XXXTentacion’s engineer offers particulars on the late rapper’s recording course of for a few of his hottest releases.
Koen Heldens Talks Working With XXXTentacion
Koen Heldens is a Grammy-nominated, Dutch-born engineer who has labored with a number of hip-hop artists together with Kanye West, Lil Wayne, Lil Yachty, Rick Ross and others. However he holds a particular place in his coronary heart for the late XXX. Having labored with the South Florida rapper on hit songs like “Jocelyn Flores” and the diamond single “Unhappy!,” Heldens has an inside perspective on the rapper’s recording course of. Throughout a latest interview with Studio Talks, Heldens supplied some scoop on XXXTentacion’s artistry.
“Jocelyn Flores”
“Once I heard ‘Jocelyn Flores’ for the primary time, and it utterly took me without warning. I had this picture of XXXTentacion as a face-tatted SoundCloud rapper, however the uncooked emotion in ‘Jocelyn Flores’ was utterly totally different from what I anticipated. X additionally had one other observe for me to combine: ‘F**Ok Love’ that includes Trippie Redd. That’s how we began working collectively—virtually by likelihood. X had a manner of manifesting issues shortly, and it felt like destiny that I combined ‘Jocelyn Flores’ on my birthday.”
A Ghetto Christmas Carol EP
“In November 2017, we labored on A Ghetto Christmas Carol EP, which we accomplished in a single weekend. I keep in mind making an attempt to scrub up the 808s on the title observe, however X and producer Ronny J insisted, ‘No, no, no, don’t clear it up! It’s speculated to really feel like an electrical guitar for white individuals however felt by means of the bass within the trunk.’ That have taught me that typically being technically right doesn’t serve the artistic course of—music is about emotion and really feel.”
“Unhappy!”
“That session was unbelievable. I vividly keep in mind getting a FaceTime name from X proper after he completed recording it. He informed me, ‘Hey, I’ve this file—it is going to be a number-one hit.’ I liked difficult him, however he persistently proved me mistaken, which was wonderful. It was a kind of moments the place what initially appeared like an phantasm of grandeur truly turned a actuality.
He despatched me the observe and stated, ‘I want the combo again in an hour.’ Naturally, I believed, ‘An hour? That’s inconceivable.’ Nonetheless, after listening to it, I instantly felt compelled to push the snare manner out entrance—making it loud and distinguished. There was no second verse, regardless of some discussions about including one, nevertheless it didn’t want it for the reason that music didn’t observe a typical construction.
One thing else occurred accidentally: I had a delay line on the lead vocal, and for some purpose, the suggestions was virtually infinite, which I might by no means usually do. I normally maintain the delay suggestions round 10 %, so it solely delays as soon as, however this time it simply saved going. So, after the hook ended, you might hear the vocal echoing all through the open verse half. It was a cheerful accident.
Two key parts made the observe stand out: the loud snare and the just about infinite delay. For the kick drum, which sounded a bit skinny—virtually like a barrel-type kick—I re-amped it by means of an Ampeg 8×10 bass amp with the SVT bass head. I flipped the section on its return channel and high-passed it at 150 Hz. Once I blended that again in with the unique kick, it turned large.”
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Hearken to “Jocelyn Flores,” “Unhappy!” and A Ghetto Christmas Carol EP beneath.
Hearken to XXXTentacion’s “Jocelyn Flores”
Hearken to XXXTentacion’s A Ghetto Christmas Carol EP
Hearken to XXXTentacion’s “Unhappy!”
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