Uploaded February 2021 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
I'm back with another Ableton session breakdown. This time I'm going over the production session of my drivers license cover. This song is a great example of finding the right balance of simplicity and the less is more philosophy. Hats off to @OliviaRodrigo and Dan Nigro for writing and producing such a heartfelt global hit. It's refreshing to see music this well made topping the charts.
In the video you can see how I go about dissecting a track when I want to cover it or learn from it. Starting with active listening and creating a first approximation of the layers I hear in the song, to ending with a fully fleshed out arrangement. I go over the main ideas of the song, how I translated them for my cover, all the instrumentation, MIDI programming synths and drums, vocal arrangement and treatment, and much more. I hope you enjoy this Ableton Live production breakdown of my cover of Olivia Rodrigo's "drivers license" 🤗
here's my cover 🌹 // youtu.be/G2ZsM1IIbb0
here's the original 🌷 // youtu.be/ZmDBbnmKpqQ
here's the piano tutorial I mention in the video 🌻 // youtu.be/5E_MK4JqIvQ
======
🌹 Sasha Smith 🌹
website: fanlink.to/sash-web
instagram: fanlink.to/sash-insta
facebook: fanlink.to/sash-facebook
spotify: fanlink.to/sash-spotify
apple music: fanlink.to/sash-applemusic
soundcloud: fanlink.to/sash-soundcloud
bandcamp: fanlink.to/sash-bandcamp
======
⏳ Timestamps ⏳
0:00 - Welcome
2:09 - Session Overview
3:20 - Track Deconstruction
7:40 - Intro Sound Design
10:59 - Main Harmonic Element
17:02 - Verse 1
20:58 - Claps
24:40 - Tape Stop Effect
25:56 - Chorus 1
31:57 - Glide Synth
34:05 - Chorus End Section
43:07 - Verse 2
47:57 - Piano MIDI & Arrangement
51:36 - Chorus 2
55:51 - Vocal Doubles Processing
1:00:02 - Bridge
1:09:57 - Backing Vocals & Vocal Stacks
1:17:30 - Vocal Chop
1:19:24 - Layering Philosophy & Minimalistic Production
1:20:37 - Outro
1:26:42 - Recap
1:31:43 - Thank You
======
#driverslicense #abletonlive #productionbreakdown #driverslicenseproduction #oliviarodrigo #oliviarodrigodriverslicense
I'm back with another Ableton session breakdown. This time I'm going over the production session of my drivers license cover. This song is a great example of finding the right balance of simplicity and the less is more philosophy. Hats off to @OliviaRodrigo and Dan Nigro for writing and producing such a heartfelt global hit. It's refreshing to see music this well made topping the charts.
In the video you can see how I go about dissecting a track when I want to cover it or learn from it. Starting with active listening and creating a first approximation of the layers I hear in the song, to ending with a fully fleshed out arrangement. I go over the main ideas of the song, how I translated them for my cover, all the instrumentation, MIDI programming synths and drums, vocal arrangement and treatment, and much more. I hope you enjoy this Ableton Live production breakdown of my cover of Olivia Rodrigo's "drivers license" 🤗
here's my cover 🌹 // youtu.be/G2ZsM1IIbb0
here's the original 🌷 // youtu.be/ZmDBbnmKpqQ
here's the piano tutorial I mention in the video 🌻 // youtu.be/5E_MK4JqIvQ
======
🌹 Sasha Smith 🌹
website: fanlink.to/sash-web
instagram: fanlink.to/sash-insta
facebook: fanlink.to/sash-facebook
spotify: fanlink.to/sash-spotify
apple music: fanlink.to/sash-applemusic
soundcloud: fanlink.to/sash-soundcloud
bandcamp: fanlink.to/sash-bandcamp
======
⏳ Timestamps ⏳
0:00 - Welcome
2:09 - Session Overview
3:20 - Track Deconstruction
7:40 - Intro Sound Design
10:59 - Main Harmonic Element
17:02 - Verse 1
20:58 - Claps
24:40 - Tape Stop Effect
25:56 - Chorus 1
31:57 - Glide Synth
34:05 - Chorus End Section
43:07 - Verse 2
47:57 - Piano MIDI & Arrangement
51:36 - Chorus 2
55:51 - Vocal Doubles Processing
1:00:02 - Bridge
1:09:57 - Backing Vocals & Vocal Stacks
1:17:30 - Vocal Chop
1:19:24 - Layering Philosophy & Minimalistic Production
1:20:37 - Outro
1:26:42 - Recap
1:31:43 - Thank You
======
#driverslicense #abletonlive #productionbreakdown #driverslicenseproduction #oliviarodrigo #oliviarodrigodriverslicense
