Production Question

[jsaras]

Hello. I'm in the final stages of recording a song I've written. Just about all the music is down and I'm getting ready to lay down the vox tracks and a question came up. The song builds from an acoustic guitar, dobro and hand drums to a full sound with keys, full drums, distortion guitar. I have held off the drumsuntil the second chorus. The first chorus comes in fairly quickly but for a demo I keep thinking the punch needs to come in quickly as well which of course takes away from the build up of emotion. A bridge follows the second chorus followed by a final ending chorus. The song is about 4:20 in length. Does anybody have any thoughts/recommendations about this? Thanks.John

[mazz]

I would recommend hitting the first chorus strongly. At every Road Rally during the listening sessions with the big A&R guys, the first chorus was pretty much as far as they got. It was pretty rare to hear much of the second verse. That's probably how much time you have to sell the song.Maybe think about re-structuring the arrangement slightly by leaving out one of the guitars or hand drums until the second verse. That way, you still get a textural build but you're still making sure your first chorus has the necessary punch.Other folks here who write and sell songs will probably have much more to say than a lowly instrumental guy like me Just my opinion. Let us hear it when you get done.Mazz

[jsaras]

Yeah, Thanks, Mazz.I think I'll punch up the first chorus then drop down the second verse for texture then punch in again from the second chorus out.I was thinking about the reviews at the road rally, too. I could hear them all saying "next"! at about the middle of the first chorus. lol.John

[stick]

Depending on the genre, 4:20 is often too long. I'm guessing by your description of the arrangement, the sections are either long or the tempo is slow. You can get away with that length sometimes if it's a slow ballad. But Mazz is right... get to the chorus, and make sure the 1st chorus hits me with most if not all the juice you're going to have at the song's "high point". Don't give it all away... but for a demo, get pretty darn close. As always though... this is the "rule", and the exception sometimes works.

[justinatrecording]

Hey John,I agree with the other guys. However, there are great songs that have stripped down first choruses. How far into the tune does the first chorus hit? If it's 30 seconds in, I'd say it's possible. If it's at 1:00 or later, I'd be less likely to use that device.Also, production-wise, think about what you can do sonically with the drums during the first chorus. Maybe, for example, you could make a lo-fi loop out of the drums and have that in the first chorus. That could keep it moving forward without going full tilt right away. But, I have no idea what genre the tune is...Alternatively, maybe you should have the drums in the first chorus, and look to your later choruses to build those even more with other instruments. Perhaps adding another guitar part and some new hook ideas in the second and third choruses. Stuff like that...Anyway, without hearing the song it's hard to say. Every song is unique... could we hear the song? That would help a lot! Plus, I'd love to hear a song with dobro, distorted electrics and hand drums!Justin