Tusker Posted January 25, 2020 Share Posted January 25, 2020 It seems there is an explosion of synth players doing their own thing and developing new idioms and styles. David (Escape Rocks) posted this example of Eric Levy ... [video:youtube] Here are Louis Cole and DOMi doing some tasty stuff .... [video:youtube] ... and here is Nick Semrad with a lovely solo which begins at 3.30 [video:youtube] It would be nice to collect examples of emerging synth players, their work and their style. Would you have any examples to share? Thanks in advance. ð Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Adan Posted January 25, 2020 Share Posted January 25, 2020 Yeah it's interesting because it seems like 20 years ago almost no one was playing synths. Now they're back and it's an exciting time for keyboard players. Is it also an exciting time for audiences? Synths have always presented the danger of allowing the player to entertain themselves while leaving 90% of the audience behind. It all depends on the player but I don't think that risk is any less present now. In fact you could argue that as advances in synthesis allow for more complexity, so they present more risk. Quote Gigging: Crumar Mojo 61, Hammond SKPro Home: Vintage Vibe 64 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Adan Posted January 25, 2020 Share Posted January 25, 2020 I discovered The Comet is Coming from a recent KC thread, and have been kind of obsessing about them ever since. Dan Leavers plays only the same two 30+ year old synths, and has commented in interviews something to the effect that the limited sound palette actually works to inspire and channel his creativity. It works for me! Another interesting point is that he's mostly playing his synths. There is some arpeggiation, but he's not just triggering a loop and going off on it. This Boiler Room video is long but it's one of the best I've found, with lots of keyboard shots. Quote Gigging: Crumar Mojo 61, Hammond SKPro Home: Vintage Vibe 64 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ProfD Posted January 25, 2020 Share Posted January 25, 2020 I found this to be an excellent display of how a synth can be used musically: [video:youtube] The lady has chops across the board both programming and playing. Quote PD "The greatest thing you'll ever learn, is just to love and be loved in return."--E. Ahbez "Nature Boy" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doerfler Posted January 25, 2020 Share Posted January 25, 2020 ... and here is Nick Semrad with a lovely solo which begins at 3.30 note he is playing a DSI Prophet '08 (which doesn't get much love in this forum) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Josh Paxton Posted January 25, 2020 Share Posted January 25, 2020 I hadn't heard of Nick Semrad before, but that is some damn tasty playing. Will be checking him out! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doerfler Posted January 25, 2020 Share Posted January 25, 2020 I hadn't heard of Nick Semrad before, but that is some damn tasty playing. Will be checking him out! he's been playing in The Funk Apostles along side of Cory Henry the last 3 years or so, and has done sound design for Nord keyboards Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
woodtus Posted January 25, 2020 Share Posted January 25, 2020 Sean Wayland sounds good to me [video:youtube] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doerfler Posted January 25, 2020 Share Posted January 25, 2020 speaking of Cory Henry, I can't believe this video is almost 4 years old now, with almost 22 million views. Synth solo starts at the 5 minute mark. Oh, and BTW, he is playing a King Korg, everyone's favorite synth. [video:youtube] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scottasin Posted January 27, 2020 Share Posted January 27, 2020 Lisa Bella Donna (already mentioned) is definitely someone who I've discovered recently that stands out as unique. There are a lot of technically virtuosic keyboard players who play synths, but she seems to be a true virtuoso synth player, and really gets the ins and outs of the instrument, the way she switches between arpeggiator use, recording sequences on the fly, and live playing all on one instrument is not like anyone else I've seen. Funny enough, the video posted above reminds me a lot stylistically of an artist a friend introduced me to. He's a video game composer utilizing mostly 8-bit sounds. Lisa's harmonic choices are amazingly reminiscent. The second half of this track comes to mind. I also feel like the 'synth explosion' is maybe not as much touring live artists, and a lot more youtube personalities. touring with a modular setup or several analog synths is a lot tougher than putting together a weekly youtube video with whatever new gadget you got last month. [video:youtube] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
o0Ampy0o Posted January 28, 2020 Share Posted January 28, 2020 I found this to be an excellent display of how a synth can be used musically: The lady has chops across the board both programming and playing. Up for consideration by those who dislike the Norange there is the Moog One which could have been conceived while enjoying a picnic in a similar Impressionist's paradise. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tusker Posted January 30, 2020 Author Share Posted January 30, 2020 The lady has chops across the board both programming and playing. Yeah she really does. Lovely video. I love that big Moog One sound. It has it's own voice, not to be diminished by comparisons to Memorymoogs, CS80s and GX1s. Lisa Bella Donna (already mentioned) is definitely someone who I've discovered recently that stands out as unique. There are a lot of technically virtuosic keyboard players who play synths, but she seems to be a true virtuoso synth player, and really gets the ins and outs of the instrument, the way she switches between arpeggiator use, recording sequences on the fly, and live playing all on one instrument is not like anyone else I've seen. Funny enough, the video posted above reminds me a lot stylistically of an artist a friend introduced me to. He's a video game composer utilizing mostly 8-bit sounds. Lisa's harmonic choices are amazingly reminiscent. The second half of this track comes to mind. He is isn't he? Thank you for the video. He reminds me a bit of Larry Fast. Here is Lisa Bella Donna showing off her amazing programming chops without meaning to. Just drop the needle at 9 minutes or 14 minutes. [video:youtube] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tusker Posted January 30, 2020 Author Share Posted January 30, 2020 Sean Wayland sounds good to me I had not heard of him before. Time to research him. Thank you. ð Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tusker Posted January 30, 2020 Author Share Posted January 30, 2020 Yeah, Corey Henry is the guy! There is a really good theoretical discussion of this solo by composer David Bruce here: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tusker Posted January 30, 2020 Author Share Posted January 30, 2020 Even a Roland scat preset is hip when Jesus Molina plays his lines with it. Caution! Roy Hargrove ear worm ahead! [video:youtube] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Threadslayer Posted January 30, 2020 Share Posted January 30, 2020 Synths have always presented the danger of allowing the player to entertain themselves while leaving 90% of the audience behind. Ouch. Reminds me of that cartoon of the audience ignoring the keytar solo. Quote Whenever you find yourself on the side of the majority, it is time to pause and reflect. -Mark Twain Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
omvibes Posted January 30, 2020 Share Posted January 30, 2020 Some of Jason Lindner's work with Donny McCaslin blows my mind...for example in this concert... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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