So I’ve had a chance to hear this mix since mentioning my uneasiness about Aesop working with Nike. It’s a very decent 45 minute mix of organic sounding instrumental hip hop with repeating phrases and verses throughout. Aesop explains his reasoning on why he chose to work with Nike and how he approached making it:
Being linked to fairly open-minded, independent record labels for my whole life has had its perks. For the most part, I can create whatever I want, however I want. That said, one of the main things I found attractive about the Nike+ Original Run project (oddly enough) was the simple fact that there were rules. Nothing too restrictive, just a basic guideline of what the track needed to accomplish and a timeline of how the track should build, peak, and settle.
Somehow, I came to find these guidelines refreshing. Creating the track came to be as much about puzzle-solving as it was about making cool music. I used it as an opportunity to reach for my bass or keys instead of digging through vinyl first, which proved to be another interesting flip in my usual approach.There had to be a new element every 30 seconds or so (a new riff, a new layer, a new drum pattern) as other elements faded into the distance. Basically, I had to keep the scenery shifting while maintaining the “push.” Setting this as my goal allowed me to dabble in some sounds that I had never tried before. After the body of the music was mapped out, I was able to decorate the “scenes” with occasional vocals or chants that really helped to flesh out each landscape. I didn’t want to make traditional choruses or overly simple hooks, but I also didn’t want to go off on long vocal tangents that might be distracting. I ended up creating sporadic vocal sections, each with the characteristics of a chorus (a catchy pattern, a repeating phrase). But, I tried not to shy away from the “visual” aspects that I usually create with dense lyrical verses. I wanted to leave a trail of recognizable bits and pieces that the runner could save in his or her head throughout the course of the song as the orchestration grew and changed.
Have a listen to the first section from the mix and see what you think:
Aesop Rock – All Day Original Run Snippet
[audio:https://nialler9.com/mp3/Aesop_Rock_-_All_Day_Original_Run_Snippet.mp3]
Niall Byrne is the founder of the most-influential Irish music site Nialler9, where he has been writing about music since 2005 . He is the co-host of the Nialler9 Podcast and has written for the Irish Times, Irish Independent, Cara Magazine, Sunday Times, Totally Dublin, Red Bull and more. Niall is a DJ, founder of Lumo Club, club promoter, event curator and producer of gigs, listening parties & events in Dublin.
Nike have been doing a bit of this – Culture Vultures !
LCD Soundsystem was also Commissioned by Nike to do a mix.
see below.
http://www.pitchforkmedia.com/article/record_review/39232
Nike have been doing a bit of this – Culture Vultures !
LCD Soundsystem was also Commissioned by Nike to do a mix.
see below.
http://www.pitchforkmedia.com/article/record_review/39232
Im in two minds on this one.
Yes, Nike are cunts
but
So are most MNCs. Eg: Rupert Murdoch’s Clear Channel, who J Murphy and Aesop Rock (and anyone else who’s released a record or played concerts) would deal with all the time, directly or indirectly
Im in two minds on this one.
Yes, Nike are cunts
but
So are most MNCs. Eg: Rupert Murdoch’s Clear Channel, who J Murphy and Aesop Rock (and anyone else who’s released a record or played concerts) would deal with all the time, directly or indirectly
Yeah yeah, capitalism and international conglo-monsters are bad, but honestly, I think this series is worth biting the bullet on.
It’s giving some great bands that need more exposure not only an open door, but it’s an artistic challenge, and a way to light a fire under their asses to give us more jams! (I actually used the LCD one for a run once; it was great.)
As for the song: not typical Aes, but that’s not fair to say he has a typical anything. It sounds great!
Yeah yeah, capitalism and international conglo-monsters are bad, but honestly, I think this series is worth biting the bullet on.
It’s giving some great bands that need more exposure not only an open door, but it’s an artistic challenge, and a way to light a fire under their asses to give us more jams! (I actually used the LCD one for a run once; it was great.)
As for the song: not typical Aes, but that’s not fair to say he has a typical anything. It sounds great!
Jesus, I don’t know about the LCD one – it has it’s moments, but overall it’s fairly shite – not a patch on his potential. Glad he saves his best (save someone great instrumental) for proper albums, and not poxy nike promotions.
Jesus, I don’t know about the LCD one – it has it’s moments, but overall it’s fairly shite – not a patch on his potential. Glad he saves his best (save someone great instrumental) for proper albums, and not poxy nike promotions.
Well, if Nike came to him and asked him to do this, more to them.
I like this instruemental, and in my opinion it’s a lot better than a lot of things on Bazooka Tooth, if this is a sample of some of his None SHall Pass album I’m going to be all over that like white on rice.
Well, if Nike came to him and asked him to do this, more to them.
I like this instruemental, and in my opinion it’s a lot better than a lot of things on Bazooka Tooth, if this is a sample of some of his None SHall Pass album I’m going to be all over that like white on rice.
The new track isn’t life changing, but as a runner, I think it rocks — It’s a nice change to what I frequently listen to, nothing but the smooth sounds of James Taylor.
This is Aes-rizzle’s ‘Sweet Baby James’.
_SIZZLA
The new track isn’t life changing, but as a runner, I think it rocks — It’s a nice change to what I frequently listen to, nothing but the smooth sounds of James Taylor.
This is Aes-rizzle’s ‘Sweet Baby James’.
_SIZZLA
Aes has been trying to sell out for years, he was peddling Pro Keds in a roundabout way a few years ago and now he’s working with Nike. More power to him, and I don’t hate on Nike – I think it’s cool they’ve been reaching out to the underground lately. I’ve been brainwashed and it feels great! Jump in the water’s fine.
Aes has been trying to sell out for years, he was peddling Pro Keds in a roundabout way a few years ago and now he’s working with Nike. More power to him, and I don’t hate on Nike – I think it’s cool they’ve been reaching out to the underground lately. I’ve been brainwashed and it feels great! Jump in the water’s fine.
Aes has been trying to sell out for years, he was peddling Pro Keds in a roundabout way a few years ago and now he’s working with Nike. More power to him, and I don’t hate on Nike – I think it’s cool they’ve been reaching out to the underground lately. I’ve been brainwashed and it feels great! Jump in the water’s fine.
Aes has been trying to sell out for years, he was peddling Pro Keds in a roundabout way a few years ago and now he’s working with Nike. More power to him, and I don’t hate on Nike – I think it’s cool they’ve been reaching out to the underground lately. I’ve been brainwashed and it feels great! Jump in the water’s fine.
I always find it unbelievable how people hold their artists to these ridiculously high standards when I seriously doubt any of you come close at all to ‘resisting the urges of destructive capitolism.’
I used to be pissed at nike… back in middle school. Then I realized that they were just a drop in a bucket… and they were doing it legally as a part of a system in which all parts were complicant. If you’re going to hate anything, hate the world. Don’t hate the struggling artists who love music first and just want to enjoy their lives and provide for you.
If I ever make it and people start judging me like this I’d flip a lid on them publically. It’s so hypocritical that it’s laughable.