Recently, M83's Anthony Gonzalez shared an exclusive set of stems for "Midnight City" with a select group of producers and sound designers. This rare opportunity allowed artists to dissect and reimagine the track's intricate sound design, providing a unique glimpse into Gonzalez's creative process. In this article, we'll explore the exclusive stems, unpack the sound design and production techniques used in "Midnight City", and discuss the inspiration behind this beloved track.
The track ends with a bombastic saxophone solo performed by James King of Fitz and the Tantrums. Gonzalez was initially concerned about using a saxophone solo, acknowledging it as potentially cheesy or overused, but concluded: "Sometimes a song needs an element to be finished". This fearless embrace of emotional maximalism—what Pitchfork described as "blockbuster-scale" music that "risks embarrassment to give imagination and outsized emotion free reign"—is precisely what makes "Midnight City" so distinctive. m83 midnight city stems exclusive
Deep, analog polysynths hold down the chord progressions. These pads are side-chained to the kick drum, creating a subtle pumping effect that carves out space for the lower frequencies. 3. The Shoegaze Noise Wall Recently, M83's Anthony Gonzalez shared an exclusive set
Engineers want to hear exactly how the drums were compressed or how many layers of synths exist to create that "wall of sound." The track ends with a bombastic saxophone solo
The song concludes with one of the most famous saxophone solos in modern pop history, performed by James King of Fitz and the Tantrums. The isolated stem reveals why it sits so perfectly in an electronic track: