For the launch of Sylvan Esso’s new remix album (HSKT), we created an interactive music video that fans could remix themselves. The design direction focused on the concepts of refraction and augmentation — cutting the song and video up to create new visuals and melodies.
Designed as a desktop experience, the site used keystrokes to control different visuals and instruments. Each instrument and video element used a carefully constructed grid that allowed for instrument combinations to form compositions that worked — no matter what instruments were played.
The code also automatically snapped each audio / visual element to the beat of the song, ensuring users could easily remix even without a musician’s rhythm. Additionally, the website allowed users to record and share their remixes. This pushed users to create and share more, which unlocked further color schemes.
Special thanks to my brother, Steven Brien, who custom coded the website, and Elias Stern who helped with the motion design.
