Like The Crystal Method and LCD Soundsystem before him, MC/Producer Aesop Rock has joined forces with Nike to release a 45-minute continuous mix specifically targeted at runners. All Day is the third installment of the Nike+Original Run series, and became available exclusively in the Nike Sport Music Store on iTunes back in February. Here are a couple MP3 snippets of the mix:

Download/Stream All Day Snippet #1 MP3

Download/Stream All Day Snippet #2 MP3

We at New Music Nation had the chance to ask Aesop Rock a few questions (via email) about the project, and this what he said:

New Music Nation: How did you and Nike come together to create this running mix?

Aesop Rock: Nike contacted me about the project and who they had been talking to in terms of doing this Nike + music thing. I found all aspects of it pretty interesting and unlike anything I had ever tried.

NMN: What are your running credentials?

AR: I have close to no running credentials. Luckily I was hired to make music, not run.

NMN: Was it tough making one continuous 45-minute body of work?

AR: Yeah, it was pretty tough. I ended up breaking the whole thing into about 7 sections, each 7-8 minutes in length. Then i made sure the ending of one would mesh with the beginning of the next, and I basically lego’d the pieces together one at a time. It was difficult, but pretty fun.

NMN: The mix starts off very chill, then slowly picks up. Did you keep the runner in mind while making the mix?

AR: Of course. The only direction I received was to start with 7-8 minutes of “Warm up”, 30 minutes of “run”, and 7-8 minutes of “Cool down.” The project had to serve a function beyond being a weird Aesop Rock side project. Every time I had 4-5 miuntes of new music, i’d give it to my wife, who runs a ton, and she’d test it out and tell me if what I was doing was helping or hindering her. Very labrat-ish. But yeah, the idea of doing this music that would have to provide a service for someone other than just listening to music is what really intrigued me. It’ s a weird way to think.

NMN: In your opinion what’s “the jelly” of the mix, the part where the runner should be hitting his or her full stride, runnin’ like a Golden Cheetah, if you will?

AR: Well, around the 7-8 minute mark is where it sorta “kicks in.” I dont have it right in front of me or I’d give you the actual second I’m speaking of. But that was the goal.

NMN: Near the beginning of the mix, there’s a phrase you repeat over and over. Something like “Boy in the Box.” What are the actual lyrics in that hook?

AR: “Boy in a box, the fever is all day.” It’s sort of about being crammed in your house all day, then having to get out and go. Pent up energy.

NMN: We once met Dave Gahan (Depeche Mode) and we were surprised to learn that he listened to the ultra-mellow Sigur Ros while running. If the BPM of a song falls under a certain number, it’s seems like it would be too hard to find the motivation to run. Where do you fall in this debate?

AR: Well, I immediately started asking around when I got this project. I asked as many people as I could. Do you want your shoes to land on the beat? Or do you want the beat faster than you run? The answer I got across the board seemed to lean towards not having the feet land on the actual 8th notes, as it can tend to be more distracting than helpful. People seemed to want to run to music that would ‘inspire’ them to run, but not necessarily play as metronome for your feet. More
just driving faster music with a forward ‘vibe’. People seemed to want to run off the vibe more than the actual pace of the music.

NMN: Running seems to be on your mind lately. Even the song you did on El-P’s new album is called “Run the Numbers.” Speaking of new albums, when can we expect a proper new Aesop Rock album and what might we expect to hear?

AR: My new album None Shall Pass is 100% complete (except all art). It will be released later this year, probably end of Summer, or early Fall. I am really excited about it. It really should be unlike anything else I’ve done.