Not Exact - Say Now, See How- Mix & Master

This project involved mixing and mastering an emo punk rock track for a client who came to me looking to elevate both the impact and emotional energy of their song. From the first listen, I picked up on influences reminiscent of The Used, which immediately made this an exciting project for me to dive into.

The session was well recorded and thoughtfully prepped, with clean tracks free of noise or unwanted artifacts. Vocals received light tuning to help them sit more confidently in the mix while still retaining a natural, expressive feel. A major focus of the mix was the drums, which were MIDI-programmed, and bringing them to life was a priority. I worked to enhance punch and realism, adding energy and emotion without sacrificing authenticity.

Because the original room sounds were largely unusable, I took a creative approach using carefully selected reverbs and room samples to build a more convincing and engaging drum environment. Although the session itself was relatively small in terms of track count, I leaned heavily into detailed automation throughout the mix to give the song movement, dynamics, and a sense of progression from start to finish.

If you have an emo or punk rock track that feels close but not quite there, and you’re looking for help with mixing and mastering, feel free to reach out. I’d love to hear what you’re working on.