OscarUnderdog: Crafting Sonic Narratives from Loops

Electronic musicians often begin their creations in a loop—a repeating cycle that serves as the canvas to weave various sonic textures. But as mesmerizing as loops can be, they remain static without a story. OscarUnderdog opens his masterclass by addressing this challenge, demonstrating how these perpetual cycles can evolve into captivating musical narratives. Loops, he argues, are just the genesis. They hold the potential to become fluid stories, echoing the emotive journey from inception to resolution.

Oscar introduces the subtractive arrangement, likening it to a sculptor chiseling a statue from a block of clay. This technique involves spreading the loop across a timeline, then meticulously carving out sections to reveal the composition within. The process begins by duplicating the loop until it saturates the timeline. With precise cuts, elements are subtracted to shape an energy contour—a dynamic ebb and flow. Start with minimal activity, gradually building intensity, only to later retreat in a crescendo-decrescendo dance. By visualizing the composition as Lego blocks, each modification transforms the loop from a static entity into a fluid story. Attention to energy levels allows for a narrative arc, maintaining intrigue and motion throughout.

With the foundational story set, transitions are added to enhance the journey between sections. Oscar emphasizes the significance of these transitional elements—turnarounds and markers—that signal the shift from one part to the next. Whether through a reverse reverb swell or a noise riser, these moments of transformation become the highlights that guide the listener. While traditional white noise crashes can serve as markers, the real artistry lies in crafting unique flourishes that resonate with the song’s character, making each transition a tantalizing mystery as one page turns to the next.

Oscar teaches the art of adding a performative crescendo within the arrangement, a technique borrowed from classical traditions yet brilliantly suitable for electronic music. This involves creating a musical element that ebbs and swells, akin to breathing life into the soundtrack. The crescendo element starts in the shadows, slowly expanding until it commands the foreground, before gracefully retreating. This ebbing flow, akin to the tide, imbues the track with an organic feel. By performing this element live, a unique narrative emerges, drawing listeners deeper into its hypnotic embrace.