Multi-talented Swedish producer/musician, Dan Swanö, provides an update on his upcoming SECOND SKY project (released via The End Records):
“The work on my most precious project SECOND SKY is coming along just fine. The drums have been finished since quite some time, but I decided to cut one track and add two new ones to the record to add a bit more variety to the album, so Peter Damin had to step into the studio one more time to nail these new songs, and as usual, he nailed the songs in about 20 minutes each!
“Most of the lyrics will have to be rewritten because of my divorce, but life goes on and I have already finished some of the new lyrics. The songs ready for the vocal work are “Hammer On My Heart,” “Right The First Time,” “The Sacred Room,” “The Way” and “Always Tomorrow.” All the rhythm guitars that I should play have been recorded, the stuff left for session guys is still to be nailed. I have also recorded all the grand piano and keyboard stuff. The production of the album is top notch and I am very proud of the basic sounds I have created this far. So the next few months will be spent recording the vocals and the bass. After that the album will undergo the most demanding mix of my career – but it will be worth every second. Prepare to be blown away!"
In other Swanö news, he plans to reopen his legendary Unisound Recordings studio.
Comments Swanö: “‘THE LEGEND IS BACK!’ I always wanted to write that! I have decided to re-open the gates to Unisound Recordings, where I recorded bands like OPETH, KATATONIA, MARDUK, DISSECTION, MILLENCOLIN, EDGE OF SANITY and many, many more.
“This time things will be a little different though. I am not planning to build a big studio with tons of expensive gear. My primary goal will be to mix stuff: albums, songs, the sound for a DVD release etc. I will also do remixes and such.
“Over the last year or so I have mixed albums after work and the clients have been pleased with the results and I’m beginning to wonder if I should do this full-time again? So, before I quit my day job, I just wanted to see if anyone is still interested to work with me? Let me know at: dan@swano.com
“For reference, you can contact the guys from NOVEMBERS DOOM, EDENS FALL, THIS HAVEN or THE PROJECT HATE. I have also done remixes for PAIN and, of course, my own stuff like the yet-to-be-officially-released Nightfall Overture album with NIGHTINGALE and I am also working with my magnum opus SECOND SKY.
“So how do I work?
“The albums from NOVEMBERS DOOM and EDENS FALL were recorded in America. The files were sent to me on DVDs, along with a rough-mix and a reference CD (a CD from another artist you wish to have a similar sound to). I then mix a track and upload as high-res MP3 to my server. You download and listen in your own hi-fi’s, cars, etc. and all members join up and make of list of changes. We discuss overall changes like, ‘The bass is too loud’ or ‘The vocals needs to cut through more’ and other specific changes. The changes are suggested on a timeline like 01:22 ‘Toms too loud’ or 02:32 ‘Acoustic guitars lower,’ etc. After a few rounds, the album is mixed and perfect! I have 100% total recall of all the gear in my mix-suite, so it’s only the details you wish to change that change. The rest of the mix remains exactly the same. No matter how cool the studio monitors sound, we all want to hear what it sounds like in our own stereos before we get the feeling that it’s ready.
He adds, “Just imagine being able to listen to the mix in your own stereos and be able to change the details – and have them corrected within hours! And once you cannot find any strange levels or other problems with the mix, that’s when the album is ready. No more annoying surprises when it’s too late.”
“I will be available from October and onwards.”