Information

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Task 1: Three Minute Song Production (70%)

Introduction

This project involved the creation of an original Hyperpop track, made to convey an uplifting mood. Hyperpop is a genre known for its overstated production, and heavily processed vocals, often taking influence from EDM, Rap, Pop and Experimental music. My aim was to create a commercially appealing track, that mirrors these characteristics, while exemplifying technique in my composition, mix, sampling and recording.

The track was developed using many electronic production techniques, including the use of virtual instruments, manipulating samples, and MIDI composition. A large area of this project was the use of sampling. Normally, this means altering sound that has already been recorded, for this project, I decided to create samples using vocals. Alongside this, I recorded lead vocal lines using original lyrics, which were processed to match the Hyperpop aesthetic, which I documented with video evidence.

This write up will explain the methods, processes, and ideas used to create the track.

Processes

For this project, I used FL studio, the DAW i know the best, while using a number of different VSTs. I used FL’s native piano plugin FL keys for the piano sound heard in the melody, I kept the mix very minimal for the keys, as i preferred a dryer sound.

I also used many instances of serum 2, only using presets as a base to alter into the sound I want.

This is the patch for the lead i ended up using. Originally, the third oscillator was off, and the synth was pitched down. I added the pitch shift in order to give it a slight formant sounding shift, and a brighter, more aggressive sound. I utilised the sample oscillators in serum 2, adding a sample that already sounds like a synth lead for an extra layer. I used the sampler settings, and changed the oscillator to alternate randomly between moving forward through the sample, or rewinding. I also added modulation to the oscillators. Oscillator B has AM (Amplitude Modulation) from oscillator A, meaning the volume of oscillator B is being controlled by oscillator A, giving it a more metallic sound.

I decided to start this song with a chorus. I usually start my songs with choruses / hooks, in order to hit the listener as soon as possible. The structure of the song is simple, going; Chorus, Verse, Bridge, Chorus. I don’t normally pay too much attention to structure, and feel it out as I go.

For the composition, I started with a lead, and somewhat interpolated ‘Canon in D’ – Pachelbel. I did this accidentally, but saw a vision in resampling it. After adding a bass, some piano, and a pluck, I felt that the main melody was finished.

After I had created the melody, I resampled it.

This is how it sounds after effects, and chops. The only effect I used was Kickstart, a plugin made to make easy sidechain sounding pumps.

You control the depth of the pump, and can move where the pump goes, with multiple graph shapes.

This is all of my percussion, mostly normal drums (kick, snare, hat, clap) but there are some unique samples, such as; a cat meowing – which I ran through an effects chain – ‘Navi’s wake up tune’ from ‘The Legend Of Zelda’ and some glitchy sound effects.

Finally, I pitched up the entire song in order bring more energy, a technique used in a lot of Hyperpop.

Recording Process

I recorded original vocals in my room, using a Rode NT1-a. This mic is similar to the NT1, but slightly clearer in the high end, making it sound brighter, and in turn, better for vocals. Paul White (May, 2004) explicitly notes it’s ‘well suited for vocals,’ especially when you want a ‘breathy modern sound‘ without much EQ. I would make sure my room would be quiet while recording, and my mic would be at a suitable volume (-12db) so the noise floor doesn’t cause issues later.

I took 2 takes of every lead vocal, and slightly panned them to make my whole vocal sound wider. I also took a lower harmony for the choruses to add greater depth, and more of a body.

I manually pitched all of the vocals, as well as auto-tuning them afterwards, as I like the sound. As for other basic editing, I trimmed the silence, and put everything on time.

This is my vocal chain.

Nectar is a multi-FX plugin, EQ’ing, compressing and de-essing my vocal.

Then EQ again to clean up the vocal.

Then a gate to lower room noise.

And OTT compression to crisp my vocal, and fit it into the hyperpop aesthetic.

I also have a reverb and delay bus so the vocal fits into a space.

(Reverb / Delay, EQ, Compression)

Sampling Techniques and Processes

Sampling is the process of taking pre-recorded audio, manipulating it, and taking it in a different direction to how it sounded originally. In this project however, I mainly resampled creating my own melody to sample, and reusing it in a different way in the rest of the track.

This was the original melody,

And this was after.

I use this method often as I normally come out with unique and interesting sounding melodies: and if i use resampling instead of sampling, I don’t have to worry about legal issues.

Commercial Potential

My music is not aimed at mainstream commercial streams. Instead, I try to apply myself to a smaller, but still very dedicated, group of people. The ‘underground scene’ of rap is growing exponentially, and with the complex production, blends of rap and EDM, and high energies with aesthetics that I enjoy as well, it is where I want to show presence most.  

I started this song with a short introduction, straight into a chorus. This was to catch the listeners’ attention as quickly as I could. In May (2014), the guardian released a story titled ‘One-quarter of Spotify tracks are skipped in first five seconds, study reveals’ 

Because this music is modern and high energy, it’s likely to catch listener attention on social media, especially as a lot of the target audience for this type of music is around my age. (14+) 

I think I’ve made a catchy hook, with nice melody throughout.  

As I have many songs ready to drop now, I could start rolling out singles consistently, and really start putting myself out there, marketing myself on social media too. 

Conclusion

In this project, the somewhat loose guidelines left me a lot of space to be creative, while the small, necessary rules guided me to put my creativity somewhere, stopping me from getting overwhelmed from the amount of options I have. I could’ve worked on sampling more, and worked on my structure better, however I have met all of the brief, as I have used sampling, original vocals, kept the production appropriate to genre, and used what I have learned about commercial success.

Paul White – May 2004 

The Guardian – May 2014