Thriftshop XL

Interview

- Tell us a little bit about yourself and how you got into music video mixing

I have always been fascinated by sampled music. When I first heard 'Close the Edit' by 'The Art of Noise' I was blown away, hearing sounds I had never heard before. I found out they were using the latest sampling technology and devoured all the info I could on how it worked. I enjoyed re-contextualising music, putting two different genres together to make something new - either to make you laugh, or to make a point.

Working in the film and TV industry, it struck me that if I could source the videos I could edit them together. That's how I started.

- What does the term, "mash-up" mean?

I had been doing my work for about three or four years and playing my tunes to friends when in 2000 one of them told me I was part of a scene. I had no idea others were doing it too. At the time it was called 'Bootlegging'. I only heard the term 'Mash-up' a few years later, after I found an excellent forum for bootleggers called "Get Your Bootleg On" ( http://www.gybo-v3.co.uk ). On this site run by another great producer, McSleazy, you could post your tunes and other people could download and rate them. It was great, getting tips and tricks from like-minded people. It is still the most important site in the scene. As for what 'Mash-up' means, I think it is a general term for the post modern art of joining mixed media.

Youtube: Britney Spears vs B52's - Toxic Love Shack

- How do you go about making a video mash-up?

First of all, I make an audio mash-up. I take an Acapella (just the voice) and see if it fits over someone else's music. If it does, I start looking for the videos. A few years ago, I would look through my own collection of old VHS music tapes from the TV. Later I would download MPEGs from P2P sites. Now, I do it to broadcast standards with pop promos from legitimate sources.

- How long does it take to create a 5 minute mix?

The tune can take anything from an hour to two or three days if it needs tweaking. The videos take longer, depending on how much re-editing or speeding-up/slowing-down or re-syncing I need to do.

Youtube: TLC vs The Cure - Scrub Close To Me

Sometimes I re-create graphics and TV station idents in Flash as well. I recently made a video for AGGRO1's Drum and Bass mash-up of the Genesis song 'Mama' and it took me two weeks to edit. It had over 2,900 separate edits in it and each edit has been treated individually. It is a slow process.

- What equipment are you using?

I use ACID PRO to make the audio. For the video edit, I use a combination of Pinnacle Studio, Adobe Premiere Pro, After Effects and Adobe Flash 8. I also shoot some of my own material too. For my live shows, I have a very basic setup. I use a Panasonic vision mixer and some portable DVD players.

Youtube: Missy Elliot vs Cookie Crew - Keep on Lose Control

I also have a MiniDV camera with material on it as a backup, because DVDs are very unreliable. I'm not using a laptop for performance, because they are extremely unreliable and have trouble running full motion video streams together on-the-fly.

- How did you get onto MTV?

My first foray into broadcast TV was when I was approached by the programme director of Emap TV. They run a series of UK-based music TV channels, including Kerrang, Q, FHM, The Hits and The Box. He had seen an article in a national newspaper, went to my site, saw that I was one of the few video mash-up artists and commissioned me to do some material for them.

Youtube: Genesis - Mama vs Unknown Error Flip Funk v4

- Is it broadcasted in other countries?

I don't know, I hope so. The more people who see it, the better. Anyone can visit my site or Youtube and watch a small selection of my work.

- Do you ever play live in nightclubs etc?

I VJ my own video music in clubs, yes. I have some monthly residencies and have been doing quite a lot of one-off gigs every week too. I am playing in Germany in May and I'm really looking forward to it.

- What kind of music are you personally into?

Youtube: Lilly Allen vs The Cure - Lillybye

I grew up listening to Art of Noise, electro and Hip Hop. Techno and dance music is my music of choice, but I have to listen to and respect all forms of music as part of my Thriftshop XL guise. At the moment, I am listening to Enter Shikari, Puffy Ami Yummy, Klaxons, Hoboken, Orbital and The Specials.

- Who is your favourite video director?

Without a doubt, Zbigniew Rybczynski. He has made some of the most important pieces of moving image ever seen. His short film Tango, won an Oscar in 1983. He is not only an artist but also understands the technology he works with. He invented a lot of video technology and was the first to make films in High Definition in the early 80's with his collaboration with Sony.

Youtube: Do You Wanna Cuz it's Tricky My Sharona (Franz Ferdinand & Run DMC)

You may not have seen his art film work, but I guarantee that you have seen pop promos and adverts by other directors that are 'inspired' by his films. He has also directed promos for Art of Noise, Mick Jagger, Pet Shop Boys, Lou Reed and John Lennon'. In 1990 he was honoured by the Japanese Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications for his outstanding work in HD technology.

- What are your future plans? What is the next step for making video mash-ups?

I would love the makers of Ableton Live ( http://www.ableton.com/ ) to create software that would allow me to load pop promos with separate audio elements that I could beat-match.

Youtube: Sexy Twilight Back - Justin Timberlake vs 2 Unlimited

For example, I could then have a George Michael video A Capella and mix it live video a Rammstein Instrumental video 'live' - that would be truly amazing. If anyone from Ableton is reading this, please get in touch!!!

Here is a link to a new half hour video mix of mine

download (wmv 135mb)

Thriftshop XL : http://www.thriftshopxl.com

Written by Selph

Youtube: J-Lo vs Stone Roses - Fool's Gold from the Block