In Padded Waltz, the creation of music is often as organic as it is intentional. Our latest track, "Behind the Scenes," was born in a rather unassuming moment—during a quiet night in our plant room, gazing out of the windows. The lyrics began as a literal reflection of the scene in front of us, but as the song unfolded, a deeper concept emerged. We started to imagine the eerie idea: what if you died and didn’t realize it? Your partner seems to be ignoring you, but in reality, they can't even see you. You’re left believing you're still alive, lost in a world where you're invisible.
Songwriting Process
The song took shape with a simple chord progression played on the piano. As soon as the first notes were struck, Jess began humming the melody. From there, we bounced lyrical ideas off each other, blending our thoughts until the song unfolded naturally. The core message? A haunting sense of isolation, fitting perfectly into the existential themes of our upcoming album.
Initially, we approached the song with a slower, looser arrangement. For almost two years, it existed in this form until Ian (our drummer), Josh (our bassist), and Dan (our guitarist) got their hands on it. Their additions transformed the track, tightening it up and bringing a rock-pop element that injected new life into it. Now, it's a version we’re proud of—one that embodies both our early vision and the natural evolution of our sound.
Recording Setup
"Behind the Scenes" was recorded in a few stages, reflecting our collaborative process as a band. Ian, Josh, and I laid down the initial tracks in our home studio. Later, we headed to Dan’s studio to record his guitar parts. After that, we returned to our setup to capture Jess’s vocals and finish production.
Our recording environment is designed to be a clean slate, capturing everything crisp and dry, allowing us to sculpt the sound during production. The key pieces of gear used in the recording include my RD-88 keyboard, which has been a dream to play on, and Jess’s vocals running through a TUBE MP Tube Microphone PreAmp—affectionately dubbed "Tubie." This preamp, inspired by the one Scott Weiland used in STP, adds a warmth and grit to Jess’s voice that defines its character in the mix. Dan used his lovely new pedal, the Strymon blueSky Reverberator Pedal V2, which became the star of all the guitar lines. We recorded everything in Cakewalk by BandLab, using a variety of plugins, most notably the ABBEY ROAD Beatles bundle, to refine the sound and create the lush, detailed production we envisioned.
Production Techniques and Creative Challenges
The song presented its own set of creative challenges. As a band, we’re perfectionists, so it's not uncommon to record hundreds of takes to get things just right. We recorded the core tracks—piano, bass, and drums—three times, but the second take had that magic spark, the one where everything just clicks.
When it came to the overall production, one of the key techniques was layering. There are always at least two to five guitar layers present in the track, as well as several vocal harmonies. Panning these elements properly in the mix was crucial to ensure they felt cohesive while allowing space for each to breathe. We used EQ and reverb extensively, working carefully to balance clarity with depth, so the soundscape feels both lush and precise.
Instrumentation and Vocals
"Behind the Scenes" is built on a classic rock setup—piano, guitar, bass, drums, and vocals. But we added some extra textures, like jingles and cymbal scrapes, that give the song a subtle, otherworldly atmosphere. Jess’s vocals are particularly special here, heavily layered with harmonies that we produced to sound almost alien, pushing the boundaries of what we’ve done vocally before.
The vocals were recorded using an SM-58 microphone, running through our trusty Tube MP. This setup has become our go-to because of the warmth and drive it adds to Jess’s voice. As with the instruments, the vocals were meticulously layered and panned, with special attention paid to how they interact with the rest of the mix.
Influences and Evolution
In terms of influences, Willow's album Empathogen had a significant impact on how we approached vocal harmonies for this track. The Beatles, Radiohead, and Beck also constantly inform our approach to production, and their influence can be felt in the attention to detail and the rich textures throughout the song.
Interestingly, "Behind the Scenes" marked a turning point for us in the production of our album. We were midway through working on two other tracks when we realized the production quality of this song had set a new standard. We went back to those earlier tracks and refined them, pushing ourselves to match the level we achieved here.
Personal Reflection and Band Growth
Producing this track has been an incredibly rewarding experience for us as a band. Over the two years that this song has evolved, so have we. Our sound has grown more defined, and the way we work together in the studio has become more fluid. "Behind the Scenes" feels like a culmination of everything we’ve been working towards, embodying the “song first” mentality that’s at the heart of Padded Waltz. It’s a conversation between us—between the instruments, the vocals, and the emotions we pour into each song.
As we approach the final stages of mixing and head into mastering, we’re excited about how this track turned out. It’s a reflection of who we are now, both as musicians and as people. And we can’t wait to share it with the world.
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