Conceptualizing an album with The Love Experiment
The Love Experiment was formed to play a one-time event at Harvard, but quickly realized they loved playing as a group and decided to stick together. They quickly gained a cult following throughout the Northeast by performing at house parties, art galleries, and venues across the region. Additionally, they have a history of throwing secret parties, which helped them build a niche audience in New York City.
Their sound combines a wide range of diverse musical influences which include J Dilla, Erykah Badu, Sufjan Stevens, Flying Lotus, D’Angelo, Prince, Billie Holiday, and Earth Wind and Fire.
Since its inception, The Love Experiment has become a collective of over 20 musicians, producers, and songwriters who’ve all been committed to finding the next sonic step in R&B, hip-hop, and soul. The band has given clinics and masterclasses all around the United States, performed at fundraisers for educational endeavors, and members of the collective currently run the Digital Music Production Program at Carnegie Hall.
Our series of four sample packs created in collaboration with the group essentially acted as sketch pads for their next album currently being recorded. The six sessions allowed them to work out ideas for their next steps. In many ways, this pack is an inside look into how an album is made with the sounds deconstructed and available to use in whatever ways you feel inspired to.
We started by laying down a rhythm section—the guitar, bass, and drums. Parker McCallister played the bass, Andrew Burglass on guitar, and Charles Burchell on drums. From there, Burchell added more drum grooves and we overdubbed the guitars and bass.
We continued to layer on keys, synth, piano with Devon Dixon Jr. tapping into his roots in the church and injecting serious soul into the sounds. There was a Prophet 6, Juno 60, Deckards Dream, Moog Sonic 6, Rhodes, Hammond M3, Wurlitzer 200, and Ritmüller Baby Grand.
Then, Kim Mayo laid down vocals channeling some serious Billie Holliday vibes captured with a U87 through a Great River Mic Preamp with CL1B compression. She improvised all her lyrics and melodies through a stream of consciousness. Finally, Syl DuBenion sang and played alto sax through the same setup.
