Although Canadian pianoman Chilly Gonzales is most widely known for his collaborations with others (Feist, Jamie Lidell, Peaches), the man wants you to know that he’s not actually all that into hooking up. “To be honest, I don’t really like collaborating,” he says in the latest Daft Punk “Collaborators” video, “but you make exceptions for people who are in possession of some true key to the zeitgeist.” Yes, we’re quite sure he spent a good while mulling after getting that phone call about contributing to one of the most hotly anticipated albums in recent memory. Thankfully, he and those French ‘droids both share a love for the “joyful challenge.”
Okay, so when you get past the bluster, you can learn a little bit about Gonzales’ expertise (harmony, melody) and how it applies to Random Access Memories, which is due May 21 on Columbia. This, of course, follows similar conversations with Giorgio Moroder, Panda Bear, Pharrell, Nile Rodgers, and Todd Edwards, all of whom had a hand in shaping the new album. Also playing their part in Daft Punk’s wild success are the samples the duo has employed over the years. Discover their 19 savviest sound-grabs via our Techno Logic list.
