Get ready for something truly sax-tacular! We’re spotlighting a one-of-a-kind music video: a one-man saxophone orchestra covering Daft Punk’s classic “Harder, Better, Faster, Stronger.” Josh Plotner takes the iconic French electronic track and gives it new life with five saxophones, from soprano to bass, layered together in an energetic multitrack performance.
This cover features no fewer than five different saxophones, each adding its own flavor to the arrangement:
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Soprano Saxophone (bright and soaring)
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Alto Saxophone (smooth and soulful)
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Tenor Saxophone (bold and robust)
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Baritone Saxophone (rich and punchy)
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Bass Saxophone (deep and rumbling)
Thanks to clever video editing, you get to see all five Joshes jamming together in perfect sync, covering every hook, harmony, and even tossing in a tremendous solo near the end. The cover sounds as fun as it looks, bursting with bright, resonant sax tones that honor the song’s funky vibe while adding some original twists.
Musically, the performance hits all the familiar riffs and robotic vocals of the Daft Punk original but with saxes doing the talking (or singing). Each saxophone layer is carefully recorded to capture the song’s signature parts, from the punchy rhythm comping to the vocoder chorus melody reimagined in saxophone harmony. And just when you think you’ve heard it all, Josh takes it up a notch with an improvised solo around the 3:18 mark. This original section shows off his chops, adding a jazzy flourish that wasn’t in the original track. It transforms the performance from tribute into art in its own right. The soprano sax takes flight, the baritone digs into a greasy groove, and the result is a smile-inducing performance.
Meet Josh Plotner: One-Man Woodwind Orchestra
Who is the mastermind behind this saxophone showcase? Josh Plotner is a woodwind multi-instrumentalist with a collection of over 150 instruments. His talents have taken him from Broadway pit orchestras to blockbuster film and game soundtracks, and his playing has been featured on Emmy- and Grammy-winning projects. He regularly performs with the Grammy-winning 8-Bit Big Band and is a Berklee College of Music graduate, where he earned degrees in Performance and Jazz Composition, Magna Cum Laude.
Despite such credentials, Josh isn’t afraid to let his nerdy side shine. On his YouTube channel, you’ll find him recreating Harry Potter’s “Hedwig’s Theme” using only woodwinds, playing themes from The Legend of Zelda with an arsenal of instruments, and even producing a lo-fi mix of Avatar: The Last Airbender. His range spans classical, jazz, and video game music, always with a sense of fun. That joyful, genre-hopping spirit shines brightly in “Harder, Better, Saxer, Stronger.”
All the Saxes, All the Syos 🎷
One detail worth noting: Daft Punk hail from France, just like Syos. Another detail you can’t miss is the colorful array of mouthpieces on each of Josh’s saxophones. Every one of them is a Syos mouthpiece. His setup is a showcase of Syos versatility, with soprano, alto, tenor, baritone, and bass sax all fitted with Syos mouthpieces that help him achieve a consistent tone across the sax family.
Josh has also worked with us directly to develop a custom mouthpiece design, which is on its way to becoming an official Josh Plotner Signature Mouthpiece. His trust in his gear shows throughout the performance. He can let loose musically because he knows his mouthpieces will respond exactly as he wants.
As Josh put it, discovering new video editing tools for this project felt a lot like when he discovered Syos mouthpieces: “once I didn’t have to worry about my mouthpiece, I was able to make much better music!”. In fact, he likes to say that when someone tells him they don’t like Syos mouthpieces, he replies that they simply haven’t tried the right model. With Syos, there is always a mouthpiece that fits each musician, so it’s impossible not to find one you like. We'll happily take that compliment!
Find Your Sound 🎶
If this video doesn’t make you want to pick up a saxophone, nothing will. Feeling inspired by Josh’s cover? Find your own sound with a Syos mouthpiece designed to bring out the best in your playing. Explore our Originals collection or keep an eye out for the upcoming Josh Plotner Signature mouthpieces. With the right setup, you can unlock new levels of creativity and tackle your favorite songs with a fresh twist. As Josh’s performance proves, when your tools support you, music has no limits.
