Fraser T Smith, a seasoned English record producer, songwriter, and musician who has worked with the likes of Dave, Stormzy, and Ed Sheeran; brings a wealth of experience to the forefront in his course, 'Grime and UK Rap Songwriting.' Let's delve into some of the key insights he shares, providing invaluable lessons for music creators across genres.
1. The Power of Simplicity:
Keeping it simple is the name of the game, according to Fraser. Drawing parallels to electronic music production, where impactful remixes often hinge on a strong, straightforward foundation, Fraser emphasises the importance of identifying key elements. Whether it's a distinctive vocal, a compelling lead melody, or a resonant bassline, anchoring your track around these elements ensures a memorable and impactful song that will surely be an earworm - this is a good thing, trust me!
2. Crafting emotional resonance through chord progressions:
Fraser's approach to generating chords is centred around evocative emotions. In electronic music, understanding the emotional impact of chord progressions is crucial to writing a track that will get the crowds moving. Like in grime and UK rap, where Fraser explores minor, sadder emotions with a touch of hope, electronic producers should look to evoke specific feelings through their chord choices, creating a harmonic palette that connects with the audience. It is important to keep some core emotional themes in mind when generating your chord progressions.
3. MIDI Malleability and Sonic Exploration:
Producers in any genre can leverage the flexibility of MIDI to experiment with sounds, textures, and arrangements. The ability to hot swap sounds, explore diverse textures, and seamlessly integrate different instruments is a game changer when making decisions on the fly. Whenever possible, convert your recordings to MIDI to open up the possibilities of experimentation when producing your tracks. You can always revert back to your original recordings or re-record if you change your mind!
4. Sonic Sculpting with Effects:
Fraser’s exploration of sonic sculpting using various audio effects on the recorded acoustic guitar mirrors is a sight to behold, which gives us plenty of valuable insights to put into practice. The flexibility of using Ableton Live's real-time adjustments and experimentation allows us to never have to commit to a particular sound - a blessing and a curse. Fraser emphasises making educated decisions while being open to changes, crucial advice if you are working with a vocalist, MC or another producer.
5. Harmonies, Melodies, and Organic Richness:
The addition of harmonies, carefully crafted melodies, and the reintroduction of the acoustic guitar demonstrates Fraser's commitment to infusing organic richness. You can often explore similar avenues, incorporating live instruments, experimenting with harmonies, and meticulously refining melodies. The integration of organic elements serves as a bridge between genres and can result in a track that resonates with any audience.
Fraser T Smith's "Grime and UK Rap Songwriting" course provides a tapestry of insights that is useful for any budding, or seasoned producer out there. His core teachings of simplicity, emotional resonance, MIDI exploration, sonic sculpting, and the infusion of organic elements echo will help guide you to writing that certified hit record.
Electronic music producers and beyond can glean inspiration and knowledge from Fraser's teachings, recognising the interconnectedness of creative processes that drive musical innovation across diverse genres.