What happens with making a loud dance mix.
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Premier on Complex
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Can't Think (ft Mike City)
Label: Be RIch Records
Mission
Melbourne-based producer Right-O of label BeRich Records, and in collaboration with Rore Grove, brought to us a dark, deep-house club thumper for mixing.
Right-O is recognised in Melbourne and world-wide for their balance of tech-house and pop sensibilities. The mission was to achieve a sound that showcased true grit, attitude and energy as a dark and deep club track, whilst maintaining a clean and accessible commercial sound their fan base had become accustomed to. This was key to expanding Right-O's discography to a broader audience, specifically club-punters ahead of a nationwide tour.
Our task was to create a distinctive sound with two objectives: it had to be impactful in a live set, and it had to stand out on its own merits. The final product also had to meet the stringent needs of a commercial dance-label's sound for the A&R's approval.
We know that it is critical, particularly in a live set, for electronic dance producers to have their music stand out from the crowd. We knew that in order to achieve this, we had three factors to execute: familiarity, flexibility and technique.
Process
Anthony Agostino - the man behind Right-O - together with the Panorama team, started with a meeting to clearly establish the scope of the material and its potential applications.
The material arrived in good shape: a set of 12 stereo-stems, tasteful sound design and sound selection. We all agreed the key of this mix standing out in a club set was the weight and impact of the low end. We also recognised the need for the leads and vocals to be clean and present for the music to carry with it the identity and sensibilities that has distinguished Right-O and his career.
Knowing what we had to do, we determined a clear hierarchy to best satisfy the tastes of bass-loving club goers and still appeal to fans who appreciated pop-sensibilities. The bass and vocals/drop leads acted as a tonal foundation for the track. There was no need for mix-bus EQ's - if we wanted a crisper overall sound, we had to either drop the bass volume or increase the leads.
The Panorama Thinking
Every mix deserves a certain je ne sais quoi. Achieving that quality, that drawing power, stems from a significant amount of work and considered thinking. Knowing this was something destined for the clubs and dance lovers, bass, rhythm and movement were key.
We sent the initial mix off to both the label's A&R and Rore Grove, and got the thumbs up almost instantaneously. Two weeks after receiving the final mix, the record was published in all major online platforms. It received a premiere by Complex and a feature in Vents magazine.
Right-O has used the record as a main reference for their live sets, and has been the compelling catalyst for booking new shows and locking down venues for their national tour.