Have you ever seen an artist be successful by just singing over a construction kit?

[igorius]

Today I have. And it feels awkward.
It was Tory Lanez with "Hurts me". And I instantly think "That sounds familiar. But I don't know that song. Isn't that from a construction kit?". And I was right. It's from https://www.producerloops.com/Download- ... Vol-1.html, kit 5, you can hear it halfway through the demo on the website. They almost left the construction kit unchanged, except for the vocals that were added. And it's got more than 90 million plays on Spotify.
Now I'm curious. Is that common? Does that happen often? Has anyone else noticed a famous song basically just being a construction kit?

[bermudagold]

been happenin...ever since construction kits been out...late 90s to my memory...saw people get signed from demos fully based on construction kits...definitely some used on hit records...i don't think anyone even cares today since apparently its accepted to sample records that aren't even old yet lol...

[BBFG#]

Your bait line begs a few split hairs here...
What is "successful"?
What is a "construction kit"?
And is a rapper considered a singer?
All subjective.
As I read your post though, what came up immediately in my mind was this;


Pretty early on in the scheme of things, (late 80s). But I think there are many examples before your realization that could fit. Depending on those split hair subjective answers each of us would perceive for such.

[igorius]

Your bait line begs a few split hairs here...
What is "successful"?
What is a "construction kit"?
And is a rapper considered a singer?
All subjective.
As I read your post though, what came up immediately in my mind was this;


Pretty early on in the scheme of things, (late 80s). But I think there are many examples before your realization that could fit. Depending on those split hair subjective answers each of us would perceive for such.

True, successful is somewhat subjective. By construction kit I mean music that is literally sold labelled as construction kit, like in this case.
I'm not talking about people sampling music and turning it into something new by looping small sections or being creative with the samples, chopping, changing the tempo and pitch, etc.
In this case that I mentioned, they literally took the demo from a construction kit as is. I see no creativity involved at all, except for the singing, which I do think adds a nice touch.

[BBFG#]

You mean a library collection derived by someone else then.
Is "construction kit" just a new form of identity pandering then?
It's a catch all phrase really. For those that want things decided for them.
And now we're back to defining what "successful" is...
An infinite circle in vernacular.

[Uncle E]

No, no, sorry, let's not do this. "Construction Kit" is a well established sample industry term. It doesn't need to be redefined.

And yes, many people have become successful from construction kits. I've been in the room with fairly big producers when they did it. I would encourage more KVR members to do it, it's almost like having a band member feeding you parts.

[igorius]

No, no, sorry, let's not do this. "Construction Kit" is a well established sample industry term. It doesn't need to be redefined.

And yes, many people have become successful from construction kits. I've been in the room with fairly big producers when they did it. I would encourage more KVR members to do it, it's almost like having a band member feeding you parts.

Don't get me wrong. I'm all for using sample packs and construction kits. I own lots of them myself.
But the way they used it, it feels more like having a producer hand you a finished track (the demo track), not so much like a band member feeding you parts.

[Uncle E]

Don't get me wrong. I'm all for using sample packs and construction kits. I own lots of them myself.
But the way they used it, it feels more like having a producer hand you a finished track (the demo track), not so much like a band member feeding you parts.

Oh, I'm sure you're right. I'd probably hate it. But I'd still encourage people to do it, just so we can see more people around here putting out music and getting their names out there.

[BBFG#]

Considering the state of things, it could happen.
But did it really? It's starting to sound like an AI project...

[igorius]

Considering the state of things, it could happen.
But did it really? It's starting to sound like an AI project...

AI project? I don't understand what you mean. Seems to have nothing to do with AI in my opinion. It's really just a singer singing over the demo file of a construction kit.
To illustrate how close the artist's track is to the demo file, I've made a screenshot with both audio files.

Clipboard01.png

The top audio is from Producer Loops 80s Retro Pop Vol1, demo track of kit 5.

The one below is from Tory Lanez - Hurts me. They really just used the demo track and sung over it.
And that might actually be against the license agreement which states (quote):
"Any audio demos are provided as “demos” and they are not licensed to you, and they may not be re-created or used in their current state."

[freshalex]

Sonnentanz by Klangkarussell (Universal Music) was a big hit in Europe 2012 and used the sample-construction-kit „Nu Jazz City“ Big Fish Audio. If I remember correctly, there was a lawsuit against this procedure. However, the court ruled in favor of Klangkarusell.

[igorius]

Sonnentanz by Klangkarussell (Universal Music) was a big hit in Europe 2012 and used the sample-construction-kit „Nu Jazz City“ Big Fish Audio. If I remember correctly, there was a lawsuit against this procedure. However, the court ruled in favor of Klangkarusell.

But did they use the construction kit's demo track as is?

[whyterabbyt]

Considering the state of things, it could happen.
But did it really? It's starting to sound like an AI project...

No its not. Its samples, nothing more. Genre-specific themed samples, mostly loops, that work together in terms of tempo. That's all. The bread and butter of modern simplified music making tools, like Music Maker, and actually exactly the same thing as Live lets folk do, just canned and prepackaged. Been around about as long as there have been commercial sampled loops.

You recently posted a discount voucher code for a company selling these...

[BBFG#]

Considering the state of things, it could happen.
But did it really? It's starting to sound like an AI project...

No its not. Its samples, nothing more. Genre-specific themed samples, mostly loops, that work together in terms of tempo. That's all. The bread and butter of modern simplified music making tools, like Music Maker, and actually exactly the same thing as Live lets folk do, just canned and prepackaged. Been around about as long as there have been commercial sampled loops.

You recently posted a discount voucher code for a company selling these...

I did and have another available!
Loops are something I explored and now avoid as being more for people that want instant gratification without putting in the practice of actually becoming a musician. I've used them only as examples and etudes to increase my own technique, but refuse to actually use them directly on production. It's a cheat. Even the drum loops used are more as a starting metronome that get replaced by actually playing in my pieces. Whether by me or a real drummer in live situations.

I consider those that rely on "loops" as "collage artists", not musicians. And the only thing lower than that are DJs.

I understand the market for it and would love to let them do what they do by selling off what I have to those that do that.

And AI will facilitate the gratification synapse far quicker than loops on their own.

[freshalex]

Sonnentanz by Klangkarussell (Universal Music) was a big hit in Europe 2012 and used the sample-construction-kit „Nu Jazz City“ Big Fish Audio. If I remember correctly, there was a lawsuit against this procedure. However, the court ruled in favor of Klangkarusell.

But did they use the construction kit's demo track as is?

They have used the music within the meaning of copyright law out of the construction kit (drums also). Is that what you mean? It was heavily discussed these times.