Intro:

I received the first mix for my new song, from a Mixing Engineer the other day.

And after doing this for almost two decades now, I have a much better understanding of what to listen for in a first mix.

But that wasn’t always the case…

Back in 2009, I received the first draft of my band’s first album, and thought to myself…

“I think this sounds good?”

It was a weird feeling…I felt like I should have said more, but I just didn’t know what I didn’t know.

And I didn’t know how to communicate any thoughts that I did have.

It wasn’t until I racked up these experiences that I realized…

I lacked important knowledge and skillsets to listen, analyze, and communicate.

So I’m going to break down the lessons I’ve learned, by sharing the three main elements I listen for, in a first mix…

#1 - volume level of the vocals

Songwriters and singers, myself included, have a tendency to want loud, (or at least “louder”) vocals.

It’s only natural - you work hard on writing meaningful lyrics; you want those words to come through, you want people to relate to the message of your song.

But proceed with caution…

Because the relationship of vocals to instrumentals in a mix, is like salad dressing to greens.

If your dressing simply sits on top of your salad, when you take that first bite, you may only taste the dressing…

Instead of tasting the combination of dressing with greens that makes a salad delicious.

And your vocals are no different.

So when I get that first mix back, I pay special, close attention to this relationship between vocals and instrumental -

AKA are the vocals “sitting on top of” the instrumental? Or are they blended in?

And you’ll see my note in the below email I sent to my mixing engineer, that I felt that the vocals were a little “hot” (“loud”)…

AKA I felt like the blend I was looking for, wasn’t there yet.

#2 - volume level and presence of the kick drum, snare drum, and bassline

A conventional rhythm section is made up of the drums and bass.

And more specifically, the kick drum and snare drum, or whatever sounds are being used to represent that, provide the pulse.

So the relationship between the kick drum, snare, and bass, is crucial.

If those parts aren’t working with each other…(for example, if one of those pieces is drowning out the other two)…

Then that may need to be addressed.

#3 - energy level of key transitions

Songs are made up of “big moments”.

And how you transition into and out of those moments, is crucial.

Now, it’s important to note that these transitions and “big moments”, and how they work with each other, should be addressed during the actual songwriting process.

You can’t fix a songwriting issue with a production or mixing solution, after all.

However, it’s important that the mixing engineer enhance, and outline those transitions.

So you’ll see in the below email, I include a note about the second chorus “losing energy”.

This will be an important adjustment - as there is a feeling of energy building in that section that I want the listeners to feel.

What You Can Do with this:

There are other elements to listen for when you get that first mix back from your producer/engineer.

But these are the three I would suggest honing in on, at the very least.

Especially if you are new to this experience.

I would encourage you to practice “active listening”, not only to your songs, but to other artists’ tunes.

Start to pay attention to these relationships between vocals and instrumentals, and start to identify “big moments” in these songs.

Conclusion:

As always, I hope you found value from this episode.

Happy Writing,

Connor

Book a free call - http://www.connorfrost.com/startcall

Originally aired in 2022 - episode 11

So you've released that album, single, or demo, and you're ready to play your first show.

James Cross of the Bandhive podcast, walks us through the easiest and most practical way to book your first show.

Links:

Linktree

SleekBio

Listen links

Bandhive site

Road Ready

Originally aired in December 2022:

Simon O’ Moore, AKA “Mount Pelier” spent the better part of a decade having trouble writing, making, and releasing music.

But in the last year and a half, he’s taken matters into his own hands, by investing in my mentorship, and going on to write and release his debut EP.

In this interview, we get into his songwriting process and overall journey, from early struggles to eventual release.

Mount Pelier Linktree

Listen to “Ghosts” on Spotify

Listen to “All I Want to Be” on Spotify

Watch the official music video for “All I Want to Be”

Originally aired on May 23rd, 2023

So you’ve finished writing your song, and you got it recorded, mixed, and mastered.

Now what?

In this episode, my client and friend, Jacob Schrater details his experience with his first release, and most importantly, the lessons he learned, and the mistakes he made.

To connect with Jacob, check him out on all his socials, @jacobschrater, and shoot him a DM on Instagram.

To schedule a free call with me/my team, go ahead and watch the following video first. Then we’ll talk! http://www.connorfrost.com/structurelanding

Originally aired on June 20th, 2023

Dear Songwriter! Today, we tackle the eternal question: should I start with lyrics in my songwriting?

Now, there may be no right way to write a song... but here's the thing—I've discovered that starting with lyrics can bring three incredible benefits to your songwriting process. And trust me, understanding these benefits will not only inspire you to give it a shot, but could also streamline your entire songwriting process. Join me as I dive deep into these benefits, share personal experiences, and provide insights that will open your mind to the power of words and intention.

Slam that play button to walk through my experience with lyrics first!

Originally aired on January 3rd, 2023

There’s no ONE way to become a full-time musician.

But because I get asked the question so much, I thought I’d share my story for all to hear.

It’s not for those looking for a quick hack - that was no my situation.

It took me a decade+ to make music my full-time thing. Take a listen to this episode to hear about it.

Originally aired on December 27th, 2022

I cringed when I first heard this song lol.

But upon further review and analysis, I actually found it to be really interesting - there are a lot of cool things happening in this song.

So I decided to break down three main takeaways I have for this song, which have to do with melody, structure, and lyrics.

As well as a summary to help you take those takeaways and implement them into your own songs.

Dear songwriter,

Are you overwhelmed by the plethora of sounds and instruments you have at your disposal once you open up your Digital Audio Workstation (DAW)? I've been there too, and this episode is designed to be your friendly guide through the seemingly daunting terrain of music production. We're diving into the art of creating purposeful music with insights from my own journey from creating sounds to forging music with intention and precision.

You will be guided through a step-by-step process aimed at helping you make decisions about which instruments to use in your tracks and which ones to boot. Learn how to externalize and implement a mental checklist that brings clarity as you write, arrange, and produce your new songs.

Four Questions I Ask During the Demo Production Process:

1. What is the role of the instrument I’m adding?
2. What is the context for this instrument (AKA why is it even there?)
3. What is its relationship with the other instruments and voices?
4. Do I even need this instrument?

Take this chance to transform your DAW session from a daunting challenge into a playground of limitless potential!

Like what your hearing in the Dear Songwriter... podcast? Leave us quick review or 5 star rating on Spotify or Apple Podcasts!

Mentions and Links:

Social Media:

• Instagram: @connorlfrost

Songs/Artists:

• While My Guitar Gently Weeps - The Beatles

Digital Audio Workstations(DAWs):

• GarageBand
• Pro Tools
• Logic Pro

Podcasts:

• 108. Analyzing the Songwriting of The Beatles' George Harrison