Record a hit in your bedroom: a masterclass with Le Sommet at French Theory
Check out “Faire un Hit dans sa chambre”, a mini documentary filmed at French Theory featuring Le Sommet’s team of producers: Le Motif, DSK On The Beat, Junior Alaprod and Martimix.
Behind the biggest hits in recent years from “Réseaux” by Niska, “Bella” by MHD and “Mwaka Moon” by Kalash and Damso, to mixing Angèle’s album BROL – the name of French collective Le Sommet comes back again and again.
Saturday 15 February 2020, producers Le Motif, Junior Alaprod and DSK On The Beat, together with sound engineer Martimix, gave an exceptional, over four-hour long masterclass at French Theory on How to record a hit in your bedroom.
In the current context, this theme was not only unique but strangely topical. Hadn’t teenage singer sensation Billie Eilish been the big winner at the Grammy Awards 2020 with her debut album made entirely in her bedroom, thereby confirming once and for all the reign of the home studio – a phenomenon that health restrictions will surely only amplify.
The members of Le Sommet wouldn’t say any different. In the company of a lucky few, they made their way to three of the bedrooms at French Theory, that had been specially kitted out for the occasion with a very realistic home studio configuration and proceeded to share their expertise.
In a classmate bedroom, producers Junior Alaprod and DSK On The Beat revealed how they compose melodies and come up with rhythms. They also gave the participants some precious advice, notably on the need to convey emotion in your songs and the importance of patience when you work in the music business.
On the top floor, producer, singer and topliner Le Motif explained how, in his opinion, vocal melodies and lyrics must spontaneously come together in order to grab the attention of listeners, giving demonstrations in his room, and working with the tracks produced just a few metres below by Junior and DSK. He then gave the masterclass participants a lovely surprise with an exclusive preview of the video of his first solo single “Playlist” several days before its release.
As for sound engineer Hugo “Martimix”, his advice focussed on recording and mixing tracks at home with some great practical tips sure to make all the difference.
You can catch up with the latest news from Le Sommet and its various members on Instagram. and if you love music as much as we do, come along to French Theory: we have an Audio Lab with a selection of vinyls and even, as Le Motif let slip, a secret recording studio.
French Theory
18 Rue Cujas
75005 Paris
Pictures: Odieux Boby.