An exclusive interview with Steven Chow

(Steven mixes "Distance" again, finally fixed the sync issues after the dramatic pause part, and did a pitch shift.)

NP: WHAT'S THE LATEST ON THE MIXING?

SC: i want this album to sound slightly vintage, since we are borrowing so much from the 60s (and even the 50s), anyway. so i am mixing things in mono, as george martin and brian wilson would have. yes, i am aware that the song automatically sounds a lot better when you switch to stereo, but for general mixing purposes i actually find it easier and more exciting to do it all in mono. stereo panning actually misleads you into thinking that certain tracks are at the correct eq, when in fact they would sound like mush from mono (or from far away the stereo speakers). it is also easier to line things up in mono.

NP: SO, WILL THE RELEASE BE IN STEREO OR MONO?

SC: i'm thinking about doing two editions: the mono edition for AM airplay, broken speakers and those who (on philosophical grounds) prefer mono music, and a special edition in stereo.

NP: WHAT ELSE ARE YOU DOING TO MAKE THINGS VINTAGE?

SC: we're going to have a rich, warm 60s sound! think pet sounds, sgt pepper. i love the sound of the beatles's "rain" (except the extreme stereo panning). otherwise the instruments and vocals are mixed spot-on, just the right amount of reverb and thickness. finally, i think this album is far too important to have a sparse, indie-rock, underproduced sound.

NP: OTHER CHALLENGES?

SC: i want soft strings on this album, like on the beatles "we can work it out" (are those fake strings?). i want more baroque organ and piano stuff and vocal harmonies. not really worried about the slow progress. this album will unfold itself on its own pace, and we just have to let it.