MixWithTheMasters Ben Baptie engineering and mixing 'Gorilla' by Little Simz TUTORiAL

Explore the creative process behind 'Gorilla', the triumphant 2022 single by Little Simz. In this series, Ben Baptie deconstructs his work with Simz and the British producer Inflo, uncovering their unique approach to producing and mixing hip-hop records with live instrumentation.

Ben returns to Rue Boyer Studios, where the song was produced and mixed, to examine his engineering process in detail. He unveils the original sample flip that inspired the song and shares how the group recreated it in the studio from scratch. You will learn the ins and outs of his studio workflow, including his approach to equipment selection, mic placement, editing and signal processing for a wide variety of instruments including drums, bass, strings, choir and lead vocals.

Every engineering choice is driven by the music, as Ben seeks to create a unique sonic aesthetic for the artist. To achieve this, he eschews modern production clichés in favor of more traditional tools and techniques. He leans heavily on analog equipment for tone shaping and embraces old-school mono recording techniques as a tool to enhance the musical arrangement. By adopting a more organic approach to production, Ben and Inflo inspire their collaborators to deliver more emotional performances, thus elevating the song to new heights.

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