Samples have not only inspired countless records, but have also shaped lives and careers.
If you look at some of the top hits from today’s biggest artists, nine times out of ten, there’s a sample or loop involved. In the video above, expert beat maker and producer Isaac Duarte sits down with John McNeill, Joel McNeill, and John Smythe, who are key members of Soul Surplus—a collective that’s responsible for top-selling samples heard in award-winning records. Together, they discuss an array of topics including how to build a successful sample-making business, the intricacies of royalty-free sounds, the qualities that make a sample great, and more.
For more insights from the Soul Surplus team, be sure to also check out our takeaways from their recent session with Drexel University below:
“I felt like the world needed to hear about who these geniuses are,” Duarte shares. “When we use these samples on Splice, they come from a place—there’s a story about them. They don’t just come from thin air, and I wanted to shed light on who they are and hear their creative and business insights.”
“A lot of people aren’t willing to share these, because they’re jaded from their experiences being in the music industry. But, like Pharrell has always said, you have to share the codes—so don’t just watch this and like and comment; I want you to apply what they’ve said in this video, because it just might change the trajectory of your life.”
What was your favorite insight from the interview? Who would you like to see us feature next? Let us know in the comments section of the video, and subscribe to the Splice YouTube channel for more artist-led tips, tutorials, and discussions.
Explore royalty-free sounds from leading artists, producers, and sound designers:
December 20, 2024
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