The Dirty Projectors demonstrate the process of 'hocketing'

[@thenoiboi]

it's not complicated to grasp, but the ability of the members of this band (and others, of course) to isolate themselves with discipline in a live environment is what really amazes me about this band.

[@Keepmovingson]

Practice brother, practice and it will become easy

[@aaroncunningham9395]

Some of these comments are hilarious. This is an almost ten minute video of a musician speaking extemporaneously and casually about his creative process in a fairly accessible way and some folks seem to want him to sound more like a polished public speaker reading from prepared notes. I'm just not sure that a bunch of people who probably can't speak coherently for long enough to order at the drive thru should be so quick with their critiques...

[@theerealatm]

Aaron Cunningham love this comment for real!

[@ChristianHegele]

"First, a 'broken chord' is when you play the individual notes of a chord in a sequence. Now, 'hocketing' is when you break up a sequence of notes into small chunks, and give different singers their own chunk. When the musicians sing or play their chunk in the right order, you put the sequence back together, it's just that it's spread out over different voices. That's what I did with in this song, I hocketed some broken chords. It's actually an ancient technique, and it sounds pretty cool."

[@stephenplante2273]

No thats an arpeggio not broken

[@ChristianHegele]

@@stephenplante2273 An arpeggio is a type of broken chord where the notes are played in ascending or descending sequence.

[@stephenplante2273]

@@ChristianHegele Right! The way Dave played it, though, was arpeggiated, which, hence, would be the proper term, in this particular case, since he wasn't playing the notes together but in succession. I'm not trying to be a know-it-all.

[@jackspicerisland]

Thank you for posting this--fantastic to hear him unpack his music at length like this. Plus, MAJOR bonus points for his pronunciation of seque!

[@ckblackwoodmusic]

What absolute geniuses. I'll never forget the first time I heard them.... ❤

[@musicfan2000]

chill out people. he's a musician, not a public speaker. also those guitar lines were terrific.

[@nogrutznoglory]

Sometimes I come back here to remind myself what amazing really is.

[@DoULilacIt2]

Some people know what chords are, but other people don't. Anyways, it's the way he explains it that's very interesting. I, a musician can even benefit from it, and so can everyone else in the world. It gives you another perspective, one that is going to impact the world!

[@BrandNewDeweyCox]

what is that song that he plays off the computer, it's sick

[@antuck1]

Haters: look "up hocket" on wikipedia. "[H]ocket was used primarily in vocal music of the 13th and early 14th centuries. It was a predominant characteristic of music of the Notre Dame school..."

[@LucidDream]

Now this is a good interview. Well...doesn't even seem too much like an interview. More answers and descriptions rather than questions. I like it.

[@vajravibra]

I have a feeling there are two factors contributing to his quirky speech and abstract explanation of a hocketed arpeggio: a) I get the impression the show is meant to share the process of composition with non-musicians who don't know what the heck an arpeggio is, and b) Cannabis

[@Chan.711]

this is awesome breakdown, i knew he had some african influence, when i first heard the(the ladies in background on their take away show) it reminded me of african singing, groovy.

[@GenteelCretin]

I love it when artists talk about the music like this... for being their trade, it happens pretty rarely. The trick is kinda obvious, but it's cool to hear it come together like that.

[@JohnnyHurbonConnections]

New sounds are needed in this world stuck in generational familiarity that puts up walls to open ear freedom. I listen to everything as if it’s a secret that only I am being privileged to by God.

[@musicalman1995]

Amber has to have the best tone I’ve heard in a vocalist.

[@FreddieFirth]

The videos alright but I'm more pleased it's put me onto Gimme Gimme Gimme, what an insane and illuminating song! Need to check out Rise Above in full some time.

[@Burton82190]

Are people really hung up on his public speaking abilities instead of listening to the insight he has? When he runs for public office or something we can talk about his pitfalls in public speaking. Jesus, just listen to him explain his process of making the music you obviously enjoy. You wouldn't be watching this video if you didn't like his music.

[@musicalman1995]

Painting with - animal collective.

[@rorschachozymandias2821]

good album in general but bad for any AnCo fan that knew them prior to that

[@aidanm8009]

Rorschach Ozymandias no? Amazing album, super good for pretty much anyone?

[@urianpizana2659]

Love Animal Collective from Spirit to Centipede Hz. Despise Painting With.

[@urianpizana2659]

"Bo Hoo. I don't like anything outside the predictable western tradition of harmony and arrangement".

[@JakeLaraFX]

Spirit they've gone is actually great if you actually listen to the lyrics and take in the whole concept. Painting with is also great too, it was odd to get into since I wasn't used to it, but the album actually has a lot to it and interesting sounds and layers become revealed the more you listen and pay attention.

[@DilonEEL]

this should be a TED talk

[@Pomeray8]

does anyone know the name of the song he shows on his laptop?

[@sonicjettnz]

Very King Crimson!

[@squattystx]

philip glass sesame Street anybody?

[@plokmji]

@zorgitron Wow, I was thinking of accepting my offer of admission to Yale, but you've really opened my eyes. Thanks so much!

[@alariclopez4460]

Love how he added such new flavor to a Black Flag song

[@digitalsustain]

'you guys good with notes?' 'yeah' ooooooooof course they are

amazing!

[@fishmanfishmanfishman]

gives me chills

[@shanaynay27]

he used to work at Tea Lounge in Park slope :)

[@monodeuramain]

idk if you already found out by now but it's called imagine it!!

[@ghaibboy]

this band is so Bjork :)

[@Twyfall]

They did an album with her !

[@psirou]

7:15 a bit like something from Philip Glass off the north star record.

[@stonethemason]

Gentle Giant did this, hocketing, back in the 70s.

[@GustoFormula]

I didn't know that, could you tell me some songs that feature hocketing?

[@MyNameIsNeutron]

Valyrian Steel "Knots" is a great example from Gentle Giant. "Thoughts" by Spock's Beard also has some really obvious hocketing in the vocals.

[@TheSpallanzani]

First ever TED talk

[@LazyTranslator]

@JohnnyJohnnyJohnny That's because Dave, while working pretty much only in the pop/rock stream of things, is also a bonafied composer in his own right. I find that musicians with a composerly inclination tend to be more comfortable with discussing the technical aspects/anatomy of their music rather than just feelings or abstract inspirations or whatever else as vague.

[@DrNewbourn]

What song was he playing here on the twelve string?

[@FreshmenBolts]

that was fuckin dope!

[@zorgitron]

@Atyantaz Yes. Wouldn't you say that's better than physical violence? I just think people ought to have a contrasting opinion readily available.

[@monodeuramain]

gimme gimme gimme from rise above

[@gitgo567]

0:09 don't you mean a NEW ATTITUDE? HAWW

[@lslewis]

Is "hocketing" kinda like a fugue? Just wondering...if anyone wants to jump in.

[@blerkh]

Hockets have nothing to do with fugues, though I suppose a fugue could hocket. In a most basic sense, hocketing is about distributing parts of a melodic line (a melody) between different voices/instruments. You could take an ascending major scale, for example, and have each consecutive scale degree sung by a different person, or just alternate between two different people, and that would be a hocket, albeit a silly one. The 20th century technique called "Klangfarbenmelodie" was a sort of modern version of hocketing.

[@lslewis]

Cool, thanks guys. I remember hearing about fugues in one Music Appreciation class I took years ago, but never heard of hocketing, although, I think I may do it sometimes.

[@josephballerini3730]

Sly and the family stone seemed to distribute melodies among different instruments.

[@eatingbabies17]

@Pomeray8 imagine it.

[@icelandmoon]

G. Machaut did it best.

[@eatingbabies17]

imagine it.

[@tombuttner]

@robotnudist totally

[@MisterF_1984]

ahaha ouch, good spot.

[@glossyasmr5412]

7:27

[@ZacharyLipton1]

@randjoycevonnegut don't be such a prat. I read your comments. You also, like you know, don't express yourself very well.

[@buenobus]

uhh uhhhhhhhhhhh uuuhhhhhhh

[@GaryEddyOnline]

I just dont think he's offering much insight. a lot of genius musicians suck at talking about it. The music tends to speak for itself. The girls demonstrating hocketing is amazing though

[@boogster123321]

hocketing= counterpoint in theory terms

[@zorgitron]

@Superfunk1991 Thelonius Monk expresses himself. You can tell. His music is unorthodox but it's good because you can feel his expression. David Longstreth is not expressing anything. That's the only feeling I get after watching and hearing so many DP songs. On top of that, he explains basic music theory in complicated ways to impress and confuse people. That's my deal.

[@Lunaedea7]

bahaha, and he went to Yale, pah! lol :)

[@VSGBSTUFF]

Basically ignore the whole video and go to 7:45 and see the real women show a great example :P

[@19amf95]

1:13 he totally pronounces segue wrong

[@musicalman1995]

Classical music did it first

[@AdrianMendoza23]

their last album is...ok. Its interesting, but can be painful to listen to at times.

[@randjoycevonnegut]

"they did it in uh, like, thirteenth century monk music in notre dame or whatever." I love the music, but he does not express himself well.

[@djsubliminal]

but uh....uh.....uhh.....like uhhh...... dude i love your music and all! but you may want to take it down a notch with the drugs!!

[@thatsoundsdelicious]

This was... errr... a little painful to... errr... listen to. Love a lot of their songs, but... errrrm... jesus, he takes a while to... erm... get to the......... errr.... point.

[@tjbton]

But uh, uh,yeh,yeh,but,yeah,butt,uknow .....who the F cares! Why is the ?

[@andyjones3648]

THE DIRTY PROJECTORS IS THE WORST GARBAGE IVE EVER HEARD ON EARTH EVER......JUST TERRIBLE....TERRIBLE!!!!!!!!!

[@gabelogan56]

ouch, bro. Why are you watching this then?

[@bingbongcentralhq]

Lol

[@bwolfe8516]

they are not for you....