2023-10-04

Yesterday, I came back from the beach with the idea to create an AI model of Alexis Krauss. 

Spend a few hours with it and had fun generating this Nirvana cover. Rough cut, unrefined. 

Still... how is this not a real song?! 

Today, I have to admit - I can't stop thinking how I can play with this AI model some more.

Alexis Krauss AI - Sappy (vocals stem) [TEST Nirvana cover]

Alanna Matty - A Rush Of Blood To The Head

One morning early in November, I was having coffee in my hotel room listening to the latest Phantogram album. 

It popped up naturally, this idea, to remix "Jealousy" like an old-school breakbeat song. A few weeks later I was able to act upon it. 

All the elements were already there... I just had to stir them up a bit :)

Jealousy

Phantogram - Jealousy (MAKIS remix)

An "all-star" remix, exercising my favorite habit of changing the rhythm mid-way, a lot. Catchy tunes, awesome rhyming and a few good transitions make the mixing all worthwhile.  

Source: 
"Spirit of Apollo" album by N.A.S.A.


Remixes vol.1

Don't ask me where I've been

My first attempt to do something dubstep - I was in LA and it felt interesting to work on this tune - it has some good moments :)

Dubstep 90210

I saw a live performance of the "Red Hot Chili Peppers" playing this song and I thought it sounded better live than the more clean, funk production of the original recording. 

So I spent some time combining the covers of a few people into one, more rock, more grungy version. Initially it was just for my private entertainment but it quickly became something others could enjoy. 

This remix was not only a happy accident, it also rejuvenated my long-lost love for producing music and it became the cornerstone for releasing the Remixes vol.1  set.

Async collaboration between: 

* Gabs Marco (@gabs-marco)
* Glitch Bots(@glitch_bots)
* Bjorn (@officialbjorn)
* I can't think of a display name (@user-980381317)
* Production and Audio engineering: @MAKIS

Source: 
"Dark Necessities" by the Red Hot Chili Peppers





Dark Necessities

The idea behind this song was to use Snoop Dogg's voice as an instrument rather than a vocal. As so, don't pay attention to the lyrics. The vocals have been reduced to sounds mostly. 

Instead, try to appreciate the soundscape without any attachment to the words. From that perspective, the song is probably better appreciated in a state of delirium; like Snoop would've wanted... 

Source: 
"That Tree" by Snoop Dogg's feat. Kid Cudi


Can't forget that dream

A quick experiment to mashup a few popular Bowie songs and see if they can be sampled to a "big beat" sound. Interestingly, ALL samples used are from the original songs. I'm completely endorsing @VynilRob's reaction:

"... don't like what you did with the vocals but I won't front on the beat!  it's a banger, period!... "


Remember (I'm lazy)

I was excited to do this remix for "The Dandy Warhols", being one of my favorite bands, and really loved the original concept of the song. The statement here was to make the parallel between Disco and Breakbeat, in the hopes that electronic music doesn't follow the same path...

Source:
"Down like Disco"  by The Dandy Warhols

Down like Disco

In the 80's, as a kid, I moved across the world to start a new life, with irreversible effects to my psyche. Coincidence or not, I connect with the original song on a personal level.

There is something about the structure of this song that just seems karmic; every new beat is first introduced by itself and then joins the chorus of other beats. The end result is a straightforward remix, respecting the structure of the original, while introducing a rather hardcore mixing. 

Apart from the obvious production of the beats, the bass guitar is given a lead role and the guitar sounds are more aggressive. I didn't manipulate the vocals, which I wanted them to be clean, as the performance is simply spot on. 

Source: 
"Fell Out of the Sky" by State Shirt


Fell out of the sky

Samples Source: 
"Come Back Clean" by The Crystal Method  feat. Emily Haines

This is probably one of the most incoherent songs I've ever produced, yet definitely real to the bone. It's meant to have a live performance feel to it, which I think was preserved intact. 

Underneath the surface, it's a haunting tune that reflects my anxiety, at the time. I didn't know what I was anymore or what would become of me. The result doesn't resemble the original to the slightest; it's letting go all attachments at its purest.

Basically, this is one of the few times I allowed myself to use Ableton Live. Hope you took some enjoyment from this improv but I just can't have this - I need more structure in my life...

Make it up

It doesn't happen often, but sometimes, when you hear a song you immediately see its potential. The basic idea here was to keep the structure of the original and simply make it more rhythmical; by adding a fat baseline and a break beat.

I wanted to preserve the energy and pace of the original arrangement, as it was what initially drew me in, in fact, made me excited to do a remix after a long time. Funny trivia, I even took a day off work to finish it.

Apart from the mixing, I really connect with the lyrics. This song speaks words of truth to my soul and I felt it was the best introduction to this set.

Source: 
"Origins Unknown" by Eric Hogg

Origins Unknown

A fun song with a simple concept: stretching the moment of tension before pressing "the button". What happens next is left to the imagination. Classic big beat song, a definite homage, while sampling one of the greats. 

Source: 
"Galvanize" by the Chemical Brothers

The Button

A departure from the original Soul/R&B song to create another "alternate universe" remix that seems to have its own credibility, as it stands quite well as a breakbeat song in its own right.

On the technical side, I slowed down the rhythm and added some extra beats. I like the structure, with a continuous rhythm and a breakdown in the middle that's overwhelmingly noticeable. The vocals were not really my style but I used some just for balance. 

The beats are hard around the edges but I think their "dry" nature adds to the feeling of the song. The title gives a "hint" of the song's meaning; from that perspective, the beats are left to distort intentionally, just to accentuate the sensation of"corruption"...

Source: 
"Sometimes" by DJ Aphrodite feat. Beverley Knight

The truth is sold out

As a bonus, a second version of the remix "The truth is sold out" is included at the end of the Remixes vol.1 set. It is practically the same song extended by a few minutes. I'm only releasing it because I didn't feel it deserved to be lost in a vault. 

Source: 
"Sometimes" by DJ Aphrodite feat. Beverley Knight

The truth is sold out (Extended mix)

The purpose of a remix is to shine a different light on the original concept of a song, if not re-invent it to an alternative concept. Such is the case with this version of the song. 

I'm pretty happy this creation broke through the boundaries of the original funk/disco song and what's produced is a pure trance remix with rocking beats and a climax that leaves you wanting more.  

Source: 
"Tall Boy" by Har Mar Superstar

Not falling in love

Here is where I share my experiments, alternate versions and in general all the free, non-commercial stuff

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