Song Immersion

I love mixing other people’s music!

Audio engineering, we call it in the industry, but that sounds so technical and sterile. I like the term “mixing”, perhaps because I used to work as a bartender and I see similarities between the two. The act of blending sounds and cocktails are similar in that they combine like and disparate elements together into a cohesive and delicious mix, and if done correctly, a wonderful high is the after-effect.

The process of mixing a song is an exciting journey for me and my musician clients. We build something tangible and beautiful together, from the ground up. The additive process in which layers of sound are assembled is almost magical, the way the sound blend together and create new tones. They are individual elements coming together to create a unique soundscape never heard before in that particular combination. We start with the basic ingredients, like drum sounds, bass guitar, and maybe some guitar or keyboards, and create a foundation of rhythm on which the remaining instruments and vocals can move and flow. Then we add the remaining ingredients, one at a time, to create the melody, hook, and message that will grab the listener and, hopefully, never let go. Well, maybe it will just stick in their head for a long while.

That’s what happens to me. The song sticks in my head for a long while, until the next songs comes to replace it. That’s part of what I call “song immersion”. Not only does a new song that I’m mixing stick in my head, it takes over my life. It’s all I can think about. I try to do other tasks but I come right back to the mixing board like a moth to the flame. I just heard another element that needs to be in the mix. Quick, drop everything and get back on the board. I’ve got to act on these ideas as soon as possible, before the idea fades away or is overshadowed by the sound in my mind. Some ideas work, some need to be listened to repeatedly, over the course of several days, and some are nixed right away. The process of choosing which musical ideas work is the art of producing. Every project requires a producer to make the tough decisions about what works and what does not, and that can be subjective (depends on the personal preference of the producer) but there is an objective element to choosing that involves insight and understanding of what the larger audience wants to hear.