Uploaded January 2025 | Updated September 2026, 3 weeks ago
In 2016/17 I did a remix of a Robert Parker track called "85 again", for a remix competition he invited to. I think this was on Soundcloud. At the time I thought it was a good move to kick-start the channel. Why my remix never ended up on his Soundcloud playlist with about 75 other entries, I have no idea, but for the short period it was on there I read that many listeners said my version was far better than his original, so I guess he didn't like that.
So.... fast forward about 9 years...
Whenever I do (or did) a remix for clients I never use anything except the vocal tracks.
I build up a new backing track, with my own chords and sounds, and I always make sure I use a chord progression/structure that is entirely mine.
That way, if the remix is abandoned, or a client backs out etc, I can always just ditch the other vocals, make a new top line, record new vocals and I'll have a brand new song for myself instead.
That's what happened here. After sitting on the remix for many years I decided it was finally time to finish it, as my own.
Find the track here:
espenkraft.bandcamp.com/track/everything-ends-badly-otherwise-it-wouldnt-end
The lyrics tell a story from my own life's experience.
The title of the song is taken from the movie Cocktail (1988).
No automatic pitch correction is used on my vocals.
The bells I use are not coming from the original Robert Parker stems, even if they might sound similar.
I use the plugin "LFO tool" on some tracks, which I don't mention in the video.. I use this plugin occasionally for sounds where I want a "ducking" effect at the start of a sound. You can achieve the same effect by the use of a compressor and side-chaining, or the use of automation, but the plugin is so much faster to use.
00:00 Intro
01:44 Inside the DAW - overview
02:47 Music starts
05:05 Drums
07:38 Bass
09:15 Synths
12:32 Guitars
13:15 Piano
14:55 Vocals
15:55 Lyrics are very important
17:02 Dynamics of the arrangement
21:55 Final thoughts and conclusions
In 2016/17 I did a remix of a Robert Parker track called "85 again", for a remix competition he invited to. I think this was on Soundcloud. At the time I thought it was a good move to kick-start the channel. Why my remix never ended up on his Soundcloud playlist with about 75 other entries, I have no idea, but for the short period it was on there I read that many listeners said my version was far better than his original, so I guess he didn't like that.
So.... fast forward about 9 years...
Whenever I do (or did) a remix for clients I never use anything except the vocal tracks.
I build up a new backing track, with my own chords and sounds, and I always make sure I use a chord progression/structure that is entirely mine.
That way, if the remix is abandoned, or a client backs out etc, I can always just ditch the other vocals, make a new top line, record new vocals and I'll have a brand new song for myself instead.
That's what happened here. After sitting on the remix for many years I decided it was finally time to finish it, as my own.
Find the track here:
espenkraft.bandcamp.com/track/everything-ends-badly-otherwise-it-wouldnt-end
The lyrics tell a story from my own life's experience.
The title of the song is taken from the movie Cocktail (1988).
No automatic pitch correction is used on my vocals.
The bells I use are not coming from the original Robert Parker stems, even if they might sound similar.
I use the plugin "LFO tool" on some tracks, which I don't mention in the video.. I use this plugin occasionally for sounds where I want a "ducking" effect at the start of a sound. You can achieve the same effect by the use of a compressor and side-chaining, or the use of automation, but the plugin is so much faster to use.
00:00 Intro
01:44 Inside the DAW - overview
02:47 Music starts
05:05 Drums
07:38 Bass
09:15 Synths
12:32 Guitars
13:15 Piano
14:55 Vocals
15:55 Lyrics are very important
17:02 Dynamics of the arrangement
21:55 Final thoughts and conclusions
