As my days in the covid era seem to look more and more repetitive, it’s hard not to feel like I am living in a loop. It’s a great thing that the internet and Spotify exist in my moments of boredom and they have led me to the core of my Youtube history for the past several months: the “one man band”. I’m talking about looping.
So, in honor of internet music and meme legend Marc Rebillet who dropped his newest album “Loop Daddy III” on October 1st, we’re gonna pay some homage to some of the contemporary greats who use looping as the cornerstone to their craft.
Looping has been present in music since 1953 where Les Paul used to layer guitar riffs using his famous pedal. It has assisted many musicians in lending a helping hand since it’s inception. The concept of it is simple: tap the looper, play a measure, tap the looper, and the tune will continue to play back on repeat. It’s use has varied and is utilized as a key aspect to sampling in early hip hop. Loopers are a huge tool for creative exploration for musicians. There is too much to be said about the history of the looper and it’s impact on music but I’d rather look at how it’s being used on the internet today.
Many musicians on the internet are using the looper to provide as a whole band, meaning a singular artist is making entire arrangements through looping multiple instruments. This isn’t a new technique, but musicians used to have to go to a studio to individually record and compose different instruments. Now loopers like the popular BOSS RC station make the technique far more accessible.
One of the best in the game right now is FKJ, who has been refining his sound in looping since 2014. For anyone interested in listening to his french inspired Nu jazz and electronic, he has a bunch of wonderful one man concerts that he records in remote locations that I highly recommend you watch. But the the song that introduces me to the wonder of looping was his 2018 smash collaboration with Masego titled “Tadow”. The song is as smooth as butter and has become somewhat of a mellow mood trope around Santa Clara as I’ve been told. It features an impressive video where the duo construct the song by each adding their own flare into the looper.
The internet has served me some delicious licks from Vulfpeck on their unreleased jam sessions where they mess with turning their looper on and off. I became more intrigued with how much fun you could have with a BOSS RC. I’m also thankful that my suggested page served me some Kevin Parker quarantine boredom which I absolutely loved but hey, it’s trendy to be into Tame Impala so who didn’t?
TikTok also showed me the a taste of how musicians can be using the looper to goof off. You could make a choir using your own voice, you could make a rap beat out of your little brother losing at Warzone, heck you could make your dog sound like Dua Lipa with it.
But there was perhaps no better piece of media to be regurgitated into my Youtube feed than Marc Rebillet. For those of you who are unfamiliar, Mr. Rebillet is a fashion icon, internet meme, and one of the greatest musicians I’ve seen in a long time. He was a failed corporate finance employee who decided he wanted to just play music, so he improvises music using his keyboard and a looper. He typically sings comically with most of his jokes based around shaking his caboose. But don’t let his eccentric attitude fool you. Marc is a king of funk and will instantly enthrall any music lovers. His skill outshines his ridiculous lyrics and he has been my #1 listened to artist for the past week (I mean besides Polo & Pan ‘cause c’mon). Rebillet has found my undying respect and I can’t wait to hear what he has next. Do yourself a favor and listen to this album and spend some extra time on his best track on the album “You and Me”.
With such fresh artists making music with loopers in the game right now, I’m super stoked to see where the device allows people to go. I look forward to more internet stupidity disguised as creativity and vice versa. So thank you inter webs, thank you BOSS RC, and may the force be with ya.
-Dean Wilson
(incoming DJ name: DJ Zaboomafoo)