Setting Up the Show

Setting up the show was very important and painstaking. We used a lot of samples and sounds that were on the albums. One of the ways that worked really well was to have percussionists and drummers play them at various different points in the show.

Technology Used

• We utilized a kick called a Muse receptor, which was wired up to Roland V drums.
• There was an SPD 30. Our percussionists also had a Hand Sonic as well as their own pads to play.

This setup created a very dynamic atmosphere. The touch sensitivity allowed the samples to come out at varying volumes, adding to the dynamics of the performance.

Latency Issues

One of the problems you can encounter when using lots of drum pads is latency, which means you're triggering something and hearing it a fraction of a second later. However, the technology has improved since we first started. Now, zero latency FireWire can be hooked up to your pads, so whatever you're running, as soon as you touch it, you hear the sound.

• Tightness in Drumming: Anything rhythmic and drumming needs to be as tight as possible because everybody listens to the drums to keep in time and know where they are in the song.

You don't want triggers coming in half a second late, as this can throw everyone off, preventing them from sitting nicely in the groove.

Mixing Drums and Samples

We achieved a lovely mix of drums; sometimes snare sounds could be live as well as program snare doubled up. Additionally, we used samples taken from the record, drum samples that were chopped up, or little snippets of chords or pads played on these drum pads. This created some interesting textures and contributed to a live show that felt not 100% acoustic, adding a slightly otherworldly, futuristic element.

The Use of Electronic Pads

In a song called I Want More, we used one pad to play a backing vocal. As a band, we are not fans of pre-recorded backing vocals; we believe there's a totally different energy when working with vocalists who are present. It feels fake to hear a whole chorus of people without seeing them.

• The pad simply played "I want more" and the singer would join in with his own backing vocal. This was a little electronic nod to the album version, yet it wasn't something we relied on heavily.

Importance of Vocals

Vocals are quite important, and how we work with those in the band has been crucial from the very beginning. The album featured various voices, with Maxie being the central spine as a sort of rapper and poet. We augmented him with different singers who would come in to do lead vocals and backing vocals.

Rehearsing Vocals

Rehearsing vocals was essential. Here are some effective strategies:

• Sectional Rehearsals: Rehearse sections individually to tighten the band.
• Auditions: Ensure you've auditioned the right people if you're working with session musicians, verifying that their voices blend well together.

It's vital to have:

• Real synergy
• Rhythmic tightness
• Cohesive tone among voices
• Stay in tune and time

With Faithless, sometimes we played to a click, while other times the music was completely acoustic. The diversity of situations required singers who could adapt, hold the stage and retreat to the backing vocal position when necessary.

Vocal Arrangement Considerations

Interestingly, we couldn't always go on stage with the original artists who sang the songs on the album. We often worked with different singers. These could be male or female singers, leading to occasional changes in the key of the songs to fit their vocal ranges.

It can be quite exciting to reinterpret a song sung by a woman and have it performed by a man. This approach offers a fresh perspective on the music.

Case Study: "Music Matters"

One example is our song Music Matters, originally sung by Cass Fox. After her departure, various vocalists sang it, including a male vocalist, Harry:

• We had to change the key completely.
• We also reimagined the song's structure; it started as an electronic piece but was stripped back to an acoustic rendition.

Lyrics Sample:
"Chase the doors back from my clothes?
You told me to look much further?
You told me to want much more?
You told me that music matters and the chase of died from my dog."

It was a revelation to realize that dance music could be played entirely acoustically. The mix included gentle electronic drums and a light backbeat, creating a Balearic feel, akin to what you'd hear in Ibiza at sundown rather than in a club. This transformation surprised the audience, giving them something unique they couldn't experience anywhere else.