Expanding the studio tracks

Enhancing Our Live Show

So, things that we added to the show:

• Space in Arrangements: There was a lot of space in the arrangements to do great things with the drums. Grooves are really important in our band, and there were huge sections where the drummer and percussionist could do some amazing tight playing together, building and building. Often, they'd play in sync. This didn't always happen on our records.

• Drum and Percussion Flourishes: We incorporated various elements and flourishes from the drums, including:

  • Drum solos
  • Powerful percussion solos

  These aspects create excitement and engagement in the live arena.

Joining Forces with Guitarists

• Guitar Contributions: We also had guitarists, which wasn't really present on the first album. The guitarists wrote their own parts, embellishing:

  • Some riffs
  • Underlying pads

• Song Transformations: Sometimes we changed songs to become acoustic that had been electronic. Having an amazing guitarist helped in transforming the nature of some songs as we went along on tours.

Diverse Vocals

• Vocal Variety: We featured different singers for different songs. It was essential that our vocalists could:

  • Run live vocals and in-studio tracks, often multi-tracked.
  • Harmonize well and be confident enough to perform as featured artists at the front of the stage.

• Notable Collaborations: On our first album, Dido was one of the featured singers. She joined us on tour before she became one of the biggest solo artists in the world. After she left, we had to choose our singers very carefully to see how they fit into the context of the band.

Adapting for Live Perfomances

• Live Adjustments: I often played pads live to soften tracks for the live arena. Many sounds on the record needed to be toned down due to the reverb of the space, as there are certain textures and delays that we simply took out of the music. This approach allowed for a more controlled sound mix.

• Mix Engineer's Role: Our front-of-house engineer was responsible for managing a significant amount of sound:

  • 56 inputs to control
  • Various instruments including percussion, drums, pads, electronics, keyboards, bass, and multiple vocalists.

  Isolating sound and properly positioning the mics was crucial to avoid clutter, allowing us to think critically about what to include in the live show.

Sound Quality Considerations

• High-Quality Stems: We used high-quality stems, possibly passing through an Apogee to ensure clarity. Pre-recorded audio sounded crystalline, giving our mix engineer more control.

• In-Ear Monitoring: After touring around the world approximately 50 times, half the band switched to in-ears due to the loud stage sound. This transition significantly improved our sound levels for the audience.

  • Personal Preferences: Maxie and I preferred not to use in-ears. I remember a show where he got so frustrated that he threw his in-ears into the audience and continued playing acoustically. I liked having my own monitors as the sound immersion was something I couldn't achieve with in-ears.

Individual Considerations

• Fitted In-Ears: Our band was fitted with custom in-ear monitors, which are molded to the exact shape of the ear. This personalization took time to get used to, but it enhances sound accuracy for musicians and allows for tailored mixes.

• Complex Sound Management: Our music was complex with various elements:

  • Rhythms
  • In-and-out vocals
  • Keyboards
  • Pads
  • Riffs

  Everyone needed clarity to avoid getting lost in the sound. Maintaining clear grooves and beats was crucial for our live performances.