Make old school Italo Disco | Tutorial

[@lszlpesti]

2:15 New Order - Blue Monday kick pattern. :)

[@danilorenzo1296]

Amazing! This could have been an italo hit back in the 80's. Congratulations

[@EspenKraft]

Sweet! Thanks for saying! :)

[@AssortedBits]

Haha, that "Blue Monday" reference while showing the kickdrum!

[@EspenKraft]

Couldn't resist...

[@awaken77]

exactly!

[@O.Dibrova]

Kick + Snare = Take On Me A-Ha 2:32 )))

[@LAZYSUNDAY]

hahaha yeah, I saw that

[@TheRealDoc707]

2:19 reminds me of the beginning from Bad Boy by Miami Sound Machine

[@freakmag99]

This is insane. Please do a whole album.

[@EspenKraft]

I have a albums worth of music in this style on all the digital platforms. You can find this through this channel. Thanks! :)

[@freakmag99]

Espen Kraft This is great news

[@PereRevert]

Magic ! love the Sabrina and Moroder screensavers !!

[@hispanochino]

PR Indeed I was sold the minute I saw Sabrina's picture!

[@awesomereviews1561]

Sabrina is still super hot now. Mega Milf. Check her IG.

[@danimontana100]

It’s such a treat to see how the legends were created in the 80’s. Wow, thank you for this. You mastered this game! Modern Talking is still with me till this day. Great job Sir!

[@EspenKraft]

Awesome. Thanks! :)

[@rickygarcia7400]

how can people give this guy thumbs down his work is so awsome(:

[@HowlingMoonCinemas]

RICKY GARCIA They're just angry, jealous and envious because they have only crappy "music" today while we had some of the greatest music and sound in history back in the 80s and early 90s.

[@EmporiumDigitalStudios]

RICARDO GARCIA, Espen Kraft rules!! Probably some frustrated assholes who simply can’t get it done were the ones with thumbs down.

[@quazar912]

those are hard rock fans...they are jellaous

[@VictorSchelsinger]

Because of their state of retardedness!

[@monkeyxx]

So smooth. Great sounds, great chord progression, playing is on point. Top notch gear as well, haha.

[@EspenKraft]

Awesome. Thanks man! :)

[@FranckChoppin]

Great performance Espen Kraft! I like the way you drive your synths with this vintage sequencer ;)

[@EspenKraft]

Thanks! More to come! :)

[@italomix2611]

Amazing track ! Beautiful sounds and melody , love it !!

[@VampireStepDad]

I love how you keep the D# during that descending chord progression.

[@EspenKraft]

It seemed the natural way to go to create some tension. It's also the 80s way :P

[@VampireStepDad]

Yes, the tension created is just perfect. I gotta work on that kind of stuff.

[@Irionik242]

Wow, I'm very impressed by so much 80s spirit in your track :)

[@EspenKraft]

Awesome! Can't make it any other way ;-)

[@erentxunlopez6281]

His composition by the title " TONIGHT " is awesome ! it has that magical feeling.

[@_P_M_]

That was a lot of fun to watch. I enjoyed the breakdown and explanation on the parts, and seeing the old gear in service was cool too. I'm a big fan of that Roland Juno/JX sound.

[@EspenKraft]

Thanks! Old Rolands never sound bad :)

[@robertbell3700]

I love the snare sound you had triggering by the #4 pad on the 626. It is almost exactly the same that New Order was using on the Brotherhood album.

[@EspenKraft]

Thanks! Most of the drums in this video is my own samples, made through multi layering of different sounds, processed and samples back.

[@steffenuhlig1970]

I find myself liking this over and over again; even after all these years. Thank you, Espen!

[@EspenKraft]

Many thanks Steffen!

[@mpinzo0098]

Very nice bro. Im very glad im not the only one that likes the 80s synthesizers like the Yamaha Dx7, Roland Juno etc. Yes!! And im only 22 yrs old

[@rickygarcia7400]

Marvin Pinzon yep 80s synth are way cooler I just bought new ones from sweet water roland fa6 yamaha moxf6 to name a few but are started to by older ones and now my new synth are put aside lol now I have korg dw8000 roland d50 yamaha dx7iifd ensoniq Esq 1. and slowly still collecting.

[@hudsonadair5923]

boi, I'm 16 and I love this stuff just as much

[@lordterra1377]

Wow this is pure synth gold. I love this!

[@EspenKraft]

Awesome, thanks! :)

[@rainerfingerle281]

Love Italo Disco....grew up with it...

[@lokvagn3135]

That Juno-6 sounds so sweet! I love Italo disco and this sounds wonderful.

[@djgilevans]

Great. I love Italo Disco too.

[@EspenKraft]

Cheers!

[@CandyAppleBlue]

How did I miss this one! This is FANTASTIC! Great tutorial, great talent! Great gear!

[@EspenKraft]

Nice! It's one of the earliest videos I posted after I started up my channel fresh. Thanks my friend :)

[@VictorSchelsinger]

That hook takes me back to the 80's in such an authentic way - love the whole thing...can listen to it over and over again! And the setup is very cool - using the real beasts from back in the day...The pad on the JX-8P is so organic and warm!!! Very cool!!!

[@EspenKraft]

Awesome, thanks! :) The track sort of got worked on to form the finished song in the form of "Greyhound" like you hear it in one of my latest videos.

[@straydog8843]

the Juno1 is incredible at providing sounds straight from the 80's so glad i have one

[@denvy21]

no nonsense ...only material and few patches sounds so superb ...good feeling character of this genre..

[@EspenKraft]

Nice. Thanks! :)

[@denvy21]

Espen Kraft welcome😊

[@AidyJames]

Cm and Gm are the best chords ever. Great work!

[@EspenKraft]

Thanks! :)

[@ahmedalshalchi]

Excellent Espen Kraft ... Excellent synthesizing work ....

[@EspenKraft]

Many thanks Ahmed! :)

[@GeorgiosZaimis]

Very interesting tutorial for an insight in the italo-disco basics. Thank you!

[@EspenKraft]

Thanks! :)

[@GreenThumbNetwork66]

Thanks for the reply Espen, i will keep listening to your music, and enjoying your tutorials, Italo is a great style of music

[@EspenKraft]

Many thanks! :)

[@EmporiumDigitalStudios]

Espen Kraft, you are a pro. Very interesting videos you make and your domain of what’s needed to do to make the track is impressive. Thank you for sharing your knowledge with us!

[@EspenKraft]

My pleasure. Thanks for saying! :)

[@samwinchester6290]

Love that poly synths

[@pixelstrikegames6380]

This is a man with a passion for SYNTHS. Great stuff Espen

[@EspenKraft]

Many thanks! I appreciate you saying that. It IS a passion! :)

[@alvfaria]

Beautiful chord progressions

[@EspenKraft]

Thanks Alvaro! :)

[@amulpatel]

Your videos are so amazing!! great sound selection and chord progression... love italo.. FANCY (slice me nice)

[@EspenKraft]

Thanks Amul! :)

[@flob7753]

Master of his craft!!! Such a pleasure to watch and listen 😍

[@EspenKraft]

Thanks Flo! :)

[@Yanik29]

Synths, synths and again... Synths!!!!! Good job! ❤

[@EspenKraft]

Cheers!

[@dstrats]

Our phones do listen to us! Lmao I was talking to a friend about my love and inspiration of Giorgio Moroder, and the realization of the synth music I love has a genre called “Italo Disco”. I look at my phone this morning and jump on KZbin and I see this amazing example of the genre. Awesome playing man! And fantastic sounds!!! Absolutely authentic! Loved it! Trying to capture that sound and feel with my Take5 synth and a Roland TR08. Only a month into the synth life. Lol All the best!

[@EspenKraft]

Cheers!

[@darren8121]

hey Espen. you bring me joy. i would definitely download those drum sounds. count me in

[@EspenKraft]

Thanks! Most of these drum sounds are in fact part of my Roland D-50 patch pack. As a bonus folder with drums.

[@darren8121]

@@EspenKraft can i purchase without a paypal account?

[@EspenKraft]

Yes, you can buy it here and you can use a credit card or PayPal thepatchbay.co.uk/product/roland-d-50-32-retro-patches-for-synth-pop-synthwave-italo-disco-electronica/?description=true Thanks :)

[@rogeriogomes3715]

Beutyfull! Once again Espen Kraft made me smile like a kid! Awsome job! I wish one one day I will play like you

[@EspenKraft]

Sweet man, thanks! :)

[@Dylan4Video]

I’m loving these videos! It’s helping me conceptualize all these different genres. Please make a video where the vocals are tuned down or run through a filter :). Your voice is so relaxing it would be interesting to hear it in a more “energetic” genre.

[@EspenKraft]

Excellent, thanks! A more energetic genre than Italo is hard for me to fathom myself in. I usually go for the more muted softer synth-pop, but have you checked out all my videos?

[@cosmos8970]

Hey Espen, I've watched this many times just for the Entertainment value. You still lead the pack in this Genre. Miles ahead of the rest. Well done Buddy. Always great. Cheers

[@EspenKraft]

Sweet man, thanks for saying! :)

[@VictorSchelsinger]

Espen, I just listened to the track you put together for Woody's challenge...you have great skills my friend! And to think of it that you did all that in one day is CRAZY talent!!!!I really enjoy your playing!

[@EspenKraft]

Sweet! I've since then completed the track and recorded it properly to form a finished song. With vocals. I will release this after the ongoing remix competition is complete.

[@VictorSchelsinger]

Great!!!Looking forward to it!

[@deltawave82]

Thanks mate! Awesome breakdown 🙂 I would most def download those drum samples if you upload them somewhere. Especially that snare was something I've been looking for / trying to create myself.

[@EspenKraft]

Thanks! These sounds and more has already been released. Check out this video for dem and links: kzbin.info/www/bejne/iXqWo2WLmpaqac0

[@dsremixes1992]

Thanks for this💯

[@undefined1022]

Your videos have helped me so much when it comes to writing thank you sir

[@EspenKraft]

That's great to hear. Thanks! :-)

[@devicefactor2290]

That was awesome, thank you for taking your time to walk through everything. Italo is my favorite genre from the 80s, primarily songs prior to 86. You have a natural gift for it! Do you know how the octave styled bass lines came to be? or who primarily popularized it in that particular fashion? anyhow, The song sounds Great. thank you again.

[@EspenKraft]

Thanks my friend! The octave bass is something that's existed a long time, longer than the disco genre, but when synths with arpeggios started to appear with the Roland Jupiter 4 and later the 8 and Juno series with octaves, it got easy to put it in +1 on the octaves and just let it rip. I don't know which song used that technique at first though.

[@djbonk77]

Octave bass is common in Disco

[@grimlund]

This guy is a pure genius.

[@eugeniacolqui5053]

Ahí está! La fábrica de éxitos. Italos gapul. Hig . Energi . Gracias x publicar , todos los dias se aprende algo nuevo. Que sonido por Dios.

[@EspenKraft]

:D

[@glenquagmire7724]

Beautiful chord structure and variation.

[@EspenKraft]

Thanks Jimmy! :)

[@BadBlitz]

This is so my favourite youtube channel now!!

[@EspenKraft]

Awesome!

[@maiconfilipiteixeira9047]

Congratulations! I am from Brazil and love italo disco, I was born in 1993. I will try to play an italo disco music on my CTK7200. Great sounds! Hugs from Brazil.

[@EspenKraft]

Thanks! :)

[@occhiondolo]

this song could have been a hit, back then! Ciao from Italy

[@EspenKraft]

Thanks for saying man! Greetings from Norway :)

[@dreamix2007]

Great pacthes for the DX7, like the poly... could barely believe the DX could sound like that so had to download just to check it out lol, great song aswell Love it!

[@EspenKraft]

Thanks! :D

[@_xtfr]

Dayumn you're awesome! I'm going to be plowing through all your videos now. The free dx patches giveaways are simply amazing for a volca fm newbie like me. Keep up the good work!

[@EspenKraft]

Thanks man! Got lots of new stuff coming soon :)

[@davidosolo]

Espen, you nailed it man! Just dope.

[@EspenKraft]

Thanks David! :)

[@LuigiRosa]

There is no italodisco without a picture of Sabrina Salerno :-)

[@soarer25gtt]

Really talented! Awesome sounds, and loving the 80s vibes! I want to learn to play and compose like this too.

[@EspenKraft]

Cheers!

[@calderadelescocia7325]

Awesome video's Espen. Thank you so much for your work!

[@EspenKraft]

Thanks Robert! :)

[@edilsonarruda210]

Great job, Mr. Kraft!

[@EspenKraft]

Thanks!

[@ryananthony4840]

Back watching again, great playing man!!

[@EspenKraft]

Cheers!

[@paolonoal9950]

Nice! And everything with Giorgio and Sabrina watching you....

[@jamiedavies4545]

Its Jamie Davies I love this music he's awesome at music and keyboards keep it up Espen Kraft my mate.

[@ianwilson7637]

Thanks for the video, this brings back so many good memories. Those drums are on point!! Slice me Nice, Midnight Radio, Passion, Living on Video, Don't Wake Me Up, Happy Song, Deliverance, Don't Cry Tonight, Hey Hey Guy, Disco Band, Somebody To Love. :)

[@EspenKraft]

Thanks! Yeah, there's so many great tracks you're listing up there. The list is endless really. I'm currently working on a Italo Disco EP coming later this fall. I'm sure you'll like it. Just watch my channel :)

[@birdy369]

I hope to see someone in this synth part of youtube do an 80s Latin freestyle music breakdown or demo! Edit - love seeing Giorgio Moroder in the background lol

[@nellobello7220]

ahh memories... a young couple running at the beach in a FIAT 127 and two kids on the rear with a TOSHIBA BOOMBOX boosting sounds like that ... and i was one of those kids !! ciao caro !!!

[@EspenKraft]

Sweet!

[@jazzmastert]

Great fun, reminds me of Bobby Orlando Bobcat stuff from the day!

[@EspenKraft]

Nice!

[@robbelliii]

Your kick is very reminiscent of Blue Monday and I love that snare up top.

[@EspenKraft]

The track in a reworked version with vocals are included in my upcoming EP. :)

[@OtomoTenzi]

Sensei, can you please teach us how to mix some SICKENING BEATS, similar to the ones heard on 'Sonia Belolo - Life Dance'? Could you please show us the basics on how to do it in a tutorial video? 😳

[@EspenKraft]

Sorry, I don't do request videos. My production and mixing techniques are well documented on my channel in various videos and not the least my epic 10 hour video series "A Song Is Born". I just recently did some Italo Space Disco tutorial with Arturia V-collection 9.

[@druidhdhubh4735]

You, Sir, are a total legend.

[@TheNagualZone]

very solid! wow! totally authentic - bravo bravo! xx

[@EspenKraft]

Thanks! :)

[@francescosky1268]

THIS IS WONDERFUL!!!!!!!!!!

[@EspenKraft]

Thanks!

[@AndersEngerJensen]

Neat Espen! Instant Pet Shop Boys intro... (Suburbia is one of my favourites next to West End Girls disco version). Very Moroder + Pelandi feeling here. Btw, have you heard "Generique Top 50" by Paolo Pelandi? It's my all time favourite Italo Disco. :D

[@EspenKraft]

Thanks Anders! It's funny you should bring it up. "Dreams" with P.Lion (or Paolo..) was one of my first obsessions with Italo Disco back in the day. A couple of years after its release I had it on a mixtape cassette in my first car and I listened to it 10 times a day, learning the chords and stuff like that! Great! :) Suburbia is on my top10 PSB so I had to have a homage to them in this, just because they were so close to Italo in many ways.. Paninaro oh-oh-oh...

[@AndersEngerJensen]

I have so many hours building LEGO while listening to that particular PSB album back in '86. Laid some of the foundation for my way of composing. When it comes to Paolo Pelandi/P.Lion, I actually have a weird approach, because I've only heard this version first: eox.no/projects/Generique_Top_50_Remake.mp3 My dad brought back one of those Best of Synthesizers vol. where this song was one of the remakes done. And it has stayed with me ever since. Want to make a remake/remix, but there is something about the way these guys played that makes it surprisingly hard to recreate the same vibe. Anyway, my forever goto happy song.

[@EspenKraft]

Great story bro! Something's better left undone right? 2 diveded by zero -zero . . .

[@djbonk77]

It's a fact that PSB were into Italo , like other Synth Pops groups

[@Skumberg74]

Hei Espen Incredible performance and production! Do you think the dog bark sample 9:34 is the same as in "Suburbia" by Pet Shop Boys?

[@EspenKraft]

I don't take samples from other artists into my own music. It's not the same. Cheers :)

[@Skumberg74]

@@EspenKraft Oh sorry I didn't mean ripped, just curious if it was in the standard sound bank of some old gear :)

[@EspenKraft]

None taken. None meant. I can certainly use a famous preset sound, but something like a dog bark from a hit song I cannot. ;-) It's a free sample you can find online actually.

[@cellophaneriot]

Absolutely amazing!!! Love your collection of synths! Especially that DX 7 Poly! We have a couple Korg’s we use. A MircoKorgS and a Korg MS-20.

[@EspenKraft]

Cheers!

[@SynthGrooves]

Wow simply amazing love italo so much

[@EspenKraft]

Nice! :)

[@cheesemakerman]

Muito interessante, essas frequencias tranquilizam os ânimos. 👏👏👏🖒

[@EspenKraft]

Gracie!

[@dykodesigns]

Cool! I quite dig those dog samples in the beginning, reminds me of the petshop boys.

[@EspenKraft]

Thanks! 😃

[@procta2343]

Where was this stuff when I was learning music at school!!

[@blueninety]

very nice

[@EspenKraft]

Cheers!

We have soooo many synths in common! :) Unfortunately I am still building my studio and all my rack synths are not in place yet so cant show it off as good as you yet ;) Great content and great music! Thanks for sharing!

[@EspenKraft]

I know all about space and time.. ;-) Thanks!

[@westbestp]

Great tutorial!!! I adore this sounds!!

[@danielcolecionador]

Congratulations... you win a new fan... hugs to you

[@EspenKraft]

Thanks Daniel, I appreciate it! :)

[@numusique]

Did you release those TR-626 samples? The italiodisco drum machine👌🏻

[@EspenKraft]

The samples, and more, are now part of this release you can check out here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/rKTTq5-rYpmUfqc

[@lilnazir2099]

That was really awesome!!! Wish you a thousands of likes!

[@maximumcomfort]

great video and thoroughly explained! helped a lot thank you

[@EspenKraft]

Thanks Max. Glad it did! :)

[@Thaizer]

so amazing.... i like the song and your synth collection

[@EspenKraft]

Cheers!

[@interbrainmusic621]

This track is great. I like how you even gave us some of the patches for the synth. Great job, you earned a sub

[@EspenKraft]

Many thanks! :D

[@interbrainmusic621]

@@EspenKraft Hey man. Is this track by any chance on spotify?

[@EspenKraft]

@@interbrainmusic621 It is, sort of. My expanded idea and rework is on there as the song "Greyhound". Here: open.spotify.com/album/3dIJbQyEx438NzEj9WFBFu

[@nickienok9643]

Very nice demo, thanks :) Great sounds! Why can't we have music like that today!

[@EspenKraft]

Thanks Nickie! :)

[@morrisman64]

WOW that sounds good!!

[@robertgoldbornatyout]

absolutely perfect

[@carloscadenas8602]

I'm very fan of Italo Disco and i liked so much this video. Thanks a lot!!!!

[@EspenKraft]

Great Carlos, thanks!

[@donherson]

Congratulation my friend.... you are so great...and your work is amazing...thanks for keep alive the Italo sound... genius.. !!!!... many greetings from Chile

[@EspenKraft]

Thanks!

[@entersat]

que grato es escuchar mirar y aprender de un gran músico como vos , la verdad te admiro saludos y buena vida

[@EspenKraft]

Gracias amigo :)

[@voyager134]

You are a MASTER! Thanks for the DX7 patches,cheers from Italy!

[@EspenKraft]

Thank you, I'm glad you liked them. Greetings from Norway! :)

[@pranaytony]

Love this session sir! So warm!

[@EspenKraft]

Thanks!

[@etomedo888]

Excellent work and video.

[@EspenKraft]

Thanks!

[@doobyboy21]

Damn that shit was dope ! Can you please make another one like this ? I kept repeating your live performance while working in my garage ! Italo Disco was the shit in the 80'S ! I also loved P Lion's Happy Children ! Or Clio -Eyes ! Gazebo - I love Chopin ! Gary Low - You Are a Danger ! Awesome Music ! =)

[@EspenKraft]

Thanks! I have other videos on my channel that has similar content and I have lots of music online that's Italo in nature, although I make 80s inspired synthpop with focus on "only" synthpop.

[@doobyboy21]

subscribed !

[@EspenKraft]

Thanks!

[@DJMacX]

I simply love this genre!

[@ShiningJMaster]

I love your tutorials and videos. thank you

[@EspenKraft]

Thank you Andrea! Thanks for the support! :)

[@derekholland3328]

great work mate!...cheers from New Jersey, U.S.A.

[@EspenKraft]

Thanks Derek! :)