This track started with the chorus and I built the rest of it around that hook. I also wanted to create a very light, open verse with the plucked guitar/synth combo, and also give it a sense of adventure with the melody and overall feel. Visit https://palasound.studio/ for more info or to join the conversation. Enjoy!

I wanted to make a really hard hitting indie pop track with a big chorus, so I wrote this track called “Just Talk”. It’s also my first track completely in Ableton Live - had a lot of fun producing and writing this track. This song reminds me of feeling youthful and running around the city with someone new, it captures a very energetic emotion while still being very sweet in the verses. I also really like that it weaves together a much more complicated story through imagery in the verses. Visit https://palasound.studio/ for more info or to join the conversation. Enjoy!

This track was inspired by a combination of throwback samples and a Moog synth patch I created and started sampling. The track came together pretty quickly and I focused on creating a tight groove in the chorus with the kick / bass line. I also used one of my favorite Motown progressions leading into the chorus to lift up the track. Visit https://palasound.studio/ for more info or to join the conversation. Enjoy!

“Extraordinary” is a bit of a cross between a ballad and a pop tune - it was inspired by the mallet type instrument that kicks off the track, and eventually turned into a subdued groove with the vocal sample in the chorus. Lyrically, it has concise and poetic lines that tell a story of heartbreak. Visit https://palasound.studio/ for more info or to join the conversation. Enjoy!

This song is centered around a sample from Splice of a Brazilian acoustic guitar riff. When I first heard the sample, I heard the rest of the arrangement in my head almost immediately. First I added the trap / hip-hop style drums, and the rest of the arrangement pretty much fit into place from there. I really like the chopped vocal tone I achieved on this using Native Instruments Replika XT in Diffusion mode along with Antares Auto-Tune. Visit https://palasound.studio/ for more info and to join the conversation. Enjoy!

This track was a fun one to produce - I wanted to create something with a bit more of a “rock” edge to it. The distorted vocal hook and the heavy saw synths give it a really aggressive feel, but the half-time beat keeps it laid back enough so that it isn’t too “in your face”. Visit https://palasound.studio/ for more info and to join the conversation. Enjoy!

Lift Off was inspired by feeling like I wanted to get lost somewhere out in the desert - it’s a fun adventurous song that has a tint of escapism built in to the lyrics and sky-like synths. Also, a vibraslap. Visit https://palasound.studio/ for more info and to join the conversation. Enjoy!

This week is “Nobody Else” - the first track I made with a sample from Splice.com! It was a lot of fun and I was instantly inspired by the vocal sample I pulled. This one came pretty easily in terms of filling out the production, I drew some elements from a few Timbaland productions I really enjoy. Visit https://palasound.studio/ for more info and to join the conversation. Enjoy!

Stay Over is a really sweet, early-in-the-relationship type of love song. It has an innocent feel and sound to it, and the lyrics portray a lot of passion but, at the same time, need to take it slow. My favorite part of this track is the flute lead synth I used for the main hook melody in the chorus. Visit https://palasound.studio/ for more info and to join the conversation. Enjoy!

This week is a new one with a sample from Splice.com for the main vocal hook. I really like the story and the lyrics of this one, “but I’m not broken when I’m here with you” is a really powerful thing to say to someone, and I wanted to frame a song around that idea. Visit https://palasound.studio/ for more info and to join the conversation. Enjoy!