Review Fix Exclusive: Les Fradkin Talks ‘Under The Covers’

Review Fix chats with MIDI Guitar Legend Les Fradkin, who discusses his new single, “Under The Covers,” and so much more.

Review Fix: How do you go from MIDI Guitar pioneer to where you are now?

Les Fradkin: I identify opportunities where that technology can bring something new to the world. My original MIDI Guitar experience dates back to the early 80s with Roland guitar synthesizers and the Synth Axe. I used these early instruments for the commercials and recordings 

I was doing in the 80s in tandem with my Synclavier system in New York City. That work of composing and programming earned me one of the first 25 inductions as a Charter Inductee in the Television Music  Production Hall of Fame. 

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It has taken me over a decade to get to a point on the Ztar where I can express things in a completely comfortable manner.   In particular, I have developed brand new scale tunings which allow me to compose music, heretofore, impossible on conventional guitar. 

Review Fix: What was the hardest part of this transition?

A: The persistence and Discipline necessary to move towards that goal. 

Review Fix: What’s your process like? How does Les Fradkin build a song?

Fradkin:I record each line of the score, one overdub at a time. Generally, a chordal sketch or top line melody, followed by accompaniment. For example, when I’m recreating a Bach score, I record that first to a click track, and then, I layer on the Rock accompaniment. This is the reverse of how rock bands generally handle Classical influence or Orchestral arrangements. It is probably the main reason that my musical approach shows a strong Classical influence. I like to work in small sections, sometimes, a couple of bars at a time, the way a painter brush strokes a canvas, one segment at a time or the way a Classical Composer writes a score, one section at a time. 

When all the segments are done, I assemble the sections linearly for final mix down. This approach gives me the opportunity to assemble intros and outros which only become apparent as variation ideas, after the initial work is done. Each composition has to be programmed for tuning, synth setup, sonic choices, response curves and where on there fretboard it can/might be played. This requires in depth knowledge of the MIDI spec and takes great patience. It is not for the faint of heart. As far as regular songwriting goes, I work with various ideas on Piano, or guitar until something appears that sounds promising. I prefer to write the lyrics first so that I can fashion a direction for the music. 

Review Fix: How has God guided you the past few years?

Fradkin:He guilds everything I do. Sometimes, his message allows me to predict future events. That assertion was proven with songs like “System Crash.” 

That was a song that was written in 2003 predicting the pandemic and  the events surrounding it in 2020. As a matter of fact, that’s one of several songs that I have written that have successfully predicted future events. My 2020 album “The Les Fradkin News” is an entire Concept album which predicted future events as originally composed in 2003. 

Review Fix: How important is your spirituality now in your music?

A: All my music is guided from a spiritual perspective. 

Review Fix: Have you completely let go of your past? Or does your influences and styling  of your previous work find it’s way into “ Under The Covers?”

Fradkin: My past and those influences  will always be a part of me. However, I always make a practice of innovation with new ideas and new sounds. 

Review Fix: How do you want this song to stand in terms of your legacy and how you’re ultimately remembered?

Fradkin: “Under The Covers” is already a Top 5 Indie single in a number of Countries around the World. The results speak for themselves. Yes, it does put a  smile on my face.  I’d like to be remembered as a composer of importance  and someone who tried to bring an important message to the world in both  music and lyrics. 

Review Fix: What do you think you have to do to make that a reality?

Fradkin:It’s well on its way to becoming a reality. I hope for more Spotify and radioplay in the United States so that the US can hear what Europeans and Australians are hearing today. 

Review Fix: What’s next? 

Fradkin: I am waiting for the future to present itself. 

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About Patrick Hickey Jr. 13821 Articles
Patrick Hickey Jr. is a full-time Assistant Professor of Communication & Performing Arts and Director of the Journalism program at Kingsborough Community College and is the chairman of the City University of New York Journalism Council. He is the Founder and Editor-In-Chief of ReviewFix.com. He's also a former News Editor at NBC Local Integrated Media and National Video Games Writer at Examiner.com where his work was mentioned in National Ad campaigns by Disney, Nintendo and EA Sports. Hickey was also the Editor-In-Chief of two College Newspapers before he received his BA in Journalism from Brooklyn College. Hickey's work has been published in The New York Daily News, The New York Times, Complex, The Hockey Writers, Yahoo!, Broadway World, Examiner, NYSportScene Magazine, ProHockeyNews.com, GothamBaseball.com, The Syracuse Post-Standard, Scout.com and the official sites of the Brooklyn Aces and New York Islanders. His first book, The Minds Behind the Games: Interviews With Cult And Classic Video Game Developers was released in April 2018 and is chock full of interviews with legendary developers. His second book in the series, The Minds Behind Adventures Games, was released in December 2019. His third book, The Minds Behind Sports Games, was released in September 2020. His fourth book, The Minds Behind Shooter Games, was released in March 2021. The Minds Behind Sega Genesis Games and The Minds Behind PlayStation Games were released in 2022 and The Minds Behind PlayStation 2 was published in January 2023. Hickey is also a contracted comic book writer, currently penning his original series, "Condrey," as well as "The Job," "Brooklyn Bleeds" "Dem Gulls" and "KROOM" for Legacy Comix, where he serves as founder, owner and Editor-in-Chief. Hickey Jr. is also a voice actor, having starred in the 2018 indie hit and 2019 Switch, PS4 and Xbox One release, The Padre (also serving as English language Story Editor), from Shotgun With Glitters. The sequel, The Padre: One Shell Straight to Hell was released in February 2021- Hickey also served as a Story Editor and Lead Voiceover performer. He has also done narration and trailers for several other titles including The Kaiju Offensive, Relentless Rex and Roniu’s Tale. Hickey is also the lead voiceover performer on Mega Cat Studios’ upcoming title WrestleQuest, responsible for nearly 90 characters in the game, as well as Skybound's Renfield: Bring Your Own Blood, where he voices both Dracula and Renfield, as well as several other characters. He also stars in Ziggurat Interactive’s World Championship Boxing Manager 2, where he performs the VO of nearly every male character in the game. He also worked on the Atari VCS’s BPM Boy.

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