Oli Freke is a name synonymous with the meticulous chronicling of electronic music history. A seasoned musician and journalist, Freke is currently engrossed in his latest magnum opus, Beat Gems, a visually stunning coffee-table book that delves deep into the fascinating evolution of drum machines. Published by Bjooks, known for their high-quality music tech titles, Beat Gems promises a treasure trove of historical insights, gorgeous photography, and practical wisdom for enthusiasts and professionals alike, covering everything from the iconic Roland TR-808 to modern marvels like Erica Synths’ Pērkons.
The Architect of Synth History
Terrence O’Brien is the Verge’s weekend editor. He’s covered the tech industry for over 18 years and knows a thing or two about synths.Oli Freke is a musician and journalist whose works have appeared in Sound on Sound, The Quietus, and Mixmag. This has included using math to explore the melodic potential of the Western 12-tone scale and deep dives on effects plug-ins. He’s even written a book tracing the evolution of the synthesizer from 1963 through 1995, charting the change from analog to digital and back.His new project is Beat Gems, a coffee-table visual history of drum machines from publisher Bjooks. Like other Bjooks titles, Beat Gems is loaded with gorgeous photos, fascinating historical tidbits, and practical advice for making the most of your gear, whether it’s a vintage Roland TR-808 or a modern oddity like Erica Synths’ Pērkons.
Freke’s journalistic prowess has graced publications like Sound on Sound, The Quietus, and Mixmag
. His diverse portfolio includes mathematical explorations of the Western 12-tone scale and in-depth analyses of effects plug-ins. He previously authored a definitive book tracing the synthesizer’s journey from 1963 to 1995, meticulously charting its transformation from analog to digital and back again.
Now, with Beat Gems, Freke turns his expert eye to the rhythmic heart of electronic music, offering a comprehensive visual history that is sure to become an indispensable resource for anyone passionate about drum machines.
Beyond the Beat: A Glimpse into Oli Freke’s World
In a candid interview, Oli Freke shares his personal insights, preferences, and philosophies, offering a unique perspective from the mind behind Beat Gems.
What is the first app you install on a new phone or computer?
If I’m buying a new computer, it’ll almost certainly be my music computer, so I’ll be installing Ableton Live straight away. It’s a remarkable piece of music software, with a feature set that still feels staggering compared to when I started making electronic music with an Atari ST 520 that could just about manage MIDI, with no audio at all.
Which social media platform do you use the most (if any)?
Probably YouTube, if we’re counting it as social media. It’s brilliant having experts in almost any subject area explain ideas, concepts, and methods. I watch a lot of science, maths, chess, and, inevitably, electronic music. I could do with fewer algorithmic clickbait temptations, which is one reason I’m not a heavy user of other social media platforms.
Which is the most disappointing gadget you’ve ever owned?
Vegetable choppers and cubers seem like a great idea, but they never work properly and never actually save any time or effort.
What game do you have the fondest memories of?
Elite on the Atari ST was incredible. It’s world-building on a (memory) shoestring when severe technical constraints existed, and the results were truly creative.
What is one thing you wish you had created?
As a musician, I wish I’d written a song that the whole world knew and loved, and that fans would demand I play at every opportunity — until I got so heartily sick of it that, in the end, I wished I’d never written it. Perhaps this has happened, and all these wishes have come true!
What’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever received?
From my father (I’m appropriately writing this on Father’s Day in the UK): “Say yes to any opportunity that comes your way — worry about whether you can do it or not later!”
What is your current obsession?
Drum machines! Researching for the Beat Gems book has reminded me of the primacy of rhythm to the human musical experience; how drum machines have tapped into this need, and in doing so have transformed musical culture over the last sixty years. It’s utterly fascinating.
What do you do when you need to focus?
I put on www.rinse.fm/kool, choose a set of banging drum’n’bass rollers, and then I’m very happy (and focused).
What do you do when you’re feeling stuck?
Remind myself of the infinite number of combinations of ideas. I once wrote an article that demonstrated there were 82 quintillion (82^18) 10-note melodies that can be written with the eight notes of the octave.
What’s the last piece of physical media you bought?
The soundtrack on vinyl to a beautiful film called Resynator. It’s about an obscure synth from the early ’80s and a daughter’s quest to learn about her father, who invented it but sadly died while she was a baby. Can’t recommend it enough.
What do you think is worth splurging on?
A high-quality road bicycle. Compared with cars, bikes are cheap, and you can buy machines not far off the quality professionals use for relatively reasonable sums. The difference between a good bike and a run-of-the-mill one is vast. Cycling in the countryside on a good bike brings me a great deal of joy.
What would the tagline for your biopic be?
Watch a man type words into a computer. For ages. Then watch him make music on a computer. Also for ages. Then watch him do some normal things involving a house, family, and car. Occasionally he is turned away from boarding a plane to Berlin to go to the launch of his Kickstarter because they changed the rules without him realizing it! Disappointingly, this doesn’t transform the biopic into a Falling Down-type scenario.
From his deep dive into the rhythmic soul of drum machines to his practical advice on splurging on a good bicycle, Oli Freke offers a refreshing blend of technical expertise and relatable human experience. His upcoming book, Beat Gems
, is poised to be another essential contribution to the canon of electronic music literature, reflecting his profound understanding and passion for the subject.
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