Jul 24, 2009
How to make music from sand (And, why you would want to)
I think this video speaks for itself – I love it.
It’s by Diego Stocco, who was also responsible for the “Music From A Tree” video I posted on the Production Advice Tumblr blog yesterday.
Why do I love it ? Because it’s:
- Beautiful
- Musical
- Witty
- Unique
- Original
- Punky
- wait, punky ? [Insert FX of record scratch/car screeching to a halt/etc]
What the hell am I talking about ?
Punk means something different depending which side of the Atlantic you grew up on, but either way, what do these delicate ambient textures and found sounds have to do with either the Ramones or the Sex Pistols ?
The answer is – DIY ethos.
Regardless of what it sounded like, a key element of punk was that anyone could make music – provided they sing a bit, or strum and hit something.
The modern equivalent is a laptop (and a microphone) – so, you don’t even need an instrument! Diego is using ProTools, but there’s plenty of highly affordable – or even free – software around that can do the same job. Every Mac comes bundled with a copy of Garageband these days, for example, which includes the “musical typing” feature, so you don’t even need a keyboard.
Music From A Tree is almost better than Music From Sand in this respect, because there isn’t even any additional audio processing going on. No effects, no samplers – it’s just patterns built up from real noises.
What else do I love about these videos – shall I count the ways ? The improvised stethoscope mic ? Taping mics to his fingers ? Shaving bits of wood off the twigs to tune them ? Playing the tree with a bow ? Emulating waves crashing by playing grains of sand…
If you write ambient or electronic-influenced music you’re probably already looking for that lapel mic you never used for your last mobile phone so you can tape it to your toes, but maybe if you’re writing more conventional music these ideas don’t seem so relevant to you.
If so, I say – think again.
Individual, original, unexpected and delightful sounds can add something to almost any musical genre.
Hang a mic out the window and record wind and birdsong behind your acoustic guitar piece. Sample a dustbin lid and mix it with the snare sound in your latest metal tune. Instead of a guitar solo, sing it with a paper and comb through your guitar amp. Use a tin of pulses as a shaker, make your own glass harp, sample your grandmother’s teeth – I don’t care, just get some 21st Century punk DIY into your music !
This, however, is probably taking it too far.
(Warning, contains scenes some people – including me – may find distressing)
Regardless of your opinion of the ethics of piano murder, Diego has done an incredible amount of cool stuff – I strongly suggest you follow the links above and check out his music on BandCamp.
Are you already using “found sounds” in your music ? Will you, now ? Please ?!
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I saw this some time ago. pretty amazing stuff. This reminds me of one of my heroes, Mr.Amon Tobin. amontobin.com // check him out, the field recordings sessions are brilliantly crafted works of art. He likes the kitchen sink approach…literally.
[...] Production Advice blog posted last week on Diego Stocco, who makes music from sand and trees and burning [...]
[...] laver musik med sand som det eneste instrument (tilføjet nogle effekter osv.) Klik på linket til productionadvice.co.uk hvis du vil høre/se Diego Stocco lave musik af træer eller et brændende [...]
And for people either without a good source or enough motivation to get our own found sounds, there are lots of them at freesound.org. And hey, if samples from Freesound were good enough to be included on Porcupine Tree’s “The Incident,” they’re good enough for you :p
Also, as an aside, if you want the sound of a burning piano but have the good sense not to actually burn one, I think Spectrasonics Omnisphere includes a burning piano as one of its instruments.
Yeah, I have to admit that the whole burning piano thing makes me a little uncomfortable. Heck, even shaving twigs on the tree makes me a little uncomfortable !
I’m such a hippie… :-p
Great suggestions, thanks