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Kutiman: Thru-You(Tube)

Update: Check out Researching ThruYOU for downloads and information about Kutiman’s YouTube remix project

Yesterday, when I first set my eyes and ears on what Ophir Kutiel (aka Kutiman) did, my mind was immediately blown away by the freshness, the untamed talent and the attention to details. Did it really take him only two months to produce?!

The minimalist site, thru-you.com (which is down, again), designed by Bacon Oppenheim (who also did the amazing innovid site), gave the perfect feeling. The music and visuals sent shivers down my spine and gave me goose bumps (especially the final part of I’m New).

I found myself feeling the same feelings of astonishment when I first listened to DJ Shadow’s Brainfreeze, or during Coldcut’s live performance in Tel-Aviv. I immediately started downloading the MP3 tracks – I had to “own” a copy… Then I went over some of the original videos, which were used as samples in the tracks, and started having YouTube conversations with some of the surprised talents, who seemed extremely flattered (as they should!). Then I emailed Kutiman (and got a very warm response from his agent), and started sending every one I know to the site… which was already down. I’m still wondering why they chose to stream the video from their servers, instead of using YouTube’s most powerful feature – embed. Since I didn’t want people not to be able to experience it, I set up a very minimalist “unofficial mirror” site, containing the MP3 files and the YouTube videos downwithutube put online (great thinking, and kudos for including all the links to the originals!).

Kuti, if you’re listening, you are a genius, and I think you’ve just started a revolution (just an example: see what Kevin Rochowski wrote here. He immediately went to the iTunes store and purchased Kutiman’s debut album). I am new.

P.S. You can follow @kutiman and tell him how much you loved his project. Also, I wonder what Colbert is going to have say about it.

Update: I’ve just added the full list of credits/samples to the mirror site, thanks to progosk and Andy Baio.

Update #2: I’ve made the credits/samples list more usable, and I’ve officially changed the title to Researching ThruYOU. I am interested in collecting information about the featured musicians and how this project affects their lives. Please post a comment or edit this wikipedia page…

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This entry was posted on Friday, March 6th, 2009 at 9:39 pm and is filed under music. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.

  • yuval capsouto

    totally brilliant!
    Hexstatic would be proud :)

    suddenly, the youtube symphony project looks kinda low-tech.

  • http://www.innerlogics.com nivs

    OMG Songdreamer (just a lady, laid back, never shady) just accepted me as a facebook buddy! (HT: Yaniv Eidelstein)

  • RipJack

    Thanks for hosting the mp3s, as it gives me much pleasure to be able to listen to the mixes when offline.

    I enjoyed it so much, I created my own covers for each track – feel free to use them as you wish:
    [links removed]

  • http://fernandorizo.typepad.com Fernando

    Niv, thank you so much for putting so much effort into the mirror. I’m just in awe of this whole project.

  • http://www.innerlogics.com nivs

    @RipJack that’s awesome! I put them up here. I’ll also embed them in the MP3s and replace the files when I have the time. Thanks you!

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  • http://youtube.com/songdreamer Songdreamer

    Heyyy Niv..gosh that second singer woman on Im New sure is hard 2 track..But SOMEBODY knows her LOL..so the search continues!!!

  • DavidJames

    Hey – just spent half of my work day engrossed in this project. Freaken awesome. I’ve downloaded the album from itunes.

    Brilliant work on the mirror.

    D

  • tt.

    perfeito!!!!parabens!!!!
    superB!

  • http://www.jordanmvp.com/ air jordan

    thank you so much for putting so much effort into the mirror. I’m just in awe of this whole project.

  • FlametopFred

    I love what happened to my video clip bits in “Someday” – - there is a brilliance there that also proves: Everyone Needs an Editor.

    That is the benefit/downfall of YouTube and the Internet in General – no rules, no editiing. I need editing. A lot of folks do.

    I wholeheartedly love what this “video mash up” or whatever it is, does to all the far-flung sources. It makes a kind of band or performance from people that might have or should have gotten together.

  • http://www.innerlogics.com nivs

    Thanks for dropping by, FlametopFred! (d-85 bass • d-85 • d-85 arpeggiator). Would love to hear about how you came to find out about your video being featured in the project, and how it affected your life (if at all…)

  • nivs

    Thanks for dropping by, FlametopFred! (d-85 bass • d-85 • d-85 arpeggiator). Would love to hear about how you came to find out about your video being featured in the project, and how it affected your life (if at all…)

  • gotsmar

    Everyone knows Kutiman's ThruYOU: but this is the making of, and even a bit about Kutiman himself! Awesome.
    http://youtu.be/KU3EZ3C0Nug

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  • Gorm

    I wonder what software he used to edit/convert the youtube videos.

  • nivs

    According to the Wired article, Kutiman used Vegas Pro.

  • toddcbsmith

    Kutiman just released his first album…all original stuff. It's really good although I prefer his ThruYOU remixes. They're incredible.
    Peace.

  • http://www.facebook.com/joeprates Joe Joeblack Prates

    You’re incredible. Genius!