On July 5, 2007, Element Skateboards released This Is My Element, a beautifully rendered video featuring Element’s most talented skaters. In most skating videos, skaters choose their own music, but this video is unique in part because of a soundtrack created by producer Odd Nosdam, whose smooth instrumental hip hop accentuates the skaters’ fluid movements.
Taking the time and liberty to re-sequence the tracks, Odd Nosdam released this soundtrack on Anticon under the acronym T.I.M.E. in the spring of 2009. Odd Nosdam is the alias of David Madson, a DJ, producer, and co-founder of the Anticon hip-hop collective.
For 11 years, Madson has created music, both solo and on collaborations such as cLOUDDEAD with fellow Anticon members Why? and Dose One. His production work includes material for Sage Francis, Sole, Dosh, Mike Patton‘s Peeping Tom album, and others, and his lengthy list of remixes covers Genghis Tron, The Notwist, Boards of Canada, Black Moth Super Rainbow, and more.
Despite the variety of the projects he has taken on, his work always has his signature musical mixture, influenced by shoegaze, dub, and hip hop. In 2003, Madson’s sound attracted attention from filmmaker Kirk Dianda, who used some of his music in a video for ON Magazine.
Throughout the years, the two stayed in touch and worked together on various skateboard videos. When Dianda was hired by Element to make a full-length video in 2007, he solicited Madson.
“[Dianda] thought it would be fun and different to do a score instead of skater-picked music,” Madson says. “He’s familiar with my ability to make something hypnotic and hired me for the project.”
Madson began by watching footage of the skaters, and with consideration for Dianda’s basic directions, created music that he felt was appropriate for each skater.
“The approach [was to develop] something cohesive to each skater’s style,” Madson says. “Overall, I wanted to create something that was sonically cohesive, that wasn’t drastically different from song to song. The ultimate goal was to make music that supported and enhanced the skateboarding.”
The majority of the soundtrack is comprised of samples from Madson’s extensive vinyl collection, primarily late ’60s and early ’70s rock and private-pressed folk albums. To make the samples, he used an SP 1200 drum machine / sampler, utilizing its low bit rate to create a gritty sound.
One of the album’s most prominent sounds is the crackling, folksy strum of a reverberating guitar that, when paired with the video, accentuates many of the skater’s tricks and runs.
“Everything you see and hear was conscious,” Madson says. “We wanted the music to walk with the video. I think the hardest thing was finalizing the songs. Are these songs strong enough to stand on their own? I wanted to make something that could stand separately from the video.”
Taking into account the skaters’ tricks, nuances, and personality, Madson was able to make a mesmerizing accompaniment to the video without being repetitive. The subtle changes in each track allow the music to vary and progress while emphasizing the footage.
One of his favorite creations is “Top Rank,” the track that he made for Nyjah Huston. It features a consistent drumbeat, highlighted with an upbeat melody comprised of kettledrums, faint horns, and soft bells.
“He’s a child prodigy, a tiny little kid whose parents are Rastafarian,” Madson says of Huston. “His is the longest piece that I did. It’s the most diverse song as far as the structure. It’s not blatantly reggae, but it has a feel to it.”
Tony Tave inspired the song “Wig Smasher.” Dianda felt that his aggressive style warranted a slightly heavier tone, a battle anthem of sorts. Madson fulfilled this request by layering a deep synth beat over sharp drum fills.
The depth of Tave’s song contrasts with the serene but upbeat qualities of Brent Atchley‘s “Fly Mode.” “He flows,” Madson says. “He’ll be on the skateboard for like 45 seconds. I wanted to make a piece that was loopy and has a nice flow to it. It might sound repetitive without the video, but if the music would have changed, it would have clashed.”
A few of the skaters were able to hear clips of their songs, but the final product was presented at the video’s premiere.
“There were definitely mixed reactions,” Madson says. “Some skaters didn’t understand what we were going for, and some thought it was awesome. It was like they loved it or they didn’t like it at all.
“Pretty much everyone at Element, all the industry people, were all into it. We tried our best. I tried to be sympathetic to the skaters that I met and talked to.”
Despite divided reviews, Madson feels that he created music to enhance the video without compromising his style. He stands behind his soundtrack — with good reason.
This is My Element‘s crisp editing and cinematography, set to the compelling sounds of Odd Nosdam, is a refreshing effort that produced a unified final product. Additionally, Madson fulfilled his goal of producing a soundtrack that can stand without video.
T.I.M.E. gives listeners an experience all its own — the signature sound for which Odd Nosdam has become known, modified to fit a number of unique athletic styles.
– Katelyn Bogucki
Odd Nosdam: www.myspace.com/nosdam
Anticon: www.anticon.com