’s anything about this approach
if there’s anything about this approach that could be applied to the way you
that could be applied to the way you
that could be applied to the way you face creative challenges and I should
face creative challenges and I should
face creative challenges and I should note that I’m not the only one using
note that I’m not the only one using
note that I’m not the only one using this work method in fact I have one very
this work method in fact I have one very
this work method in fact I have one very last example to show you that I
last example to show you that I
last example to show you that I unfortunately had nothing to do with if
unfortunately had nothing to do with if
unfortunately had nothing to do with if I had I would be driving a nicer car I
I had I would be driving a nicer car I
I had I would be driving a nicer car I had my friend and colleague a kettle
had my friend and colleague a kettle
had my friend and colleague a kettle send me this
send me this
send me this he works in a similar fashion and let me
he works in a similar fashion and let me
he works in a similar fashion and let me just play it for you and see if any of
just play it for you and see if any of
just play it for you and see if any of you recognize it
you recognize it
you recognize it [Music]
[Music]
[Music] you may have heard it in a song by la
you may have heard it in a song by la
you may have heard it in a song by la Mettrie called closer but if someone
Mettrie called closer but if someone
Mettrie called closer but if someone came into my room and I was working on
came into my room and I was working on
came into my room and I was working on that they would tell me to get a real
that they would tell me to get a real
that they would tell me to get a real job because that sounds stupid it sounds
job because that sounds stupid it sounds
job because that sounds stupid it sounds like something out of a Donkey Kong game
like something out of a Donkey Kong game
like something out of a Donkey Kong game but once that sample was flipped it
but once that sample was flipped it
but once that sample was flipped it became their most successful song to
became their most successful song to
became their most successful song to date closer I should clarify I still
date closer I should clarify I still
date closer I should clarify I still have nothing to do with that song so via
have nothing to do with that song so via
have nothing to do with that song so via this method the two key challenges of
this method the two key challenges of
this method the two key challenges of sampling the regulations and the
sampling the regulations and the
sampling the regulations and the absoluteness of an audio recording have
absoluteness of an audio recording have
absoluteness of an audio recording have both been eliminated so instead of
both been eliminated so instead of
both been eliminated so instead of stealing from others how about stealing
stealing from others how about stealing
stealing from others how about stealing from yourself
from yourself
from yourself [Applause]
”
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