The two renowned experimental musicians, mastering engineers, and label owners discuss how a classic electronic album guided and inspired an acoustic masterpiece.
------------------
The Spotlight shines On experimental music producers and label owners Taylor Deupree and Joseph Branciforte.
Back in 2002, Taylor Deupree released an electronic album called Stil. That release captivated listeners with its quiet, repeating patterns and stark digital sound. Twenty years later, Taylor and producer Joseph Branciforte linked up to reimagine the album as Sti.ll, rebuilding the entire work using only non-electronic instruments.
The new version takes all of the computer-generated sounds from the original and puts them in the hands of live musicians playing clarinets, strings, and percussion. It is an ambitious and adventurous project from two collaborators enmeshed in experimental music—Taylor runs 12k Music and has spent years blending electronic and natural sounds, while Joe’s built Greyfade into a label that keeps finding creative ways to present creative music.
They’re here to walk us through this one-of-a-kind project while covering several other topics related to creativity and the modern music business.
(The musical excerpts heard in the interview are from the albums Stil. and Stil.ll, played side-by-side.)
------------------
0:00 - Introduction and Background
1:37 - Initial Discussion of the Project Format
2:12 - Development of the Project Scope
3:11 - Challenges and Viability
4:07 - Project Origins and Comparisons
6:01 - Project Parameters and Fidelity
8:21 - Live Performance Possibilities
14:43 - Musical Influences and Minimalism
17:11 - Visual Art Influences on Music
19:21 - Creative Process and Identity
23:45 - Label Identity and Branding
28:04 - Role of Record Labels as Curators
32:02 - Evolution of Label Identity
34:11 - Musical Blueprint Discussion
38:27 - Format Innovation and Distribution
43:10 - Streaming vs Physical Media
47:50 - Future of Music Consumption
52:41 - Future Collaborations
------------------
Visit Taylor Deupree and 12k at https://www.12k.com/artist/deupree-taylor
Visit Joseph Branciforte and greyfade at https://www.greyfade.com/artists/joseph-branciforte
Purchase Stil. from 12k → https://www.12k.com/releases/stil
Qobuz → https://www.qobuz.com/us-en/album/stil-taylor-deupree/0898339002020
Bandcamp → https://taylordeupree.bandcamp.com/album/stil
and listen on your streaming platform of choice → https://album.link/i/16731432
Purchase Sti.ll from greyfade → https://www.greyfade.com/catalog/008
12k → https://www.12k.com/releases/sti-ll
Qobuz → https://www.qobuz.com/us-en/album/still-taylor-deupree/o4jgzhci0c7yb
Bandcamp → https://taylordeupree.bandcamp.com/album/sti-ll-2
and listen on your streaming platform of choice → https://album.link/i/1743052265
For extensive show notes, links, and podcast information, go to https://www.spotlightonpodcast.com
Be sure to check out The Tonearm, our new magazine site featuring fascinating perspectives and conversations with creative people → https://www.thetonearm.com
The Tonearm on Mastodon → https://social.lol/@thetonearm
The Tonearm on Bluesky → https://bsky.app/profile/thetonearm.com
The Tonearm on Threads → https://www.threads.net/@the.tonearm
The Tonearm on Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/the.tonearm
The Tonearm on Facebook → https://www.facebook.com/thetonearm
The Tonearm on LinkedIn → https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-tonearm
------------------
• Did you enjoy this episode? Please share it with a friend! You can also rate Spotlight On ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ and leave a review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify.
• Subscribe! Be the first to check out each new episode of Spotlight On in your podcast app of choice.
• Looking for more? Visit spotlightonpodcast.com for bonus content, web-only interviews + features, and the Spotlight On email newsletter.
#podcast #TaylorDeupree #JosephBranciforte #ExperimentalMusic #Still #SpotlightOn