Ben Kessler's Secret Sauce

Lizzy: "I just came up with a ton of these like gnarly textures. I actually have a group in the song that is like the stuff that Ben sent" She says she was inspired by Kessler's work and wanted his contributions to be heavily featured on this track. Lizzy also has her own secret sauce, which includes sidechain compressor for kick drum.

Transcript

chevron_right

Play full episode

chevron_right

Transcript

Episode notes

In this episode, John links up with Lizzy McAlpine and producers Philip Etherington and Ehren Ebbage, to talk about how they wrote, recorded, and produced Lizzy’s album ‘five seconds flat’.

Looking back at their time writing and recording in a makeshift Airbnb studio, Lizzy, Philip, and Ehren dig into their enormous archive of song versions (including John Mayer versions), talking through their process of chipping away at each track and shaping the sounds to match the core expression.

As well as highlighting exactly why parts of Lizzy’s performance are so key to the foundation of each song, we’re treated to backing vocal masterclasses, stories of secret weapon synths, and beats tied together with Philip’s mouldy can of nuts.

Listen to find out how to create sounds that are quietly big and impactful, why all U47s are not created equally, and why as a producer you first have to be an audience member.

Tracks discussed: an ego thing, ceilings, reckless driver

LINKS TO EVERYTHING TAPE NOTES

linktr.ee/tapenotes

Listen to ‘Five Seconds Flat’ here.