Put in the extra work

I mastered a three-song EP over the last couple of days for this young songwriter out of Los Angeles. And, can I tell you? It was so much goddamned work.

The songs are great, the producer is super talented, the performances and arrangement are all ace, and the mixes are emotive and compelling. But, also, there were lots of momentary mix anomalies, and lots of mouth noises (you GUYS: for the love of all that’s holy, get a mouth-noise removal plugin. Everyone records close-up on the mic these days). So it was hours upon hours of moment-by-moment corrective work.

And then when I was at the end, I requested a volume up on the vocal for one chorus of one song ... and what I received in return was three new mixes 😂 So I did all that work a second time!

But then I got this comment in response, and it made it all worth it:

First: how rewarding, right?

And, second: imagine if I hadn’t put in the extra work. If I’d gotten all self-righteous about it: “The producer should have heard that stuff and dealt with it. Not my job.” I would have missed — intentionally! — a chance to bring someone joy. To help make a moment of pride and gratitude for another person, and a moment of connection with them.

And if we’re not doing this work in order to help create moments of connection and joy and pride and gratitude … what exactly are we doing it for?

Tired but happy — jamie