Future Music 396 June 2023

English | 100 pages | True PDF | 62.6 MB

We often dedicate a lot of FM to discussing the specifics of sound design, production and mixing, all of which are complex and varied disciplines worth studying and exploring, but none are of any use without an actual song to work with. To quote one of this month’s featured artists, Lewis Thompson, “the production should support the song”. While Thompson is often working with pop vocalists, the principle is true even for the most experimental, minimal or ambient tracks – unless you’ve a core song worth developing, no amount of mixing or mastering skill can paper over a lack of ideas. This issue we’re tackling the principles of songwriting from an electronic musician’s perspective, with tips and techniques along with deep dives into the theory behind a classic tracks from Frankie Knuckles, Deadmau5 and Floating Points.