Sleeper: A DJ's Guide

Sleeper has all these toys Or these old drum machines Or these old synthesizers And it means that there's very little in the song that was done on a computer It's all kind of just recordings of old drum machines and stuff And synthesizers. So basically started with the drums There's a Lindrum which is basically Prince's favorite drum machineSo then I started playing this bass line on a ob6 which is a synthesizer That's like the main two elementsAnd then everything on top is kind of extra But that drum groove and that bass groove was kind of the foundation for the whole song.

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Thanks to SoundBetter for supporting this episode of Tape Notes.

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In this special live episode, John heads to Mother Advertising to chat with returning guest SG Lewis about how he wrote, recorded, and produced his new album ‘AudioLust & HigherLove’.

Starting writing after taking ten days off music making and getting bored, Sam reflects on the times spent with his collaborators in the studio and on exotic retreats, sharing the sparks of songwriting inspiration that came from their stories and lives.

In this all-round production masterclass, we’re treated to a deep dive into Sam’s process of updating sounds and processing techniques from past eras for a modern audience, as well as mixing tips including the best ways to make a kick and bass punch over iPhone speakers.

Listen to find out why the phonetics of lyrics are so important, how to create a convincing fake vocoder, and what some of the most effective ways are to gain confidence as a singer when you’re not a singer.

Tracks discussed: Lifetime, Call On Me, Something About Your Love

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Listen to ‘AudioLust & HigherLove’ here.