Readipop founder, Gavin Lombos introduces XOX Project - a new Readipop project supported by the National Lottery Heritage Fund in conversation with Richard Bentley, Matt Foster and Readipop's Abbie Hill. 

XOX Project:
The sound of modern music can be defined by a few numbers: 303, 808 and 909. The numbers refer to the instruments that created the signature sounds of hip hop, house, techno, garage, acid and dance music culture. Once they were only known by creators but now they are celebrated in culture eg 'Kanye West's 808s and Heartbreaks'. Whilst the sounds and influence are ubiquitous within modern music, the actual instruments are rare, collectible and increasingly inaccessible to young and emerging musicians and the public. 

XOX project will explore, archive, share and celebrate the instruments that spawned many of the musical subcultures from the last 40+ years of electronic music and DJ/club culture. Readipop is creating a publicly accessible music heritage space where people can access, use and learn about a selection of influential, rare, vintage, heritage drum machines and synths and explore how these instruments contributed to the birth of many underground musical sub-genres that have subsequently become the sound of mainstream dance/pop music. 

Readipop host, Yusef Sacoor leads us through a discussion at the start of this exciting project...

00.00 - intro
03.20 - intro to the idea
06.30 - rarity from unpopularity
09.00 - iconic nature and tactility
10.20 - synth memories and inspiration 
13.50 - frame of reference
14.50 - access to the means of production
15.30 - intended usage of the 303 & 606
17.30 - real instruments v emulation
19.10 - limitations and creativity
21.30 - 303s, retro
23.00 - the Roland TB-303
25.00 - happy accidents and determinism
27.00 - favourite synths
32.00 - what is a synth or a drum machine?
36.25 - sonic signatures of genres
40.00 - historical significance and ubiquity
41.00 -  value to education
45.00 - emotional connection and imperfection
47.10 - what are we doing?
51.30 - beyond XOX boxes 
54.00 - favourite tracks, sounds, bands
57.00 - playing out on the 303…