Imaginary Instruments #33: Tuxedo
Tuxedo, the funk and disco group made up of Mayer Hawthorne and Jake One, know a little something about synthesizers.
Growing up in the 80s they were strongly influenced by George Clinton, One Way, and Zapp and much of Tuxedo's G-Funk sound is built on the synths used by these artists.
So it was little wonder the band, who are currently touring their self-titled new album, chose a miniature version of the classic Yamaha CS-80 as their imaginary instrument.
This synth has become a legend particularly for its use on the Bladerunner soundtrack. It's also a bit of a monster, weighing in at over 200lbs!
Mayer Hawthorne said: "I'd go for a miniature version of the CS-80 [Yamaha] but with the same sound of course. The digital plugins they’re not the same, they don’t have the same feel.
"That was something we really focused on for Tuxedo, using all the original real analogue synths. There’s very few digital elements on the record, none of the drums are quantized. It’s a feeling that you just get from digital plugins."
If you haven’t purchased it already, Tuxedo's debut album is available here!