Jill Fraser Recommends
- 2 days ago
- 2 min read
The amazing composer and electronic music pioneer, Jill Fraser, recommends some studio essentials.
Check out Earthly Pleasures via Drag City.
As part of SH5.
Without further ado...
1. A piano
I have two. Mostly I don’t play them nearly enough but for me they are the source, the beginning of everything. My security blankets.
2. A Serge modular system
I have a new Prism Serge system that I highly recommend, I also have my old Serge modular I built myself in the late 70s when I was working at Serge’s in Hollywood. I’m still using it and it’s working well but I use my new Prism Serge as my live rig, as well as in the studio and it’s great. I sent CV to it from my Ableton Push 3 to play all kinds of complex melody lines and it sounds amazing.
3. Blackwing 602 pencils
My first composition teacher told me to use these. He said everyone serious uses them. They are lovely, smooth and have these nice little erasers on top. Igor Stravinsky used them, Quincy Jones used them. Can’t hurt. Also a dozen Blackwings makes a wonderful gift.
4. Yamaha TX816 rack
Oh I love my Yamaha TX816 rack. I was so proud and happy when I got this back in the 1980s. The best bells and plucks hands down over a huge range from high to low. Yes the menu diving is insane, but the sound is oh so clean and crispy!
5. 1010music Lemondrop
So little and so powerful - honestly anything those guys make is top notch. The Lemondrop does granular synthesis and I load up all kinds of samples and mess them up. Especially the vocal spoken stuff, it makes it sound completely otherworldly.
6. A bow, arrows and a target
I know several musicians that do archery. I think the repetitive practice is comforting and empowering at the same time. It’s a great stress reliever and good upper body strength exercise. Everyone needs some exercise and fresh air, archery works for me. Plus it helps to imagine I could vanquish my enemies if I needed to.
7. Roland JV1080 rack mount synth
Still using decades later. Breathy sounds that I like to layer in just to make the track breathe. Back in the 80s and 90s I used the keyboard version as my main controller but now the rack mount suits me fine and I generally sample it and modify the sounds further in Ableton.
8. My little Akai Max 25. CV outputs
Yay! Works great with both modulars. This is one handy little synth and it’s red.
Synth History Exclusive.
As part of SH5.
Photos provided by Jill Fraser.
