Four Tet 'Skater' Ableton Session Breakdown

Kieran Hebden, aka Four Tet, talks with John about his approach to adding depth to his tracks. Learn how he used a voice note of someone ice skating to add texture to his song Skater. He breaks down this track, and points to key features in its composition, including layering bells that match melodically to the bass line, making it stand out within the song.

Thanks to Tape It for supporting this episode.

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[JasonEfstathiou]

I always imagined four tet's sessions to be these massive complex things. Seeing how simple they actually are is inspiring, but also humbling because i understand everything that's going on here but still can't make anything that sounds nearly as good!

[infinitevibes]

Inspiring how he gets on with making music on a computer without getting bogged down in all the possibilities.

[dgitpadre]

Same thing as watching a michelin-starred chef. Least amount of cuts, letting the ingredients speak for themselves. Sounds like the simplest thing in the world until you do it. All in the senses, focus, and experience. Great video.

[jessehouser]

great to hear such a high-profile artist so open about mostly using presets. producers have taken deadmau5’s “cardinal sin of edm” meme and run far with it, and even before that there was an elitist stigma about not designing all your own sounds. apply that logic to any other genre—do we ridicule rockers for not building their own guitars?

[MrMallum]

This is spooky! He makes music pretty much exactly as I do. Except for one key He's a pro 😂

[------YeahOK------]

That melody at 7:30 reminds me of that banging song you get while on hold to the bank or doctors lol.

[Satyrator_-gyvq]

What I've taken from this, keep it simple but put in the effort. He said he chopped the guitar part heavily and he went through hundreds of presets to find the right ones, which can be quite tedious I find.

[bradybroussard]

One of the better songs from his new album! Great video!!

[MrBogmonster]

will the whole podcast with video be released?

[weakinduhknees]

Does anyone know the name of the Voice Pad preset he's using on Omnisphere @7:24

[bdptrs]

But it would be lovely if Kieran would really get down to the nitty gritty of something like a sine wave. Dunno, as earlier releases tend to have a bit of broader spectrum in sound.
Not complaining at all though, don't get me wrong, it's obviously working, but yeah, something more adventurous would be great.

[zackm.d]

His guitar kinda sounds like the breakdown in enter sandman by Metallica

[HiLoMusic]

Does a ten minute video really need a 50 second ad?

[nachomanrandysauvage]

Durrr hurrr it’s the country riddim guy! Durrrr

[templeofg]

his music is terrible... who's putting him on..