Tips For Music Production : December 2016

Using Vocals as leads on Ableton

In the recent years, songs have used vocals as leads and earned awards for best song or best production. But these songs are so simple to make that anyone can do it. Probably not anyone but someone with basic knowledge of producing music.
So First, you have to find a sample to use for the lead. When I do a remix, I usually have an acapella and use that. If for some reason I don't have an acapella I try to find a clear part where the singer's voice is apart from the drums and other instruments. If I don't have either of those things, I record my own voice saying a single vowel for a minimum of 5 seconds. This length is important and I'll explain this later on.

After you have your sample recorded or chosen, You have to drop in a new Sampler track. Drop in a tuner and find the key of the sample. Now your sample is in key and you can play a melody in the same key of your song or remix. Your sample may sound pretty basic and cut out after you let go of the key. So you have to go to the filter tab and change the release to about 1 second and add in a Reverb with a 2 second release. Now you have a Vocal lead. But one last thing that is optional is adding a glide to your sound in order to make it lead into the next note without an abrupt change. This is where that 5 second recording is important so that the notes can comfortable glide together and not cut off and add an awkward change.

New Music I'm Feeling : December

• Childish Gambino - Stand Tall
• With the release of the album, more songs with a different vibe from rapper childish gambino show how he can make music that is more than just rap. I like the message this song sends.
• J Cole - Deja Vu 
• J Cole adds his spin on the beat from Bryson Tiller - Exchange. I think that he did this to catch the listeners attention with a familiar beat and a new perspective.
• Grace Vanderwaal - Perfectly Imperfect (Album)
• This little girl who won America's Got Talent has her first album out. I really like her voice and how she writes her lyrics. I think that she brings up a lot of deep meaning to her lyrics.
• Deadmau5 - 4ware
• A new album from deadmau5 brings back old vibes

Overall, Music in December was great. Some artists such as Drake pushed back albums but we still got lots of albums and new music

Concerts in Phoenix: December

Lil Uzi Vert- December 28

To be honest, I've never listened to this guy. I know that he's a new artist and that he has a unreleased song with Steve Aoki. So hopefully It'll be fun.

Snoop Dog - December 29

Snoop Dog always has a good concert. Everyone knows his songs and he's most likely gonna play all of these songs because they're throwbacks and everyone loves a throwback song. Or an hour long throwback concert.

Decadence Festival - December 30 & 31

Personally, this is the concert I'd like to go to mainly because it is an EDM concert and it has lots of artists that are really big at the moment. Sadly, I can't go because I'm not 18 yet. But once I am, I'll be there!

December is pretty lame this year. Not many concerts are showing up.

Tips For Music Production : November 2016

Remixing Songs without stems

Since I had a lot of remixes come out in November, I want to talk about my process for remixing songs that I can't find decent studio acapellas for. When I consider making a remix, I always keep in mind that I have to like the song since I do have to listen to it for hours on end.
First, I open up a new project and drag the song into a new audio channel. Then I add an Equalizer (EQ) to take out the low end of the song. I do this because you cant have low end interfering within a song and the vocals are in the higher end of the audio spectrum.
After I set up the original, I start adding in drums and chords. since I have to overlap them over the original chords from the song, I have to learn how to play the same song in order to stay in key. So if the song is played in F# then I cant use a G scale.
Once I have a good idea on what I want the song to sound like, I begin adding on more layers and harmonics to make the song sound full. I add in different risers and crashes to distinguish the differences between the break, rise, and drop.
Lastly when I'm content with the song structure, drop, and sound, I try to master the song by making sure that the song isn't too loud and that certain elements that I want stick out.
Once everything is done, I download the album/single art and add my name to it and upload it all on to soundcloud.

New Music I'm Feeling : November 2016

• Childish Gambino - Me And Your Mama
• Many people dislike the new Childish Gambino song because it doesn't have rap at all but I think that this new style really works.
• The Weeknd - Sidewalks 
• The guitars in the song really help the vibe that The Weeknd tries to give off with the song. Showing how he has made his way up from being on sidewalks.
• The Chainsmokers - Setting Fires Ft. Xylo (Sergio Galvan Remix)
• Yeah, This is one of my own remixes but I just really like what I did with it
• Zara Larsson - I Would Like
• This song is really catchy and the lyrics give the song a nice melody.
• Noah Cyrus - Make Me (Cry) Ft. Labarinth (Sergio Galvan Remix)
• Once again, another remix I made and really enjoyed working on
• The Weeknd - I Feel It Coming
• I love the drums in this song. I get a lot of Michael Jackson vibes.

Overall, Music in November was good. New albums and Debut singles for artists make this month memorable.