Originally Posted by David Snyder
Hello Andrew,
...
If I could add an additional train of thought it would be this: The worst mistake people make in songs these days is they fill up too much of the space and make their mixes thick and chunky with no room to breathe. When you listen to brilliant old school songwriters and producers from back in the day talking about the most important aspect of a mix they talk about "air": giving the mix plenty of space. ...
I have been thinking a lot lately about different 'textures' within a song - dynamics, instrumentation, but 'air' is one that I'll need to think about more. In a related way, I was thinking the other day about my lyrics, which normally arrive late or last - music mostly first - and because I usually start with a melody that I add lyrics to and humanise so that the em-PHA-sis is on the right syl-LAB-le, I don't have enough space in my lyrics phrasing, so it's just words after words after words ... So, your comment about air is relevant to me in more ways than one.

Originally Posted by David Snyder
Unfortunately with technology, it's way too easy to just push buttons and spit out a bunch of tracks and chunks of sound and start stacking them on top of one another to create another musical slab of bacon. Things that are created in a couple of hours or even a couple of days this way can be pretty thoughtless and horrific. ...
Guilty, your Honour! I have usually focussed on one song at a time and found that this breeds impatience in me. "I've had enough - I just want to get the thing finished!" This means I haven't always made good choices or I've taken short cuts. Recently, I have worked on 4 songs at a time, and this means each song becomes fresh again, and time away from each in a mixing AND writing/arranging sense has given me better perspective. A bit like what you've done with Tom Petty, a couple of years ago I spent time analysing songs that I love to try and identify what I like about them musically - I should probably extend this to what they are doing in their arrangement. But ... don't we live in good times as far as what we have available to us?

Originally Posted by David Snyder
In order to achieve what I think you are trying to achieve and talking about, you have to slow down the pace, and be very careful and intentional about what you're doing, and even play some of the parts yourself if you're able so that the music has an authentic air. ...
Lately, I've been relying on BIAB tracks for everything other than vocals. In part, this is to honour the forum and help showcase what BIAB can do - particularly as there is not a huge amount of 60s-90s Brit rock on the forum. But yes, I should get back to playing some tracks using my rudimentary skillset. I am also going to dabble with UserTracks to record some of my own - also as a back up for when my fingers start to fail.

Originally Posted by David Snyder
I have enjoyed listening to your work on the forum so far and I can't wait to hear more from your creative and productive mind.
Thank you David! You are one of many on these forums that are very encouraging and supportive, and you help create a really good and safe culture for musicians who are at varying degrees of their journey.
Andrew

Regards,
Andrew D
Adelaide, Sth Aust
Soundcloud: https://on.soundcloud.com/SQE4btVvNVkLq74e9
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@andrewoftheantipodes