Welcome as we join a behind-the-scenes glimpse at a powerful production; with their latest release, ‘If You Only Knew,’ Dutch Electronic duo Hel:sløwed joins forces with the talented songwriting and production duo Amber Revival to deliver a sonic journey like no other. In this exclusive interview, we dive into the depths of their creative process, exploring the vision, collaboration, and intricate production techniques that brought this electrifying and uplifting track to life. From their unique blend of past and present influences to the magic that happens when musical minds align, join us as we uncover the secrets behind ‘If You Only Knew,’ a track that’s not only making waves but leaving its own mark on the world of Electronic Dance music.
Hello Hel:sløwed & Amber Revival! Congratulations on the release of ‘If You Only Knew’. How are you?
Hel:sløwed: Hello, everyone at CULTR! Thank you so much for your congratulations. We’re feeling incredibly excited and grateful for the release of ‘If You Only Knew.’ It’s been an amazing journey bringing this project to life, and we’re happy it caught your attention!
Amber Revival: Hi everyone. Thank you so much. We are really blown away with all the reactions so far and the incredible support the track has been receiving. We couldn’t be happier.
Before you set out to produce the track, did you have a specific vision or goal in mind that you wanted to achieve?
Hel:sløwed: In this particular case, we did have somewhat of a vision. Often, we’re just playing around until something sticks that we think is worth developing. But in this case, we wanted to do a track that combines elements from all eras of our ‘music life’. Influences from the past, sounds from the present, but also a feeling of where we want to take our project. In a way, we wanted it to sound like a modern-day Dance/Trance classic, something that sounds both fresh but evokes a sense of nostalgia.
Amber Revival: We had been on a sort of hiatus from toplining Dance music, for many reasons, including our other projects as songwriters and producers in other genres. We knew that returning to Dance music could only happen under one condition- it had to be all about the music and the emotion. That was the goal. Luckily when you have collaborators as talented as Michael and Misja from Hel:sløwed by your side, it just happens.
Can you tell us about your collaboration? How did it come about and what was the process like?
Hel:sløwed: Michael has known Arie from Amber Revival for a long time now through the internet via a music production-related Facebook group. But they had never really worked together. About a year back, we got in touch for some other projects, and during those talks, we were simultaneously working on the instrumental for ‘If You Only Knew’. We asked Arie and Netta if they were interested, and they wanted to give it a go. Right from the first moment we received the rough demo back, we knew this one was special. Somehow the vocals sounded like they had always been there, like they belonged there. From there, Arie & Netta recorded the final vocals, we fine-tuned everything, did some tweaking, and not much later, we had the first full demo of ‘If You Only Knew’.
Amber Revival: Yes exactly, the collaboration happened in a very natural and smooth way. In general, collaborations of this sort happen in different ways, some take time and sometimes everything clicks almost magically. That’s exactly what happened when we heard Hel:sløwed’s instrumental for the first time. We were both actually struggling with post-covid symptoms at the time, including shortness of breath and exhaustion. But hearing the first few notes of the lead melody were literally like a breath of fresh air and we both just started singing again. So, in a way, this track not only inspired us musically, but also healed us.
Can you walk us through the process of producing the track? Which elements did you start with and how did you then build on them to create the detailed soundscape?
Hel:sløwed: For this particular track, we started with the chords, as they are the main element of the track playing throughout pretty much the whole thing. We wanted melancholic chords, emotional but not cheesy. Combined with a pluck that plays the same note constantly but has a lot of movement added through automation and several effects. These two elements form a significant part of the track’s foundation. After that, we created the main top melody of the track, even though it’s only introduced later in the track. Once the track was almost completed, we added a lot of ‘ear candy’. We really like background movement in our tracks, such as subtle sounds, small fills, or automation on sounds. This way, there’s always something happening, and you’ll hear subtle new things on every listen
Did you face any challenges during the production process? If so, how did you work to overcome them?
Hel:sløwed: On the production side, we didn’t really encounter any specific issues or challenges. Sometimes you have one of those tracks where everything just seems to come together, and luckily, this was one of them.
Amber Revival: The main challenge on our side was literally recording the vocals. We both still had post covid symptoms. But it all worked out in the end.
The track features a driving low end and thumping rhythmic elements. How did you build these elements? Do you have a specific process that you use each time or does your approach to production differ with each track?
Hel:sløwed: We spend a lot of time on our low-end and tweak it until the very end of the production. The reason for this is that the low-end is the foundation for all Dance music. Having a solid kick and (sub) bass will make your mixing process much easier later on. Plus, the more control you have over your low-end, the more choices you have regarding loudness when you’re doing the final mixdown. If you don’t have this control, you won’t be able to push your final compressor or limiter as much, and you’ll notice audible distortion before reaching commercial loudness. The process itself starts with the sound design of our (sub)basses and kicks, where we try to achieve a consistent phase relationship between the two and ensure that the kick’s tail and sub side-chain settings match perfectly.
Which elements of the track do you feel best represents each of your signature styles and sound?
Hel:sløwed: For this particular track, I think it’s more in the style itself. It combines elements of Melodic House, Techno, and Trance. There’s lots of melody and atmospheres, but also a low-end that makes you want to move.
The heartfelt vocals bring a unique and uplifting energy to the track. Can you tell us about the process of composing the vocals and how you worked to incorporate them into the production? Did you use any specific techniques?
Hel:sløwed: This one is definitely for Amber Revival. Their work on the vocals has been amazing!
Amber Revival: For us, whenever we sit down to write a topline for an emotionally packed Dance track like this one, it’s all about listening to our impulses and allowing ourselves to feel first and think later. We try to apply less technique in the songwriting process and more intuitive movement. Being a duo, we usually love to stack up vocals with several harmonies and colors to create a big vocal sound. It’s almost a signature sound of ours. And Netta usually sings in a lower register as well. Interestingly enough, with ‘If You Only Knew’ we decided to go the other direction.
The song has almost no backing vocals and is focused on Netta’s voice being carried by the beautiful instrumental. That is because we wanted to create intimacy in the vocal take, like someone speaking to a loved one. Netta is also singing in a higher register than usual and uses a clear mix voice. That was intentional to create a very clean vocal take that won’t ‘compete’ with the instrumental, and really compliment it the best way possible. For the tech nerds (like ourselves): we decided to record the vocals using a condenser, not a tube mic- specifically the WA Classic by Warm Audio. Our chain this time was direct recording via our RME Fireface UFX +, that went straight into our DAW (Pro Tools). We didn’t use any analogue compression or other processing on the mic input itself, to make sure we keep as much vocal dynamics as possible. Afterwards we edited and processed the vocals using Celemony’s Melodyne and our go-to Slate Digital plugins such as Infinity EQ, FG-2A and the Virtual Tape Machine.
To create such ethereal atmosphere within the vocals, you must have to have incorporate some form of reverb and delay FX. Could you go into detail how you utilise these effects to create an epic vocal without drowning the signal itself?
Hel:sløwed: On the production and mixdown side of things, this is always a challenge—finding the right balance between intelligibility and atmosphere. With this particular track, we subtly side-chain the dry vocals to the wet sends of the delays and reverbs. But we also (very) subtly side-chain the dry vocals to two of the synth groups and a vocal atmosphere group, but only in the frequency ranges where the vocals predominantly sit, using a tool called ‘Trackspacer’ by Wavesfactory. We also control and automate the stereo information on a lot of the atmospheric elements, just so we can consciously decide where the atmosphere needs to widen and where we need to narrow it a bit.
Amber Revival: Yeah, Hel:sløwed are the best. 😊
Is there a specific part of the production process that you particularly enjoy?
Hel:sløwed: I think it’s safe to say we’re proper production nerds. We absolutely love the production process as a whole. But if we had to pick anything specific, I think it’s the fact that there’s always something new to learn and try out. New plug-ins, new techniques, new ideas. You never run out of things to learn. Michael produces in the background for a lot of other artists in many different genres as well, from Urban to Hardstyle and everything in between. This helps keep things fresh and gives us an opportunity to use influences from other genres in our productions.
What is your go to synth for your signature saw synth sounds?
Hel:sløwed: We predominantly produce ‘in-the-box.’ I wouldn’t say we have a go-to synth for saws (it just depends on what we want for a track), but our workhorse synth has been Xfer Serum for a lot of things. It’s super quick, easy to use, and very versatile. This, combined with VPS Avenger – which is a synth that can do pretty much everything. But if you’re looking for something more specific, maybe a bit more vintage electronic-sounding, ‘Diva’ is a great option too.
What elements have contributed to the completion of this track that the average listener might not be able to hear, but from a production perspective, is essential to this production?
Hel:sløwed: I think it’s probably that one pluck that plays the same note over and over. It really adds something driving to the track, but at the same time, it’s kept interesting by all the automation and effects going on. Plus, some subtle hand drums in the background that you won’t often hear in this particular genre.
The kick drum has really nice punch. Could you explain how you get your kicks so tight within the mix and manipulate EQs and Compressor settings to effect the kick drums transients?
Hel:sløwed: So here come the production nerds again, haha. The kicks are really important to us. We always visualize our kicks using an oscilloscope and use that as a tool to tweak them until we’re happy. That way, you can easily visualize any problems you might not hear at first. We also split the transients and the tail of the kick and process them separately. Plus, we shape the tail so it’s the exact length and loudness we want. That way, we get a very controlled kick with a super solid low-end, but also with a nice, punchy, and clicky transient. If you do it this way, you don’t really need a compressor on the kick in the traditional sense because you already have maximum control. Bonus is you also get to easily swap the transient or the tail if that works better for the track.
The clap varies in the layered sound used, can you explain the different layers underneath and why you do this?
Hel:sløwed: We have one normal clap layer, which mostly plays the same (standard) clap sample with just slight fluctuations. But we also have a ‘weird clap’ layer, where we automate the length, delay, reverb, and some other things. Plus, another glitchy percussion clap layer. It’s all rather subtle in the background, but it does add something to the final track. We wanted the clap to have a sort of organic sound, so it wouldn’t be too static. Plus, we simply like the ear candy, similar to other choices we made for the track.
What can fans expect from you over the next few months? Do you have any more collaborations or releases planned soon?
Hel:sløwed: You caught us at a super busy time! We’ve got a ton of stuff already lined up, including tracks with Teo Mandrelli and Jordan Grace on A State of Trance, and with JNSN on Flashover, and some new remixes, reworks, and more. Plus, even more stuff we’re working on that’s close to being finished. So, the next couple of months are going to be incredibly busy but also a lot of fun. And hopefully, we can make a start on something that could be the follow-up to ‘If You Only Knew’.
Amber Revival: We’re always jumping between projects as songwriters, producers and artists. A lot of it is confidential, unfortunately, since we’re not always the artists, but rather the producers and songwriters. As artists, at the moment we have several releases coming up, one being a beautiful Dance track on the upcoming ‘In Search Of Sunrise’ compilation together with our good friend and very talented Dutch producer Sherano. We also co-wrote a tune for the amazing Polish duo Melo.Kids, who have worked with names like Fedde Le Grande and Morgan Page. But we most definitely are also looking forward to make a follow-up with Hel:sløwed.
As we wrap up this behind-the-scenes journey, we’re left with a profound appreciation for the artistry and dedication that Hel:sløwed and Amber Revival have poured into ‘If You Only Knew.’ Their seamless collaboration, meticulous production techniques, and driving passion for music have given birth to a track that transcends boundaries and stirs emotions. With a promising future filled with more releases and artistic projects on the horizon, we eagerly anticipate the next chapters in the musical journeys of these talented artists. Stay tuned for more sonic adventures, we thank Hel:sløwed and Amber Revival for their time and promise to keep an eye out, as we know the best is yet to come.
Listen and buy ‘If You Only Knew’ now
https://armada.lnk.to/IfYouOnlyKnew
Hel:sløwed Online
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Amber Revival Online
