There is no reward, without risk. French DJ and producer Sébastien Léger knows this. On Saturday, he’ll be debuting a brand new untested live show at London’s Ministry of Sound nightclub this Saturday, something that he admits will be a bit of a challenge.
“You never know what can happen with a new live show,” he says. “A computer crash, random bugs, MIDI drop outs. But that’s what makes it really exciting!”
For his live show, the Frenchman will be bridging old technology, the machines that were first used by producers in Detroit and Chicago at the very beginning of electronic dance music, with modern software and computers.
At the heart of his set up will be an Apple Macbook Pro with Ableton Live 8. “It is divided into three main parts, the tracks, the loops, and the drum machines,” Sébastien Léger says.
He’ll also be using a Lemur, the touch-screen MIDI controller, which will be configured as a step-sequencer to program drums on the fly. “It’s set up just like how the old Roland TR909/808s used to work,” says Leger, with obvious excitement in his voice.
The Lemur will also be used to control some of the parameters in Ableton, such as Beatrepeat, track volumes, and tools. Léger will also be using two UC33e MIDI controllers. “One will control Ableton’s internal mixer, FX and filters. The other one is dedicated to control the sounds from the step sequencer of the Lemur.”
The pièce de résistance of Sébastien Léger’s live set up will be an original Roland TB303, the legendary sequencer/synthesizer which features in so many classic dance tracks.
“I’ll use the TB303 to produce acid baselines which I can combine with the Lemur's sequencer for the beats. It’s very special as it is the first USB TB303 ever created,” he says.
Sébastien Léger will unveil his debut live show on Saturday night at Ministry of Sound for his Mistakes Music party. The Frenchman specifically chose the famous London nightclub, “as it has one of the best soundsystems in the world”.
His set will also differ significantly from his usual DJ sets. “The live show will consist 100% my own music,” he explains. “I’ll be playing some new music, some unreleased tracks, and some classics that I’ve re-edited just for the show, and I’ll be freestyling with my drum machines and 303 over the top.” For fans of Sébastien Léger then, it will most certainly be a night to remember.
Mistakes Music @ Ministry of Sound, London
Saturday 28 May, 2011
Sebastien Leger (live)
Alexi Delano
Gregor Tresher
103
Solomun
Nicole Moudaber
Spieltrieb
Click here to buy tickets.
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