Beats Sample Selection & Reference Tracks

In order to select samples, I felt like the most efficient way of doing this would be to search YouTube for suitable material to sample. I found it particularly useful to refer to WhoSampled.com Limited (2016) when trying to find inspiration for artists to sample. I began to search influential artists and examined the types of artists that they sampled. For example Thugnificense by Flatbush Zombies (2013) samples Iniuria Palace by Baths (2011). I listened through their discography and decided to sample the introduction from Yawn by Baths (2014) for the first tracks main hook. This was accompanied by vocals sampled from Love Song featured on 'The Flood' by The Lyre Ensemble (2015) along with the aforementioned drum recordings of which individual elements were sampled (i.e. snare drum) and the sourced 808 samples.

The Second track features samples taken from a track called Dream Lady by Tom Scott (1990) featured on the reissue of 'Blow it Out'. The main elements of this track were sampled from the introduction of this track, and the strings were also sampled from around 14 seconds into the track. This is also accompanied by sampled drums taken from the inital drum recording session at the beginning of this process. 

In each track, I tried to be as sparing as possible with the amount of elements I sampled, attempting to emulate the limitations held in place by original samplers such as the SP-1200. I found this helpful to an extent as it helped me generate the tracks initial structures. However I eventually found this somewhat counter-intuitive, heeding my work flow and decided to allow myself more creative freedom with each composition.

In order to achieve this I felt that it was necessary to establish reference tracks that would inform further influence for the pieces. The tracks Fine Whine and Canal St. by A$AP Rocky (2015). I used the following tracks as both mix references and creative references for elements that I would perhaps introduce within my tracks, for example the chime/bell tree samples are influenced by those in Canal St. and are used to add additional layers which emphasise the introductions of new sections/measures.