Thoughts On Minimalism / How Far Can You Go With Kick + Bass

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Hello there!
Minimalism, an often abused word that means a lot of things. In todays video I will give you my interpretation, along with artist and sound examples. I consider myself a minimalist when recording music ( yes, I know, I have a little too much gear to call myself like that :D ) , so I want to share my ideas on why this approach really helped me shaping my style.
I will use the Elektron Analog Rytm MkII and the Avalon Bassline with my Zahl Am1 desk and few of my favorite effects, including the Meris Chase Bliss CXM1978 , the Eventide Space, the Benidub Echo and the Echo Fix Ef-x3.
Enjoy!
00:00 Introduction and artist I like
04:30 My Idea of minimalism and why it helped me
17:50 Sound examples and tips
Listen to the artists I mentioned:
Eliane Radigue: open.spotify.com/album/2qLeLt...
Caterina Barbieri : open.spotify.com/album/0NzTh2...
Plastikman : open.spotify.com/album/1U7aY4...
More Oora:
Instagram / ooramusic
Bandcamp oora.bandcamp.com
Spotify tinyurl.com/4w459x3m

[@OoraMusic]

This channel is supported by my Patreons, become a member here : www.patreon.com/ooramusic

[@alb_reuel]

gotta say, i love these vlog style videos about aesthetics and technique. you're a really good communicator. worth considering a podcast or an outdoors kind of vlogs! nevertheless, sometimes is not about gear and sounds, sometimes is about experience and philosophies.

[@OoraMusic]

Id love to ! still have to believe that I have enough things to say!

[@girlinagale]

I sent an ambient track for a compilation. The producer suggested cutting the final 30 seconds of "repetitive" hats and bass. But that's what I wanted.

[@jramosmusic]

Such a great video. This was like a master class in cretivity and composition. Thanks for the great work.

[@OoraMusic]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@jasonfrancis3482]

A clear love for producing what is in your heart 📯😎

[@OoraMusic]

Always!

[@ericktapiaacosta]

Love this video man! Is really inspired to know about you creative process. Thank you from Chile

[@michaelkonomos]

Man this is SO great. I really connect with your ideas and it really makes me think. Thank you!!!

[@OoraMusic]

You're so welcome!

[@denardimusic]

Sehr interessant deine musikalischen Vorschläge, deine Herzlichkeit und dein inneres Kapital, das du mit solcher Demut und Einfachheit teilst. Ich liebe deine Werke, pure Inspiration. Muchas gracias por tanta musicalidad. Abrazo

[@OoraMusic]

Thanks for your kindness

[@stylusnation]

Beautifully said; this really resonated with me. Thank you for these important ideas and reminders. 🙏🏻

[@OoraMusic]

Thanks For watching!

[@jamiekent673]

Great concept for a video and definitely something we should all think about, really enjoyed it... In the UK they say a "dog chasing his tail" and in France a "snake biting it's tale", I guess in Italy you found perfect middle ground... 😅

[@roymitchell5894]

I absolutely love this video. It has helped with my learning curve that I currently fee quite overwhelmed with.. I can work with fewer instruments and tracks which is completely managable and I can be more hands on and modulate and perform in real time and be more expressive. It has really helped me a lot. Thank you so much! I also have a spare novation launch control XL that i didn't have a purpose for, but I do now.

[@OoraMusic]

great to hear that!

[@ErinIsBlueBlue]

Very interisting. Excellent video. Great demo. Thank you !

[@OoraMusic]

My pleasure!

[@giorgiofesta3928]

Great and very inspirational video! Love it. Thanks

[@OoraMusic]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@Notreallydave]

Hey, just found your videos by accident, and wanted to say thank you, it really resonates strong with what i do / my approach to sound.

[@OoraMusic]

Thanks Dave!

[@andreasdamberg359]

Lovley sounding!

[@OoraMusic]

thanks!

[@bobflick9496]

Grear subject and presentation Oora. Your point on "who decides value" is spot on. To me, art and truth are one and the same. YOU are the only one who can decide what is true to yourself. And the beauty of that to me is that it frees you up to create without fear. The fear of you, and what you've created, being judged. Not to say that you don't listen to what others think or say, but take it with a grain of salt and put it in the proper perspective. Relax. Be in the moment. The moment is truth. "The truth shall set you free."

[@OoraMusic]

very well said, thank you

[@Cantrip1957]

Thank-you for this very enjoyable and insightful talk. I feel inspired.

[@OoraMusic]

Thanks!!

[@tamalitogirl]

Thank you for your wise words and knowledge❤

[@OoraMusic]

Thanks for watching!

[@AmbientHermitage]

Thank you! Really appreciated your video!😃👍

[@OoraMusic]

Glad it was helpful!

[@toffchunks]

very helpfull as usual thks for sharing!!!

[@OoraMusic]

My pleasure!

[@morizanova]

Beautiful mindset you have here . I remember when first start doing live back then , my mentor always said "Pick or play any song which only need 60% of your true skills . With it, you can enjoy the performances and having fun with audiences . People didn`t want watching static doll in stage, which would be happen if you choose songs which need your 100% music skills " Making music in studio or own spaces should be founded by thinking how those creation will be playing in live stages? After while and keep using those mindset , It will forcing us trimming any unneeded parts in our composition , including use of any ( unnecessary ) fancy tools we`ve had.

[@Somnambule]

Big thanx for sharing your experience! Love your work so much❤️‍🔥! Greetings from over the ocean🖖☺️

[@OoraMusic]

Thank you 🙌

[@jon_gee]

Great video one of my favs from you. ❤❤❤

[@OoraMusic]

Thanks Jon

[@rweberc]

Something to dig into and think about, thanks!

[@OoraMusic]

Thanks!

[@cymbolic_space1832]

just want to say god bless you man. thanks for all you do. 🦊🙏

[@OoraMusic]

Same to you!

[@doverbeachxyz]

Grande argomento, capita proprio a puntino. Ci sto pensando dalla mattina alla sera da settimane.

[@OoraMusic]

mi fa piacere :)

[@avefuqua]

Thanks.

[@SpikesStudio3]

Ciao. And thank you. Really enjoyed that! 👍

[@OoraMusic]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@Brucelectricmoose]

Excellent thank you

[@OoraMusic]

You are very welcome

[@dustinevans]

"Focus on one voice and make that sing" ❤

[@OoraMusic]

:)

[@NIGH.NE.]

Love this, thank you brother :)

[@OoraMusic]

My pleasure!

[@kenb7540]

Love this. 👏👏🙏

[@OoraMusic]

thanks!

[@marcospiga6750]

Bravo, very interesting indeed.

[@OoraMusic]

Glad you think so!

[@alainbarre7483]

Very helpfull thanks from France

[@OoraMusic]

Glad it was helpful!

[@CiabaMusic]

Oh, that poor litlle Peak downthere, next to the shoes... 😁 Nice and inspirational video as always, and just when I was starting to think to reduce the amount of notes/voices in my music, so to give more "air" to what I'd like to pop out more.

[@OoraMusic]

ahah peak is suffering

[@Unifono2012]

very nice video.

[@OoraMusic]

thanks!

[@lrkx_]

I get why you like Caterina Barbieri. Fantastic! That’s what I aspire to sound like one day!!! Thanks for the vlog and introducing me to another great artist.

[@OoraMusic]

You are so welcome!

[@Kfzzzll]

Ricardo vilalobos would drop 15min vinyl with 1 tom 😁

[@mniesen9417]

And he can get away with it

[@OoraMusic]

ahahah true

[@optoproductions]

Awesome advice man, I would check out the RME Digiface, it gives you 4 ADAT channels for up to 32 inputs and outputs, or go the MADI route for 128 channels 😁

[@OoraMusic]

Thanks for the tip!

[@n97223]

Great video! Really appreciate what you share for content on this channel!

[@OoraMusic]

My pleasure!

[@PspkCz]

Man write a book ...I found you few days before and I already like listening you :D

[@OoraMusic]

Id love to , actually :)

[@nntblst]

Pretty cool...

[@OoraMusic]

ahahah well, I used to have it 10 years ago

[@user-or3ce4gt2r]

GraZie again 👌

[@OoraMusic]

:)

[@els1f]

This might sound dumb, but the first thing that made me notice the minimalist sort of thing was Diplo/ Mad Decent back in the day. There are these long stretches that are just the deepest kick and a vocal sample and I can still feel it lol. He/they would make the most memorable shit with so little! And Plastikman! 🤯😱😭 Omg I listen to him for HOURS and I'm amazed at how engaging it is!

[@OoraMusic]

not dumb at all mate! Richie is a master of arrangements!

[@chambre466]

thanks a lot

[@OoraMusic]

You are most welcome

[@tricks-and-tips]

Yeah, nice video! This is also very interesting (to me) next to gear review demo stuff :) Small tip : fix the focus next time :)

[@OoraMusic]

Thanks for the tip! Sony went mad!

[@tricks-and-tips]

@@OoraMusic I had this too the other day. But with even worse focus hunting, so I felt it was needed to redo the jam. Luckily it is just hobby, so I don't mind having to do that again 😆

[@pandastick33]

Love u man

[@OoraMusic]

Thanks Peter

[@gregferris6895]

Fantastico!

[@OoraMusic]

grazie!

[@cadetesespaciales]

Hello my friend! Like your way of thinking,, subscribed! Would you mind telling me what the midi controller with knobs is?

[@insecto.3725]

are you already using the adats on the apollo? ferrofish pulse16 would be a good interface to add 16ins at 44.1 / 8 at 96. or get a rme and connect via adat too. so you can use the rme analyzer digi check. chhers from Dresden :)

[@OoraMusic]

thanks need to check the ferrofish

[@whendoesthisend]

"We just want to vibe with others" Really what it's about for me.

[@OoraMusic]

:)

[@StevenKaeser]

Super nice! Great content. Can I ask what mixer you are using?

[@OoraMusic]

zahl am1

[@playthesoundmusic]

When I’m composing and improvising, I’m always wondering if I’m being lazy. I hope not because I love the way I approach making sounds. 😂

[@OoraMusic]

i think is an healthy question to ask ourselves!

[@henrikfisch]

_Éliane Radigue: Trilogie de la Mort_ Instant buy! 🙂❤

[@OoraMusic]

amazing

[@ChickyNYC]

If you have a UAD Apollo and need more inputs, instead of changing out the sound card/interface, just add another Apollo.

[@OoraMusic]

Too expensive to get 32 ins and outs..

[@disantlor]

Are you monitoring the mix back from the DAW and using the master bus of the AM1 to sum all the FX returns and capture as a separate stereo track?

[@OoraMusic]

I can do that too. I change routing basing on what im doing .

[@Calamindir]

Got some lovely gear ther. How about a minimal setup with some 'starter'/cheaper devices?

[@OoraMusic]

I did some previous video using very cheap things, but will consider that for future ones!

[@remo.blllue]

great vid, more italian phrases please :) !!

[@OoraMusic]

ahahah will do

[@gimmenames9039]

Soundcard: RME is the way to go. Latency is great, super stable, clean sound.

[@OoraMusic]

I am trying Antelope Orion and loving it so far!

[@visheshl]

You know once i did a track called 'what happend to my tabla'. It consisted of a drum machine typically heard in drum n bass, however the midi was doing patterns and fills typically found being played on a tabla rather than a drum...rather than the drum going amen break, it went dha tirikit dha dha tirikit...etc...and that was the only track. And instead of the bass in drum n bass, i had a tanpura drone....(which is typically used in indian classical performances As a background accompaniment which singers use to maintain the notes being sung.) Thats it, that was the entire track....a drum doing tabla patterns and a tanpura drone in the background. Myself, I think it was a pretty minimalistic yet interesting track....was it interesting enough for the listeners or did it add value...im not too sure... But i completely understand what you're saying....does it keep the listeners interested till the end, does it have replay value. The bar has been raised too high i guess...every track has longer and longer risers and insane beat drops....i don't think its rewarding enough for me to even try and match that level.... especially when my music is heard by all of ten people in the entire world.😂 Im more content making generative fart noises...do visit my channel and listen to the 'alien farts in a sci fi lab' atmospheric track...cheers, a fact ill try to remember from this video...keep it minimal BUT keep it interesting enough for the listeners till the very end.

[@introvertical_1931]

Richie hawtin the besttt

[@OoraMusic]

yesss

[@detroitologist]

When I first started dj'ing Musik had just come out. I thought of those records as really complex because it was always complicated to make those tracks work with anything. I had heard dj's playing Helikopter mostly but you just don't hear much Plastikman in dj's sets and it's usually close to a train wreck when you do hear them. I don't think that digital dj'ing has made it any easier because it's still really difficult to make the third song. The music was really on a different level. You can't equate minimal to simple which is what pretty much defines the "style."

[@neuzethmusic131]

Just saw Caterina live two days ago at Elevate Festival. It was transcendental, she's brilliant, her compositions are so intense and emotional, even more when heard on a good PA system. For me, she's the leading lady in the modern synth scene .

[@OoraMusic]

I completely agree

[@gododd]

brilliant performance, I was there as well :-)

[@raysubject]

"when you play live you're 80% dumber" - YEAH EXACTLY :-)))) This is how i feel it too !

[@OoraMusic]

If Surgeon says that.... :)

[@Skiddoo42]

I think it's because you naturally exchange self-control for the power you get from the attention of the audience. Everything is a battle with the ego. Sublimation is the key, when we focus the theme of the performance on the elevation of critical personal and social values, everything soars. This is why some comedians become incredibly successful, because they weave humility into their act, which is what I think an electronic musician does with minimalism because they step aside to leave space for silence.

[@raysubject]

@@Skiddoo42 From my experience it’s mostly because of bad light condition in club and very loud music (obviously lol) which works on me like big distraction and i’m then in stress i mess something hard and i break people’s mood and they will be pissed on me lol I know it’s irrational nonsense 🤣

[@Skiddoo42]

@@raysubject I guess this is why so many people play with backing set tracks? I think I've listened to so much electronic music now that I kind of look forward to mistakes as a reminder that it's a live performance

[@ManuPro3]

Da studente di musica elettronica in conservatorio questo video è veramente interessante, attualmente sto scrivendo una tesi che parla del Minimalismo americano degli anni '60, quindi parlo molto di Steve Reich, Philip Glass e La Monte Young... loro dicono che "il processo è protagonista" ed è vero. Fare musica con poche note non rende un'opera noiosa e semplice.

[@OoraMusic]

molto vero. i maestri che hai citato sono grandi ispirazioni

[@ManuPro3]

@@OoraMusic Il fatto è che, se vogliamo parlare di Minimalismo in musica, quello degli anni 60 non era incentrato sull'aggiunta di effetti, ma sul processo compositivo. Esempio la tecnica del phasing di Steve Reich nel lavoro Piano Phase. Comunque davvero bel video, il nuovo mixer è uno spettacolo!

[@KosmoDeuz]

Thanks man Do you play dub techno ?

[@OoraMusic]

I do,but only in studio. My lives are more into the ambient downtempo thing.

[@devondetroit2529]

Still need the Eventide 3000 video please please

[@OoraMusic]

It will come, is a hell of a beast to tame!!

[@talweg384]

Not sure it's the best setup to talk about minimalism but I share this point of view. Does someone know the name of the last ambient artist he mentionned? "Lowshield" ?

[@OoraMusic]

Loscil

[@devondetroit2529]

Oora, what do you think of Biospheres music? He has a track called Ballerina that is minimal in the way he brings maybe 4-5 loops in and out I think you’d like Biosphere strata album

[@OoraMusic]

LOVE biosphere. Man with the camera is one of my favorite albums ever.

[@girlinagale]

Someone could release a 3 minutes kick and I would love it but if I try that it lacks something. Electronic music is an adventure..

[@devondetroit2529]

What’s wrong with having 4 stereo tracks multitracked? Sometimes it’s best to have less options, I do the same record the 4 bus groups from my mackie onyx and then mix. Keep it simple

[@OoraMusic]

It is good, don't get me wrong. I just need a couple of tracks more for conveniency

[@ionianechoes]

I really feel like saying "you can do all this on a daw without having to spend a lot of money" is a mantra I'm really kind of tired of hearing. It's like of course you can if you want to take it literally. But it is particularly in styles like this were its not really appropriate. I'm kind of sick of hearing from people that have amazing desks, spring verbs, expensive synths and pedal..."oh you can do this too with your daw and a volca bass". Well I have myself a lot of gear and I'm not going to stay this to someone starting. I definitely do better music because of my expensive gear. Probably because I'm not really talented or a genius. I don't think it's really honest to say that. Then why do you have so much stuff?

[@mir-dr]

Hey man, sorry to be “that” English person but I couldn’t quite get the names of the artists you discussed at the start apart from Plastikman - I’m really keen to check them out, could you share the names? Thanks, Sam :) Edit: EXCELLENT video by the way ❤

[@jonathonholand5363]

Eliane radigue - trilogie de la mort

[@jonathonholand5363]

Caterina barbieri

[@OoraMusic]

I put the links :)

[@errorrolf]

Am I the only one who's only hearing the send effects?

[@eento06]

Patterns Of Consciousness, true masterpiece

[@OoraMusic]

YES

[@hexfxtriks]

It's the ol 'Less is more' idea of creation.

[@OoraMusic]

definitely

[@BonasBuden]

Good philosophies about music. You are dead on that music is like language and communication. In linguistics there is a great weight on how you say things. If you speak more slowly and repeat key points you make your message more meaningful and assertive rather than trying to rapid fire some random words and see if anything sticks. In music I have found out that sparse compositions where you almost like make listener to anticipate next note or small phrase of notes makes them so much more powerful. Of course there are exceptions to the rules like in every aspect of life. Arps and drums naturaly make constant circulation. They just need other kind of attention to keep meaningful. Arps must have some movement in voicing to keep it alive. Drums just need compositional tricks to keep them coming and going in natural manner to keep them interesting. Drummer of Lamb of God, Chris Adler, once said about double bass drumming: You need to play them just enough to keep audience wanting to hear them more. If you just blast songs through with them audience grow tired of them. You are right about that going with the feel. It is good approach to never try to aim for anything. Of course you can choose rough idea by your mood if you like to start fiddling around with ambient or maybe do some techno or whatever is your cup of tea. In techno for example there are those strongs idioms of that genre, four on the floor and off beat hi-hat. laying out foundations of that specific genre may help to set the mood. At least for me right after that I start feeling out different pads to lay down some carpet of sound which evoke some feelings and thoughts. It also gives good harmonic foundation for the track to give really solid feeling of scale that you have selected. Constantly droning root note gives that relation to melodic notes played on top of that. Ambient is a different beast altogether. There might be a structure and rhytm but many times there is not. I have always been huge music listener consuming electronic music, rock, heavy, funk, jazz and whatever fits the feeling. Also playing drums you could think that rhytm being integral part of the music choice. Once I started playing around with synths and using lots of time finding and honing some specific tunes out of a synth I had grown more interest on how the actual sound itself sounds like. There can be really minute changes which can make a big difference if you just pay attention to it. Ambient can be pretty demanding genre in that sense to find those subtleties. I think that it really comes to a personal preferences ( and aqcuired taste) how minimal you can push it and still get a sense of it being some kind of music or even listenable thing. Still there seems to be almost always that constant slow movement in the sound even if we are talking about most structureless ambient tracks which keeps it alive. Many times there seems to be unintentional rhytmic structures in ambient tracks as well which are coming from LFO, frequency beatings, reverberations and delays etc. It is like looking at the clouds. There is nothing intentional there but once you start paying attention all kind of patterns and stuff might start to emerge if you just give it some time.

[@OoraMusic]

maaan thanks for this beautiful message. loved your ideas and really grateful for you to take time to put them here!

[@X-101]

Richie over Robert Hood hmm

[@hristiangeorgiev5236]

Primal Code

[@OoraMusic]

:)

[@observer_music]

careful with stereo effects on bass sounds it can phase out a lot

[@OoraMusic]

I call it character :D

[@observer_music]

@@OoraMusic love your ideas thanks for the video

[@otisobl]

Gorgeous. You live in Berlin, as I do? Ever play live?

[@OoraMusic]

yes I do! I did a live shoe in a church 3 weeks ago that was awesome. I usually tell people on Ig when I play!

[@otisobl]

@@OoraMusic I like your style. LMK when you play again. Are you planning to go to Superbooth?

[@sullycliftona888]

The cheak .. look at the kit …

[@OoraMusic]

:0

[@marco_movie]

Aggiungi una piantina sulla scrivania e sarai minimale 🙂

[@OoraMusic]

ahahahah non ho finestre, la prendo di plastica?

[@BsYtHandle]

Just an ARP 2500? How does she manage lol????!

[@OoraMusic]

check her documentary, is golden

[@IanBeato]

Less Is More

[@OoraMusic]

agreed

[@flopasen]

"she only used an arp2500" me: ;---;

[@OoraMusic]

ahah I mean, I wish I had a 2500

[@BHOTHE2ND]

Fun fact: no fun fact

[@OoraMusic]

fair enough

[@mollyoko]

Less is more.

[@mir-dr]

More or less, yeah.

[@teamcoalhapcharcoal]

Agreed, personally I like to listen to nothing.

[@mollyoko]

@@teamcoalhapcharcoal its very peaceful

[@OoraMusic]

:)

[@UserName________]

No links to artists 👎🏼

[@OoraMusic]

you are right

[@ZebraandDonkey]

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Minimal_music I think most people confuse this actual specific type of music with the literal definition of using less instruments or something like that, but essentially minimal music is following the Wikipedia, and has essentially three elements, some sort of drones some arpeggiated parts. It’s interesting how people throw around terms without looking into or delving into the history of music and how things have developed. I really enjoyed the essay. When it comes to synthesis in modular synthesiser, the Berlin sound takes elements of classical minimal music.

[@OoraMusic]

I agree , we throw lot of words around nowadays.Think Immersive too :D

[@ZebraandDonkey]

@@OoraMusic especially with genre mashing.