When the versatile producer, vocalist, and DJ Harrison was requested to remix Free to Love, Duran Duran’s new music with Nile Rodgers, his reply was easy:
“It’s Duran Duran and Nile Rodgers. You don’t say no to that.”
Whereas each of these artists made their mark within the 70s and 80s, their sound and magnificence have resonated all through the many years. Rodgers put his mark on Daft Punk’s sensational ultimate album Random Entry Recollections (2013). Duran Duran have been persistently placing out materials as they embrace new sounds, corresponding to on their rave-ready Tove Lo collaboration, GIVE IT ALL UP (2021). They’ve additionally been reinvigorating classics with their funky flavour, as they did on their cowl of The Specials’ GHOST TOWN (2023).
Free to Love is a white-hot anthem to sincere interior expression that mixes all of the danciest components of each artists. Learn on to dive into how a slew of different dance stalwarts introduced their identification to the brand new monitor:
Harrison
What’s your gold commonplace for remixing — a monitor, a rule, or a common thought course of you are inclined to comply with?
Don’t battle the unique. If a monitor’s value remixing, one thing about it’s already nice, so the job is to guard that after which put your individual fingerprint on prime. The gold commonplace for me is when somebody can hear the remix and immediately comprehend it’s mine, however the unique artist may hear it and really feel like nothing they beloved bought misplaced.
That thick synth half within the intro actually units the tone for the remix. Inform us the way you made it?
That intro sound is 2 patches: a pluck and a pad, each in-built Serum 2. They’re noticed waves with the pad closely filtered. The character comes from frequency modulation. I used the noise oscillator as an FM supply to modulate the principle noticed oscillators, in order you push the FM quantity up, the noise crackles into the waveform and provides it that gritty, crunchy texture.
There are massive nu-disco/future funk vibes right here. What components create that environment, and the way do you know that’s the place you needed to take the remix?
Actually, the unique does plenty of the heavy lifting. You’ve bought Nile Rodgers on guitar, so the funk is already baked in. My complete strategy was to remain in that very same lane, as a result of I like that sound, after which put my signature spin on prime. That’s the place the leads and the plucks are available.
Duran Duran’s vocals stay a major characteristic in your remix. How a lot processing & mixing did it’s a must to do to make the vocals sit so properly?
Processing-wise, they solely wanted some gentle EQ and compression, then I rode the vocal stage in opposition to the plucks and the bass. Each time the pluck hits, the vocal lifts barely and by no means will get misplaced within the combine. The opposite massive factor was restructuring. I moved sure vocal phrases into completely different sections, particularly across the drops, in order that they’d hit tougher and work in a membership context.
Have been there any results, devices, or synths you used for the remix that it wouldn’t be full with out?
The Moog Sub 37 handles the sub bass, sitting beneath a bass pad in-built Serum 2. On the combo aspect, FabFilter Saturn was important on the drum bus. Every drum half bought its personal EQ and light-weight compression, then every thing was bussed collectively and hit with Saturn. I adore it as a result of it’s multiband, so you may distort particular frequencies with out wrecking the remainder. The API 2500 glued the drum bus collectively, and I used it once more on the synth bus. I additionally ducked the mid-high vary with FabFilter Professional-Q, so the vocal at all times pushes via when the synths hit.
Trixie Mattel
It appears like this music was begging for an up-tempo dance remix. Do you know instantly which path you needed to go together with it?
I knew I needed to go very up-tempo and disco, and I figured once I watched the music video, the references are so disco vibes that I knew it will match up with what I feel the group’s unique intention was with the music.
I like the sustained synth line that carries the music’s danciest moments. Are you able to inform me about what temper you needed this half to ascertain, and if it’s evocative of one other period or artist in dance music?
Two of my idols are Purple Disco Machine and De Soffer. They each are masters at actually easy, driving basslines with very intentional however restrained synths. I dream of even channelling a tiny little bit of their magic.
The drums are clearly an enormous a part of this remix. What sort of processing/results did you employ to assist them reduce via the combo?
I’m actually into very metallic and sparkly prime traces, and I like very processed retro hi-hats, particularly once they play off a quite simple, driving kick.
Is there something you discovered from doing this remix that you just’ll now incorporate into your individual initiatives?
Remixing is so bizarre since you go from being at residence in your pc to an artist as massive as Duran Duran. Typically it’s onerous to consider. It’s very validating, and it jogs my memory to go for it. Plus, the supply materials was nice for a remix as a result of the principle hook from the refrain is mainly an arpeggiation of a minor chord, which is really easy as a place to begin.
Alissia
What’s your gold commonplace for remixing a monitor, a rule, or a common thought course of you are inclined to comply with?
I don’t truly do remixes typically, however once I do, it’s as a result of I genuinely join with the artist or the music. For me, a remix ought to protect the guts of the unique whereas providing a recent perspective. I additionally love making edits and remixes for my very own DJ units. It’s a enjoyable solution to reinterpret a music and make it work for the dancefloor whereas nonetheless respecting what made it particular within the first place.
You’ve made a reputation for your self on this planet of funk, soul, and R&B. How did you get linked with a brand new wave band like Duran Duran?
Final 12 months I launched my single Hypnotic Evening that includes EarthGang and Nile Rodgers. Nile and I’ve develop into good buddies and collaborators. He reached out to me about this collaboration with Duran Duran and requested if I’d be interested by making a dance remix. I instantly mentioned sure!
Stylistically, your remix deviates quite a bit from the unique. Was this the intention from the start, or was there one thing that impressed you and despatched you down that path?
Positively intentional. My aim was to create one thing that DJs may play of their units that felt dancefloor-driven and club-friendly, whereas nonetheless holding sufficient of the unique music that followers would immediately recognise it!
Speak to me concerning the swells and pads within the remix. What are your go-to devices and methods for giving these a lot presence?
I’m an enormous fan of analogue gear. On this remix, I used my Prophet-10, Moog Voyager, and Roland vocoder VP-330!
You’ve used the guitar and the vocal as the principle callbacks on this remix. How did you establish what unique materials stayed in your model?
Because it’s a collab music of Duran Duran and Nile Rodgers, it felt essential to protect the weather that instantly outline the file. Nile’s guitar is so iconic, and Duran Duran’s refrain is immediately recognisable, so these grew to become the anchors of the remix.
You’re a revered bass participant — are you able to give just a few fast suggestions for getting your favorite bass tone, with this remix as a reference?
I at all times attempt to get the sound earlier than I even hit file. A fantastic bass tone begins with the instrument, your arms, and your pickup choice/setting. If it already sounds nice plugged straight into the DI, you don’t have to do a lot afterwards. I’ll normally run it via just a little EQ and a few compression, however I attempt to maintain processing to a minimal. I like listening to the pure character of the instrument.
Have been there every other results, devices, or synths you used for the remix that it wouldn’t be full with out? How did you employ them?
I had plenty of enjoyable experimenting with a few of my favorite gear. I ran just a few components via my Furman RV-1 spring reverb, which has an incredible character. I additionally used my H-Delay, which is certainly one of my go-to delay plugins.
Harry Levin is a contract journalist with credit in SPIN, Billboard, MusicTech, Grammy.com, Los Angeles Journal, and extra. His musical journey started 20 years in the past with a Led Zeppelin CD. He performed jazz trombone via school, produced large-scale digital music occasions, and now spends his skilled time writing and modifying.
