Today, I decided to tackle a cover of “For Absent Friends” in the “big room” style. I’ve always loved the original, and the thought of giving it a high-energy twist really appealed to me.
Getting Started
First, I listened to the original song a few times, just to really get the feel in my bones. Then, I started messing around with my DAW, trying to find a good tempo. I ended up bumping it up a bit, you know, to give it that dance floor energy.
Building the Track
- I laid down a basic 4/4 beat, nothing fancy, just a solid kick and snare.
- Next, I worked on the bassline. I wanted something driving and melodic, so I spent a good chunk of time tweaking the synth sound and the rhythm until it felt right.
- Then came the fun part – the chords. I kept the original progression, but I experimented with different synth patches and effects to give it that “big room” feel. Lots of reverb and delay, naturally.
Adding the Vocals (or Lack Thereof)
This is where I hit a bit of a snag. I’m not a singer. At all. So, I decided to go instrumental with this one. Instead of vocals, I focused on creating a lead melody that would carry the emotional weight of the song. I used a soaring synth sound, and I think it worked out pretty well.
Mixing and Mastering
This part always takes me the longest. I fiddled with the EQ and compression on each track, trying to get everything to sit nicely together. It’s a constant back-and-forth, making tiny adjustments until it sounds (somewhat) professional. I’m still learning the ropes with mastering, but I did my best to give it some extra punch and loudness.
The Final Result
It’s definitely not perfect, but I’m pretty happy with how it turned out. I gave a nice shot, and learn a lot. I had fun, and I think I captured the spirit of the original while giving it my own spin.
