How We Did It.
Yes, nothing like a shoutout to Young Frankenstein…or was is Fronk-on-steen? I like to write our production diaries, but sometimes they just become variations on the same theme. So, now that we have a streamlined process, I thought it would be more illuminating to see the step by step process of how a Valentine Wolfe song is born.
First, during writing sessions, I play Sarah various bass riffs I’ve been working with. She will pick some lyrics out or hear my suggestions as to what the song should be about. Sometimes, it works in reverse-she plays me some melodies or beats she’s working with. We generally work piece-by-piece in fragments like this. Every now and then, I’ll play a completed song and ask her to set lyrics to it (we did the tango like that). Every now and then, she play a completed song for me, and I’ll adapt my part (Nightflower was completely done by Sarah, except the middle section-even the blues bass riff).
Today, I finished the next step in the process for three songs: The Snow Queen, The one currently without a title, and Ikebana. I recorded a scratch bass part so we can now shape the drum programming and for Sarah to start working her vocal melodies in.
Once we get the demo vocals and basic drums down, we finish the arrangement of the song. At this stage, we decide to us either a synth bass line or a bass line I play in myself. The bass line is the next thing to lay down. At this point, we should have more or less completed bass and drums. Sarah then puts her vocal part in.
The last things that go into the track are my solo bass part, and acoustic ecology/samples/atmosphere we want to put in, and tweaking the clockwork sounds to fit the track. These days, I’m recording dry, and adding all effects in post production (if any-I’ve found I like my sound the best pretty dry). We do a working mix, then wait a day, and tweak that mix to taste. If all goes well, the demo version goes on out website later that day.
Without day jobs, the process takes anywhere from 3 days to a week. With day jobs, and well, now you know why you’ve had to wait a year for the next album.
“BLUCHER!”
Neeeeaaah!!
Greatest. Movie. Ever. Have you considered crafting any songs around the Frankenstein mythos?
Thanks for the insight into your creative process. It is always enlightening to have a glimpse into someone else’s mind.