After reaching out to Diving Bell through Luc at Next Door Records, we started making plans for the recording of their debut album. Chasing the Rabbit was decided upon as the lead single.

Nailing the relentless rhythm section, which drives this track, was tough, taking a fair few takes, and some overdubs from Joe for the bass. The intricate and fast-paced riffs from Isaac and Nathan’s guitars took some serious focus too, with a number of tweaks to get the amps and recordings sounding right. I used the recordings from the KM184 in order to get the grit and presence of Isaac’s Mesa amp, combined with the Royer R121, to make sure we weren’t losing the weight and power behind it.

Making sure the drums maintained their energy was also vital to the feel of the song, with the kick staying consistent and propelling, while the snare and cymbals frantically bounce around it. Mixing required careful balancing of the multitude of mics we used, along with judicious use of parallel compression and saturation. Using the SSL channel for more standard EQ and dynamics also really helped the mix stay clean and powerful.

Working with the band was great fun, and we knew each other’s setups and routines well by the end of our sessions. It was a refreshing change to have the artist be so involved and informed on the processes involved with recording and production. After sound engineering for their successful release gig for this single, I’m looking forward to working with them in their future endeavours.