The goal of this project was to create a 3-minute composition that embodies any chosen genres signature sound. For this assignment, I focused on utilising guitar, bass, and vocals which were then heavily layered with delay and reverb to create a dreamy and slowcore atmosphere.
Before diving into my recording, I made sure to spend time listening to various slowcore artists that I am interested into understand more of the nuances of the genre, as slowcore/dreampop is my favourite genre in music. I drew inspiration from bands like Glixen, Slowdive, Cocteau Twins, and Newdad, noting their use of space, reverb, and texture in their music. I also outlined the song structure, deciding on a simple verse chorus format that would allow the instrumentation and use of effects to shine.
I setup my recording environment in a quiet space to minimise any unwanted noise. My equipment included of
– a fender Stratocaster guitar for its warm characteristics and clean tone.
– a fender jazz bass to provide a solid low-end foundation
– the AKG C414 XLS microphone for capturing the essence of the acoustic guitar
– the Sontronics Orphus for the vocals to replicate a vintage aesthetic and to add chorus and reverb to.
Lastly, I connected the scarlet focusrite to my laptop running a DAW.
I ensured that my guitars and bass were properly tuned and that the microphone was positioned properly to capture the best sound quality. I chose to position the microphone pointing to the 12th fret to get a balanced sound from the microphone. I also chose to play in Drop D tuning to give the best effect of a slowcore track.
I started with recording the guitar, as I find it easier to base lyrics off melody rather than melody off lyrics. I recorded a clean tone and then added effects during and after. I used a combination of reverb and delay such as SilverVerb, Reverb Echo Stereo-Mono, and Flanger to create a spacious sound. The delay was set to a quarter note, with feedback adjusted to create a cascading effect that would linger throughout the track. The reverb was set to a large hall setting, which I thought added a depth and warmth atmosphere to the guitar sound. I recorded multiple takes, experimenting with different chord progressions, riffs, and melodies, making sure to emphasise the ethereal quality shown in slowcore. I then set up the AKG C414 XLS microphone for recording the acoustic guitar, this process went quickly and effectively I captured the ethereal tone from the Drop D tuning.
For recording bass, I opted for a simple, clean, and repetitive bass line that complemented the guitar while maintaining a steady pulse. I initially recorded the bass with a high reverb setting but I found it to sound fuzzy, and I thought that it didn’t fit the vibe I was going for, so recorded the bass with a clean tone and then applied a subtle chorus effect to widen the sound. The bass was mixed slightly lower in the mix to allow the guitar and vocals to take the forefront. Next, I moved onto vocals, after creating a melody for the track I then decided to move onto writing the lyrics. I wrote lyrics that conveyed a sense of longing and introspection, fitting the slowcore aesthetic. I recorded several takes, focusing on delivering an emotional performance. To enhance to atmospheric quality and vibe, I used a significant amount of reverb, making sure that it blended well with the rest of the instrumental layers. I experimented with my own vocal harmonies for the first time, recording additional layers to create a haunting effect. These harmonies were panned slightly to the left and right to create a sense of space and balance to the track. I thoroughly enjoyed working with layering harmonies, as I thought it added an ethereal characteristic added with reverb and chorus.
Once all the instrumental and vocal elements were recorded, I began the mixing process. I started by balancing the levels of the guitar, bass, and vocals, ensuring that each element could be heard clearly without overpowering each other, I had the bass on a low-end level to make sure that it was not over-riding the other instruments and vocals. I applied EQ to each track, cutting out the unnecessary frequencies and enhancing the ones that contributed to the overall sound. For the guitar, I boosted the mid-range frequencies to bring out the reverb and its presence, while for the bass, I made sure to focus on the low-end to ensure a solid foundation for the track. I adjusted the reverb and delay effects during the mixing stage process to create a balanced sound. I automated the reverb levels during curtain sections of the instrumental tracks to overall enhance the dynamics, allowing for more pronounced atmospheric moments to replicate the slowcore vibe.
After achieving a well-balanced mix, I focused on the overall dynamics of the track. I applied compressions to ensure a consistent volume level and added a limiter to prevent the chance of any clipping. I then bounced and compressed the logic file, exported the track and listened to it in the mixing rooms to ensure it translated well across various playback systems. I thought that this step was crucial for assessing the mix’s depth and clarity.
The final track is a 3-minute slowcore composition that captures the essence of the genre through its use of layered bass, guitar, and vocals, which were all enhanced by reverb and chorus. I believe that this song evokes a sense of nostalgia and introspection, inviting listeners to immerse themselves in its ethereal soundscape. What I hope to do the next time, is to live record drums instead of creating a track via software as I found it a bit difficult to truly replicate the way I wanted the drums to sound using MIDI.
3 minute song “Sarah”
