Monday, February 7, 2011

R.E.M. launch Fan Remix Project

R.E.M. are offering fans the chance to remix their music, and giving them the tools to do it.

With the help of producer Jacknife Lee, the band has launched what it calls the “Remix Project.”

First up is the new R.E.M. track, "It Happened Today,” from the band’s forthcoming album, “Collapse Into Now,” due March 8.

Lee has delivered all the multi-track files for the song and R.E.M. have posted them on their website here.

Files are offered in AIFF and Garageband formats, so fans can pick what works for them by downloading the file format of their choice.

R.E.M. have set up a page at Soundcloud.com here for people to upload their results.

Here’s a posting from Jacknife Lee on the Remix Project:

Right from the early stages of recording this song in New Orleans Michael wanted to share the files with people to hear their different ideas and versions.

So here they are.

I have bounced some tracks together to make it easier to download and use. We ended up with over a hundred tracks with all the percussion, brass, three pianos, celeste, glockenspiels, vibraphone, eight acoustic guitars, two drum kits, bass synths, banjo, mandolin, dulcimer, electric guitars, bass and all the voices.

Enjoy, and be bold.

Looking forward to hearing what you come up with.

Jacknife Lee

R.E.M. - It Happened Today (2011)


See also:

New video: R.E.M. “Discoverer”
New video: R.E.M. “Mine Smell Like Honey”
Hear new R.E.M.: "Mine Smell Like Honey"
VIDEO: R.E.M.’s “Collapse Into Now” trailer
Hear Pearl Jam’s Eddie Vedder with R.E.M.