I did a catalogue of attributes exercise on my prototype project and it really helped me to identify which areas I was interested in and what it was about someone else’s work that captivated me and then how I can these elements and create my own piece of work that centres around the techniques rather than attempting to copy them.
The song I chose to analyse is called Dont Cry after reading the 33 1/3 book about this album it really connected with me. As well as this, before reading this book, this song, in particular, is very famous, and the composition is often admired by several of his peers.
Firstly the introduction of the beat uses samples of vocals and a lovely happy instrumental. Looping up weird sounds of vocals gives an abstract soundscape feeling. Musique concrete esque. Along with some scratches.
Then it slowly fades into the second intro, which is just the song playing. “I can’t stand to see you cry” Dilla allows this section to play and doesn’t do too much. Again sample choice is what is going on here.
Then once the introduction fades, the chopping really starts, as if Dilla is saying, “Oh you thought that was good? Check this.” Micro chopping and performing the beat with the individual hits with snares and drums, vocals.
Then fading in again to the middle section which was the introduction. Which then goes back to the chopped section.
I think this track speaks volumes on something I’m passionate about which is sampling, and composition, in this sense chopping or the lack of as well. And the abstract compositions involved within this sort of sample-based music.
Key attributes are:
Rugged
Simplistic
Chopped
Sample selection
Abstract
Emotional response
Reflective
I think these attributes are things I want to attempt to capture within my own work for this project. I’ll go back to making music with this response. Following these attributes.