How It Was Made: HEDEGAARD, Matt Hawk, CANCUN? – TWINKLE

There’s something refreshing about artists who don’t try to sell you on complexity. HEDEGAARD and Matt Hawk are simply dialing in a sound that works, trusting their instincts, and trimming the fat. ‘TWINKLE’ doesn’t hinge on reinventing anything. It’s built with purpose, cut for big systems, and executed with just enough restraint to leave room for everything that matters. The goal is to hit you in the chest without overthinking it.

What follows is the latest iteration of our How It Was Made series is a real breakdown of how the track came together—starting with a single Splice one-shot and ending with subtle automation moves that keep the whole thing breathing. The details matter, but they’re not the point. The point is knowing what not to touch. That’s where most producers fall short. HEDEGAARD and Matt Hawk didn’t.

Splice

[MATT]: It’s actually a very simple process for this lead. It’s basically just a one-shot from Splice that’s been loaded into Logic’s built-in sampler. From there, it’s been tweaked, mixed, and adjusted to our taste. After that, it’s layered with an additional synth.

[HEDEGAARD] We’ve layered the synth with a 3 voice Juno synth that got a long release. It’s low cutted and with an automated high cut filter, that “opens up” the lead synth at times to create dynamic.

[MATT]: The core idea behind both the sound and the melody was to keep it as simple as possible. That’s why there are relatively few automations and things like that. However, there is some automation on, for example, the reverb to create tension in the buildup. For us, it’s all about simplicity. The simple and direct approach creates a sense of familiarity — and, just as importantly, leaves room for all the elements and details in the track. Less is more.

While synths (VSTs) are often a big part of our work, there can actually be something positively limiting about using a sampler. When designing sounds in something like Serum, it’s easy to over-tweak a sound, even if it was already great to begin with. In that sense, limitation can become an art form.

Fab Filter Pro-MB

[HEDEGAARD] FabFilter’s Pro-MB has become one of our go-to tools, and we use it repeatedly across our productions. It’s not only great for dynamic EQing with precision, but also, like in this case, for sidechaining within a specific frequency range.

When you’re working with dense arrangements and want the vocal to cut through clearly, this technique is essential. For instance, if you’ve got bass with strong midrange content, along with pads or other elements occupying the same space, you can duck that exact vocal range on those layers, but only when the vocal is present. That creates clarity and ensures every word is intelligible without sacrificing the energy of the track.

It’s often the key to getting a clean, powerful mix where the vocal still feels connected to the production.

Vanhalla Vintage Verb

[HEDEGAARD] We use Valhalla VintageVerb because it adds depth and emotion without muddying the mix. It has a warm, characterful sound that works especially well on vocals and synths.

In this track, we used it to give the vocals space while still keeping them upfront. The built-in modulation helps glue elements together and adds a subtle vintage vibe.

It’s easy to tweak and blends naturally into the mix, which makes it a go-to reverb for us.

Quick Fire Tips For Making Records

Tip #1: [MATT]: Less is more.

Tip #2: [MATT]: Rumble is a key element. That warehouse feel of bass reflecting on a concrete wall.

Tip #5:[HEDEGAARD] Contrast creates impact. We often keep the builds super minimal, with less stereo width, less low end and fewer elements, so when the drop hits with full spectrum, full stereo and extra volume, it feels massive. A simple trick is to automate the master output to dip slightly a few seconds before the drop, so the energy explodes when it lands. 

Tip #6: [[HEDEGAARD] We don’t follow strict genre rules when it comes to genre. We focus on what feels right in our own sound universe and aim to create something unique.