Sultan + Shepard have been steadily climbing to stardom for decades, sustaining a career off emotionally-driven music that meets the listener where they are, be it on the dancefloor, road trip, or library-study session. Their latest album, “Forever, Now,” emerged from a familiar feeling of being grounded in creativity, despite being in new places both sonically and physically. As Sultan + Shepard navigated these shifting environments, they discovered that sincerity in expressing their emotions led to feeling in the right place or hitting the right note.
Throughout their career, the duo experienced moments of trying to be something they weren’t or imitating others. Still, with their last album and “Forever, Now,” they embraced a return to genuine self-expression and timelessness.
We had an exclusive opportunity to sit down with the duo to pick their brains about the production moves that went into play during the creation process of “Forever, Now” in hopes of revealing in-depth, revealing the unique collaborations, inspirations, and artistic decisions that went into creating this remarkable album. Sultan + Shepard’s journey through growth, self-discovery, and the power of sincere emotion will resonate with fans and fellow musicians alike as they continue to push the boundaries of electronic music.
How S + S Make Their Drums
We always put our kicks in mono to ensure they punch through the mix. We also check the key of our kick to ensure it’s in the same key or scale as the bass. There’s nothing worse than a kick that doesn’t match the track’s other elements.
Another critical technique we employ is sidechaining. We sidechain the bass and most melodic elements to the kick, but we automate the sidechain so that it’s bypassed or side-chained less during the breakdowns. This adds dynamic interest and variation to the track.
We also often reuse the same kick drum in our productions. This helps us save time and define our signature sound. By understanding our kick’s frequencies, we can choose bass and other low-end elements that work well with it. This way, we don’t have to spend time re-learning for each track. When choosing drum samples, we try to think outside the box for percussion. While our hats are usually pretty straightforward, we love using weird-sounding percussive elements to add character to the drums.
How S + S Make Their Leads
One of our favorite tricks is to change the voice or octave of our leading hook in the breakdown and then drop it back down in the drop. It’s a simple but effective way to create the illusion that something has changed when it hasn’t.
Choosing the sound of the leading hook is also one of the essential parts of a track. We like to layer that sound to create a sense of progression throughout the song. We usually start with a clear sound and then add two or three more by the end of the track. This helps to keep the listener engaged and interested throughout the song.
Another technique we use is detuning synths to add more character to a generic sound. The danger is that the track can start sounding a little wonky if we use too many definitions, so we try to be careful with this. When done correctly, detuning synths can be an easy way to make a track sound more exciting and unique.
How S + S Arrange Their Music
Arrangements that keep the listener engaged throughout the song are so important. One technique we like to use is to have mid-sections or “b” sections in some of our tracks for 30 seconds or 1 minute. During these sections, we create new melodic riffs or chord changes that take the listener to another scene musically. Sometimes, we loop one note to create an easy way to make the listener forget about the main melody. There usually isn’t much space for a bridge in dance music, so this technique functions similarly.
Another technique to keep the listener engaged is to loop the first bar or two of a good riff and slowly reveal it as the song progresses. This technique doesn’t work for every riff, but it creates a sense of anticipation and excitement when done right. Slowly revealing the riff can build tension and create a satisfying payoff when the full riff is finally revealed.
How S + S Mixes Their Bass
Muddy mixes are the first thing we try to avoid and can often be caused by overlapping frequencies at the lower end of the spectrum. To address this issue, we have found that cutting out the bottom 200hz of every element besides the sub or bass can be helpful. This allows the sub or bass to occupy that space without competition from other elements.
By removing the unnecessary low-end frequencies from non-bass elements such as synths or percussion, we create more space in the mix and make it easier for the listener to distinguish between different elements. This technique not only helps to prevent muddiness but can also make the mix sound cleaner and more defined. It’s important to note that every mix may require different adjustments depending on the elements used and the track’s overall sound.
How S + S Gets Their Signature Sound
Starting every track with the master chain on can be an effective way to save time and get the mix sounding good from the very beginning. Using a plugin like Izotope Ozone, combining compression, EQ, and limiting in one place, we can quickly get the mix sounding close to the finished product.
One of the benefits of starting with the master chain is that we can quickly identify any issues or problems that may arise during the mixing process. This allows us to make necessary adjustments early in the production process, saving time and effort later on.
Once we have a few tracks that sound good with our master chain, we can save them and use them for future tracks. This not only saves time but also helps to create consistency in our productions. However, it’s important to note that every track is different and may require different adjustments to the master chain. As such, it’s essential to use the saved chain as a starting point and make necessary adjustments to get the best possible mix.
Will Vance is a professional music producer who has been involved in the industry for the better part of a decade and has been the managing editor at Magnetic Magazine since mid-2022. In that time period, he has published thousands of articles on music production, industry think pieces and educational articles about the music industry. Over the last decade as a professional music producer, Will Vance has also ran multiple successful and highly respected record labels in the industry, including Where The Heart Is Records as well as having launched a new label with a focus on community through Magnetic Magazine. When not running these labels or producing his own music, Vance is likely writing for other top industry sites like Waves or the Hyperbits Masterclass or working on his upcoming book on mindfulness in music production. On the rare chance he's not thinking about music production, he's probably running a game of Dungeons and Dragons with his friends which he has been the dungeon master for for many years.
