Why This Song is Genius (Deadmau5)

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MY GEAR:
DAW (Music making software): Logic Pro and Ableton Live
Studio monitors (speakers): Yamaha HS8's
Headphones: Audeze LCD X (open back)
Camera: Canon 80d
Computer: Mac Studio with M2 Ultra chip and 2 TB hardrive
Midi controller (keyboard): Komplete Kontrol 61
Interface: Scarlett Clarett 2 pre
Desk: a cheap one from ikea
Chair: also a cheap one from ikea
My favorite plugins that I use the most:
XFER Serum
Sylenth 1
Nexus 3
Kontakt
RC 20
Valhalla Shimmer
Valhalla Vintage Verb
Shaperbox 3
XFER OTT
Fab Filter Saturn 2
Fab Filter Pro C 2
Arturia Pigments
Baby Audio Comeback Kid
Output Thermal and Portal
LABS Soft Piano
Hardware that I use behind the scenes but not in videos:
Elektron Octatrack (my fav)
Elektron Digitakt
Korg Minilogue XD

[@AlexRome]

What song/artist should I break down next?

[@johnwebb4499]

Do you ever analyze video game soundtracks? I've been asking KZbinrs for years to analyze "Zombies ate my Neighbors ". No one transposed that Score yet. (Only a couple songs)

[@johnwebb4499]

David Bowie's The Labrynth Soundtrack is also good and so hard to find.

[@DimithraVishwajaya]

Marshmello❤

[@DimithraVishwajaya]

Marsmello

[@sereoga13]

Pryda - Vega / Pryda - Melo

[@marcellkovacs5452]

According deadmau5, he almost didn't release Strobe because he wasn't happy with it. His advice: release your tracks because your audience might like them even if you don't.

[@joshsasso8344]

To him it was just a throwaway track the label wanted a b side to the record and he said well u can have this i guess

[@AdrianoFeria]

That's wild. Strobe is one of my all time favorite electronic songs.

[@oddbeat5693]

That's wild, yet true!

[@iCrapBubbles]

Are you serious?? This is like one of the greatest melodies of all time! How could Joel leave this on the chopping room floor??

[@andrewdwilliams]

Perhaps because it was so unlike anything else. It's hard to know when something is good if you don't have anything to compare it to. This was the final track on the first Deadmau5 album I bought. It's still the most haunting track on the album (ironic when two other track titles include "ghosts").

[@miggity_mac]

Strobe is the Stairway to Heaven for EDM

[@Diocchi]

real

[@brianwilson7275]

Wow you nailed it.

[@Slugg0n]

Progressive EDM

[@pointlessfeature]

@@Slugg0n yeah I mean we used to call deadmau5's shit progressive house back in the day unfortunately nowadays progressive house means fuck all

[@themattenthehat]

Great analogy!

[@RamzParty]

I think he finds it haunting 🤔

[@Aditya_PS]

😂❤

[@gauravtech87]

😂

[@nathanunger7413]

Wee bit haunting 😂

[@zoidberger86]

Dude must be so proud he learned about the other meaning of haunting so he had to use it hauntingly inflationary.

[@sonas_music]

must be daunting to find something so haunting

[@EnhancedNightmare]

Strobe, Polaris etc is where deadmau5 basically plays on our emotions. The relaxing feeling of nostalgia is hard to quantify or describe.

[@RossFennell]

Polaris reminded me of strobe so much. I remember having to watch the Japan set to listen to it before it released

[@dioxide39]

Words cannot express how much I love Polaris, its such a beautiful track and its reminiscence of Strobe is incredible.

[@EnhancedNightmare]

It is! Polaris is totally different but somehow evokes similar feelings. I'd love to hear more of this kind of tracks from deadmau5@@dioxide39

[@chad2687]

love the polaris shout out. one of my fave tracks of him, severely underrated track

[@bigs2323]

I’m glad you’ve said this cause haunting isn’t what I’d call it either

[@test_test457]

This track is one of the reasons why I fell in love with electronic music

[@qinyima5693]

I'm sure Joel would be very pleased to hear that

[@pesockek]

Skrillex + Zedd broke me down to fall in love electronic, Deadmau5 + Wolfgang Gartner hardened that for forever

[@CarlMakesVideos]

I've never had many other friends who were into EDM. This was one of my introductory tracks to the genre when I was younger, and it meant a lot to me during those days. I'm glad to find it means so much to other people as well.

[@mtotheHo]

When I was in high school, one of my best friends loved electronic music and we used to drive around during the summer in his old convertible Saab and he'd put on deadmau5. I hated it at first, but now I'm commenting on a deadmau5 production video 16 years later so you can probably guess the trajectory of my music taste.

[@shweezy24]

Same ❤️💯

[@oluaoMAIszika]

Deadmau5 is a genius level producer, guy’s so good and has so much knowledge about everything, his livestreams are so entertaining and educational as well.

[@r0ck53n]

Not really. He is a super intelligent guy with musical talent, but 0,0 music theory background or no playing capabilities. He just shoves notes up and down until he likes it. Don't get me wrong - the results are sometimes stunning, but for different things. I took his masterclass some time ago for these different things.

[@antoniogreene4901]

@@r0ck53n like the guys music but i really dont like his attitude

[@timitri8]

Why ppl are so fragile these days..

[@SpaceyZee]

Music theory is trash. It's theory. It isn't rules. Do whatever sounds good.

[@zorcoremusic7456]

I don't think he's a genius, I think he's just someone who's wasting 20 years of his life thinking he can make music. Realistically he's just regurgitating or taking credit from other people. He himself even admits. He doesn't even know what he's doing. He does not really have a lot of musical talent. And a majority of his music is only famous because of the hype that was based off of his collaborations. Especially kaskade when he did 2009's." I remember "Joel Zimmerman took the credit for KasKades work even though KasKade himself was the one who made the song. Yeah, you can say strobe is halfway decent, but when you listen to a majority of his music there's just not a whole lot of excitement there. It takes too long to build up, it's just the same drum pattern for the next 14 measures before every once in a while. Occasionally a small melody that repeats itself. Maybe four four time four or five times the entire track and that's it.. That's like that with most of his music. Even today. He's got all this sound equipment but doesn't know how to use it, he will literally spend the majority of his time high or drunk, trying figure out what to make. He's by far a musical genius compared to Martin Garrix, Calvin Harris, or even Zed.

[@smoakpipe]

To this day no one has better buildups than deadmau5. Aural Psynapse is another banger example.

[@CHUCKZ2]

Strobe is a freaking masterpiece. It was way ahead of its time when released. The fact that there’s a video around why, just proves my exact thoughts on it being a masterpiece in the EDM world.

[@StatuesInMunich]

Love the way bro kept going "isn't that nostalgic!?" You can tell he really loves music. Subbed.

[@Kung_Fu_Jesus]

This isn’t nostalgic in the slightest, however Boards of Canada are the absolute kings of nostalgia

[@dontexpectanamecuzimuncrea9400]

​@@Kung_Fu_Jesus it is 👍

[@Kung_Fu_Jesus]

@@jfreitag88 decent dance music had died by 2010, it just got recycled around and around again and hasn’t stopped being recycled

[@megaweezerfan]

I found it haunting

[@swashbuckla1]

@@megaweezerfan Isn't it haunting?!!

[@lukespeers]

Your breakdown of Strobe gets me just as excited as listening the original song again! Well done! Thank you

[@OutcastZ3r0]

This, mister, is one of the best deconstructs I've seen and heard...and each time, the chills, the goosebumps, it takes me back to hearing this live, the closing track of his set...I thank you good sir, for now I can tackle this on piano!

[@ArnavThePhukan]

you should do more artist song breakdowns

[@avinashkhandre0321]

Yes Indeed!

[@Sofbit]

I'd like Alex to break down some of CMA's songs. You're Alive, Don't Look Back etc.. He was 12 when he made these.

[@officialzetrax]

YES! YES! this was amazing

[@schqrr]

Fr

[@aldenfarias4873]

​@@SofbitDamn, I listened to his tracks after your comment and I was shocked to see that illenium stole the chords from Don't look back for one of his tracks. Really underrated artist.

[@beatsbeanie]

can we all agree the melody at 6:05 is so damn nostalgic, i love deadmau5

[@tophmeister3]

I hear Porter Robinson's Language there lol

[@hllopez8701]

This song will never get old.. it is so sad that deadmau5 doesn’t make this classic style of music😢 if you watch his livestreams now it just doesn’t seem he doesn’t love it anymore.. and shows in his recent music 🥺🥺

[@jay.fromthebay]

Look for his unreleased song, Quetzalcoatl. Similar feelings.

[@cloudybrains]

I rediscovered this song recently after not listening to it for years and I fell in love with it again immediately. The song starts of as a quiet contemplation, with a certain sense of longing and regret, but by the end it's an expression of energetic determination.

[@TransformHypnosis]

This is easily the best description of it I have ever heard

[@Malandro.]

Deadmau5 is incredible man. Honestly what a genius, this song is timeless. Its infinite

[@AntGodber]

I feel compelled to comment on this video which is so very rare for me. This is a fantastic breakdown of Strobe. You capture everything that blows be away by Joel’s tracks and that’s the detail to laying texture which often goes unnoticed by the masses. Like then couple of notes that now we know Strobe so nostalgically we hear the couple of notes from the coming melody just catches us every time. The ramp in tempo always gets me, Strobe is just a masterpiece, Deadmau5 is just GOAT.

[@tuckerm48]

That melody nearly brought me to tears. Always have loved this song but damn it’s so much better after seeing it broken down like this! Absolutely haunting!!!

[@RedPatriarch]

from the moment i heard this song i was entranced, i unfortunately dont listen to it as much as i used to but its crazy to think about how much such a simple composition of synths has effected my life and how i experience music in relation to time and space. if i had to pick a song as a soundtrack to my life it would be Strobe. its musical genius at its most fundamental level

[@bigsmokerc]

Christ almighty are you for real

[@TwinCityShredder]

Deadmau5 will always be one of the GOAT. He changed electronic music forever. Arguably the Jeff Mills of the 2008-2009 era. Seen him many times, and he never disappoints.

[@theftking]

"The 2008-2009 Era" 😂

[@MatzeSo]

​@@theftking 🤭🤭

[@airdrummer55]

I’m not a musician but this song was no 1 on year end Spotify for 3 out of the last five years so I had to watch this. Your excitement about it is a beautiful thing. This one track single-handedly changed my personal playlists from alternative and rock to various sub-genres of EDM. I’m so glad this showed up on a Discover Weekly 5 years ago It still gives me goosebumps every single time. It’s a tonic. I’m so sorry Joel wasn’t happy with it, if that’s true; I’ve wondered if when you’re finished how it must feel knowing you’re sending a masterpiece out into the world.

[@chipblood]

Deadmau5 has produced some of the hardest and best electronic bass riffs ever. Dude is an electronic music genius.

[@playlandmusic]

Thank you for doing this song Alex, you're one of my favorite production channels. I like how the "off kilter" quarter notes in the dance section really do make the section work, with the tension their imperfection adds

[@playlandmusic]

I think this is his "magnum opus" for arranging the whole song. But other more simple songs like Faxing Berlin have great arrangements that are far more simple

[@navneetsingh2118]

Such an Absolute classic, nostalgic melody. Gives you goosebumps every time! Love this series Alex, thank you for recreating these wonderful songs and teaching us the narrative behind these masterpieces.

[@offjetjack]

Everytime I heard this masterpiece, makes me overwhelmed of emotion, and makes me cry. Good job Alex showing how Strobe was made ❤️

[@zacharywalters6026]

I saw Deadmau5 live in Detroit shortly after 4x4=12 came out. The feeling that washed over the crowd when he came back out for the second half of the show and started playing Strobe was one of the most magical feelings I've ever experienced. One of the few EDM songs capable of producing tears imo.

[@anthonymoreno894]

My favorite EDM track of all time.

[@Diocchi]

real

[@SenseofNoneYT]

Man, thanks for reminding me how much I love Strobe. I used to play in a rock band and couldn't get the appeal of electronic music but when I slowly started trying my hand at producing my own tracks for fun, it's like a whole new world opened up to me. And I fell in love with this stuff. And I wanna emphasize on something you touched on in this video. The melody doesn't have to change too much. But you can change the context around it. You can quite literally transform a melody from sad to happy or to anything in between, just with what you do around it. We can play around with complex progressive melodies but you can also create something magical with a repeating melody.

[@Paper_Street_Videos1]

Yes, that IS haunting

[@opiit0]

I always felt emotional with this song... now I get why. He is a freaking genious.

[@daftelf]

Hearing it live the first time you see him in person is like a religious experience after listening to it on your devices for 10 years. Cube v3 blew my mind.

[@sonodima]

@@daftelf is he still doing live events?

[@saviorodrigues2773]

Love the breakdown and the pure love for the song! wish we had more such arrangements popularized.

[@Kaioshynn]

This is such a tune that just belongs in everyone's playlist. Those melodies... Joel's a genius.

[@jakebsweet]

Great Video

[@BendingGrid]

Ah, Deadmau5 , the maestro of musical mischief! While the rest of us mere mortals fumble with keyboards and stumble through melodies, he's out there doodling musical masterpieces like a virtuoso with a crayon. It's like he's playing a game of 'Connect the Dots,' but the dots are musical notes, and the outcome is sheer genius. Note to self: next time I'm stuck on a melody, skip the keyboard, grab a sketchpad. Deadmau5, the true Picasso of EDM! Keep 'em coming Joel Love, Bending Grid

[@IAmDarklight81]

I cryed watching this video. This is how beautiful this song is and how perfectly it was written 😭

[@zacjbaker]

Class vid as always (watched the previous upload 😅)! Really owe a lot to your content for my progression this past year in music Alex 🙌 Look forward to hopefully joining the course in the coming months 🐐

[@Imbamorial]

One of many Deadmau5 songs that are just so damn good and beautiful.

[@PM-wt3ye]

What's the song called?

[@shakeit995]

@@PM-wt3ye never gonna give you up

[@Diocchi]

​@@PM-wt3yeim the globglogabgalab

[@cj-fq7cn]

strobe has always been one of my favorite songs by deadmau5, if not of all time; but this video really makes me realize why I love it so much. such a beautiful arrangement

[@patricks_music]

I’m always impressed by deadmau5’s melodic developments. It’s one reason I’m a fan. His Cube v2 show was also super cool.

[@DJeMo]

Remember seeing him live when this popped, What a vibe, what a masterpiece, what an artist, I enjoy his Test Pilot alias today, high octane techno

[@cldrayn2527]

I get goosebumps every time I hear this song. A true masterpiece 😊 Nice video 👍

[@13luken]

Strobe was such a massive part of my childhood. So many tears wept to this one. It makes me not exactly happy or sad, but I just would feel. I'd recognize the beauty of life and the tragedy of loss. Thank you for this video.

[@Zancb]

Amazing illustration of an iconic track. I love your excitement and paralleling of his arrangement. Excellent work!

[@stephenjstoddard]

Great video. I'd go even further and say this track is one of the greatest pieces of music ever made. I can't even count how many times I've listen to this track. It's just in a class of it's own.

[@kaos01]

Can't understand how a song can be this good. I've a got a decent set of music knowledge thru the years, but this? Crazy good. The man hit a proper homerun with this one.

[@Luieyy]

I appreciate this breakdown. I've always had a deep love for this song and to share that with all of you is incredible.

[@thejman3489]

Strobe is amazing! I love how the song changes gradually to the point where you don't really notice how different it is from where it started. If you play the beginning and then play somewhere in the middle it sounds way different. But if you listen to the whole thing you can't really pinpoint an exact part of the song where a big change happened. Every change is so subtle and seamless.

[@latheofheaven1017]

Alex, I'm someone who's never really paid attention to EDM 'til recently, so your videos are an introduction to a whole new world of music, as well as being tutorials and explanations. Cheers!

[@schqrr]

That’s so cool hope you like it bro

[@randomguydoes2901]

No EDM? Try these bangers, I put them in the same realm of feel that Strobe has 16 Bit Lolitas - Chant A Tune (Jeremy Olander Remix) Infected Mushroom - Elation Station Estiva - Sound Goes Down Eric Prydz - Opus Tipper - Ambergris, Sayonara, Dreamsters, The Re-Up (not EDM but....) If you want a shortcut to some heavily emotional tracks

[@warrick993]

I love how at parts you're just in awe of the composition - and rightfully so. This song is really a whole story and it stands out even after many years.

[@LU_EM_Music]

You broke this down so nicely, this track is an all time favourite of mine and still gives me Goosebumps to this day, Deadmau5 is a legend

[@hueybui]

The layers, smooth as silk synths, tight bass notes, etc make Deadmau5 magical to listen to IMO.

[@hipryce273]

One of the greatest songs of all time. Loved how you're just as passionate about all the little intricacies of the song as i am :)

[@joethompson297]

One of my favorites! Made the mistake of listening to it during a marathon and my pace went from 10 min/mi to 8 min/mi, caught it after the song was over and had to slow down!

[@controlesujo8258]

this one and Creep, creep just give me the chills every time deadmau5 is genius, he deserves to be where he is at

[@thispeen]

I love this song, I'm glad you are covering it. I think a lot of times electronic music can lack soul but it's songs like this that are truly special for proving that notion wrong.

[@robertrudik3022]

This one never gets old. Masterpiece. If you can’t tell which year it comes from you are doing it right.

[@8thlvlMage]

I've seen a few of your videos before but I forgot to save any of them. I just subscribed so I don't forget again! Your positivity and wonder are so fun to see, and your explanations are excellent. I'm glad I found your channel again.

[@BenStoneking]

I love your enthusiasm as you analyze the song. It’s got me wanting to take a crack at some composition again. 😊

[@chillymusicischill]

Haunting? Nah It's hauntingly beautiful.

[@Diocchi]

real

[@andrewb.2895]

As soon as I read the title I thought: - " OH, PLEASE BE STROBE!" 🤞 Thank you for this man, you rule 🤘

[@adam632]

I love this breakdown! Such a classic/ nostalgic EDM banger. Love your work, it always inspires me to improve on my tracks aswell😁

[@Gregorovitch144]

That was a really good exposition of this famous tune, man, you should do more of them.

[@lionz0r]

I have to agree, this track is so beautiful. It gives me chills every time.

[@TheFrankonia83]

That's Cthulhu in action, baby! He loves this plugin as much as i do.

[@marlonmalwatta3760]

Such a great song. Thanks for doing this Alex!

[@edjefferson9175]

Great job deconstructing this! And thanks for posting.

[@skylarknightofficial]

one of the best songs ever made

[@KadinWhitney]

what's the name of the song?

[@skylarknightofficial]

@@KadinWhitney he said it in the beginning. “Strobe”

[@soop87]

isnt that haunting??

[@greasychickenparma]

very haunting

[@Diocchi]

im the globglogabgalab

[@rabmccudden683]

Watched this video a few times now since you released it, blows my mind every single time. What a tune & thanks for sharing with us how he made it.

[@michevanessen]

You’re so excited about this! This makes me so happy 💖

[@MrImadeU]

Alex, you are incredible at teaching. I actually think you are one of the best teachers there is on this planet (no bs). So i have been producing for fun for 4 years, then i watched 2 of your videos. one on melodies and one on chords, and you elevated my producing skills an infinite amount. It's not even comparable to what i made before. I just have so much gratitude for you that i really needed to express. Keep up the utterly fantastic work you are doing for us small time producers that just want to make something nice sounding. Edit: Don't let my kind words get to your head you mafakka 😂, but they are true

[@protestthebread1046]

I remember when that song came out it absolutely dominated my friend group's car music. The first time i heard it, i had chills running up and down my spine.

[@tonezski0118]

This brings me to tears every time I hear it. Thats how good it is

[@TheTulerie]

Every time i listen to strobe, it immediately takes me back to when i first heard it. No other song has ever been able to do that for me & i love it. It brings up a feeling of nostalgia from a time in my life that i do miss, but makes me very happy to know that time is part of my past even though im a totally different person now.

[@EXP_Jenova]

I don’t know how anyone can listen to this without tearing up. This man is seriously a musical genius.

[@TheDennys21]

True, it sounds so melancholic, it really tugs at the ol' heart strings.

[@Ironically-Sarcastic]

What do you mean? There's no song here, there's no lyrics/vocals. It's unfinished.

[@spotifynomander]

what piano vst do you use?

[@AlexRome]

I used 1928 Steinway from Spitfire Audio here

[@DenverHarris]

Your passion and love for the song makes me smile.

[@C4BOOSE16]

I had a huge smile on my face this whole video. One of my favorite songs, so I’m glad to see it get analyzed. Thanks for the breakdown!

[@therealdmarco6366]

As awesome as this song is, the Trance music scene had been giving us stuff like this since the late 90s. As top tier as Deadmau5 is, I do feel he’s sometimes given a bit too much credit. Unpopular opinion I know, but it is what it is.

[@bigsmokerc]

It's crazy reading all these people conflating personal connection to a track with it being 'genius' or whatever.

[@therealdmarco6366]

@@bigsmokerc I know right! It’s almost worrying 😂

[@sereoga13]

Eric Prydz is on another level if we talking about arrangement

[@archeetnayar]

Forever favourite EDM track! God bless Joel for releasing this, even though he was hesitant

[@rajchugh6321]

Strobe is the best track of all time

[@Magnum_Opus_Music]

*I thought Einstein was Genius* The idea of genius is different in 2023

[@Jay__C]

It’s not different at all. Genius presents itself in many different ways.

[@BWT599]

Einstein never had his own Masterclass on the Masterclass app 😅

[@fuxen]

Thanks! Great breakdown and nostalgia

[@fervent2896]

thank you so much for explaining this, your word choice for describing it is perfect. Haunting/pretty/beautiful/nostalgic. Strobe is such an amazing song and I never knew why until now

[@ortzy2580]

What a great explanation man, great job!

[@kiyabcs]

This song makes my eyes roll back.

[@prss_play]

Deadmau5's songs makes me feel so melancholic, genius.

[@heartbeatbillionaire]

I'm so glad you are teaching melodies Alex, very helpful!

[@EquatorAU]

Your passion for music is contagious, love this

[@robbe4711]

This is how I love to do tracks. Build up a simple but powerful melody. Love it. Thank you for the break down of the song!

[@goujos]

Before clicking on the thumbnail I somehow knew that you were gonna talk about strobe, I just have no words to express how good this breakdown is. You made me think of the song as an even bigger inspiration for producing music, thank you man.

[@RangAbdullah]

Truly a masterpiece! Thanks for the breakdown!

[@nathanebbing]

I have a fun time watching your videos m8. Thank you! :)

[@yushin7391]

This is probably one of the most emotional music of the century and of all genre, a real masterpiece great job Deadmau5

[@DJayDNA]

I watched this video with a big smile on my face. Love this song, so nostalgic! Truly one of a kind.

[@hameltoe1]

Haunting

[@Daniel-ii4mf]

I love this analysis and how enthusiastic and passionate you clearly are this was great

[@chrispieee]

bro thank you for this! brilliant!

[@TotalEurodanceNostalgia-cf2gx]

Loved this. Pure genius.