What was the creative process like for this particular "Choices?"

It was our first time hanging out with Jade. We were finishing up a song with her boyfriend Jack, who helped in bringing her onto the project. The four of us talked big picture about the mood we wanted to create. Once Niko and I (Austin) had an overall idea of the direction, we made a beat and a simple chord progression. With the beat playing in the background, we talked about things going on in our lives and started pulling lyrics from the conversation. It’s always cool when you work with people on the same wave and a song comes together.

Can you talk about the recording and production process for "Choices?"

We actually ended up using Jade’s demo vocals on the master. I recorded them to Cubase using an SM7b routed through a BAE 1073 and an MC77 compressor. Once we had all of the vocals recorded, Niko and I scrapped the demo beat. From there we turned our attention to sound selection. Finding drum sounds that match the vibe of the song is really important to us. After selecting new sounds, we played along with the vocal tracks; matching the groove in different pockets. Since the song didn’t have a conventional chorus we decided to add a drop. We wanted to stay in-line with the energy of the song, so we gravitated towards an ethereal/lo-fi production using electric bass and granular synthesis. It felt like building an aquarium.

What did you enjoy most about making "Choices?"

It was a lot of fun diving into a new track and making two great friends in the process.

What genres of music do you primarily focus on, and what draws you to those genres?

I (Austin) got my start in music playing in a pop-punk band. Over time my style expanded into alternative/alt-pop. Niko’s taste gravitates more towards trap and R&B. When we started working together we found a unique place that sits between both of our realms.

Collaboration is often crucial in music production. How do you collaborate with artists and other professionals to bring a project to life?

We try to create an environment where everyone is comfortable to express their ideas. Even if the idea doesn’t land, it usually sparks another idea that does. I think that we have gotten really good at playing toward each other's strengths and letting that shine through.

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