First Week of Studio One

This week I started a new trimester at SAE Institute in which I was enrolled in Studio 1, a new class which I had not yet experienced in the ‘Bachelor of Audio’ course.

Though the first lessons were a lot of information to take in, I quickly learnt the concepts of how the Studio 1 module works. Basically, instead of the traditional assessment method that has been done in my previous modules, Studio 1 takes on a project based learning (PBL) method of assessing work. More specifically, each student is given a list of Learning outcomes (LO’s) that need to be completed by the end of the trimester.

(Miami Dade College, 2018)

We received the brief for our first major project, where I started to come up with ideas of what I wanted to do. Since starting the bachelor course, I have been wanting to learn more about the production of pop music. More specifically, how composition and backing tracks with electronic elements are used to collaborate with an singer / songwriter. I formed a group with Benjamin Blakeley and Carissa Macfarlane, two other audio students who I have worked with before successfully, and they agreed to the idea of creating a pop track with a local Brisbane artist. I have been practicing pop production extensively this year on Ableton Live, so for me it’s exciting to not only bring some of my concepts and techniques to life with a singer / songwriter, but also to collaborate with 2 others, and explore other sides of the creative process.

We started constructing our project planning document and decided we would tick off an additional LO by contacting a graphic design student, who agreed to work on the project designing the cover art.

We have decided we wanted to create a pop track based off of a demo of somebody who can already write songs. After searching around for an artist, I decided to contact a busker I saw performing on the street a couple of months ago, pitched the idea through an email, and he was happy to work with us. Judging by his videos online he also has experience with recording as he does basic mixes of his songs with multiple microphones set up. I requested a demo from him and have discussed this with the group and this will be our project.

We are about to start making the backing track of our production! We will then be taking it to the studio to record the acoustic elements

The reference tracks we have chosen (which we are using for inspiration) is 'Mama' by Jonas Blue, and 'Hey' By Fais feat. Afrojack

You can listen to them here:

Miami Dade College. (2018). Project/Problem Based Learning (PBL) Educator's Resource: Project Based Learning Resources [Image]. Retrieved from https://libraryguides.mdc.edu/pbl