RECORDING LOG:

Artist: Vic Mensa, Rivers Cuomo (Weezer)
Producer: Smoko Ono
Engineer: Nick Breton

RECAP:

I don’t know if this year could have possibly gotten off to a better start than it has so far. The past 12 days have been an amazing string of sessions! I was caught off guard when this session was booked for Vic and Weezer.. I asked, is there a new producer named Weezer or is this really Weezer with Rivers Cuomo. Very excited I had a chance to work with Rivers being a long time Weezer fan.

Rivers and his assistant were first to the studio, I let them in and got the studio prepared for our session. Vic, Smoko and Cody arrived within a few minutes and we hung out and talked to start. Vic played music he’s been working on then Smoko started to go through tracks and they selected the one we worked on today.

Rivers had a really unique way of approaching songwriting.. He had a list of song titles on a sheet of paper and used those words as his lyrics to build off of. I’ve seen a lot of writers and artists work over the years but thought that was a very smart way to work. He passed the paper to Vic and asked him to pick titles that gravitated towards him. Once vic selected some titles Rivers began to sing the lyrics along to the beat and it already sounded terrific! As he was doing that Vic started to write his first verse which was eventually recorded as one take after running through it 7 or 8 times he nailed it. Rivers went in to sing his part next, I looped the hook and he sang the various lines in different ways for me to then comp.

We pieced together the hook as Vic wrote his second verse. No doubles or adlibs on Vic’s verses so we got those parts down quick. Once we had everything recorded we started to sort through extras in Rivers recordings so we could chop in some adlibs. Eventually we landed with a great “Ooo” section and I put a filter (EQ/Distortion) along with some reverb and it laid nicely under Vic’s verse.  Rivers voice is so smooth, as soon as he started singing we all lit up.. Awesome day. Very memorable and special session for my career. Thankful to all parties involved, couldn’t have started this week on a better note !

VIC MENSA PROFILE:

Vic Mensa is a rapper, singer and producer from Chicago. Originally part of the group Kids These Days before splitting off to do a solo career as Vic Mensa. He made a major splash with his first mixtape Innanetape and went on to tour with acts like J Cole, Disclosure and most recently collaborated with Kanye West on his current single U Mad. Prior to that he was featured on Kanye West’s last release titled Wolves featuring Sia and Vic Mensa. He’s affiliated with Save Money crew from Chicago as well as Chance The Rapper and the Social Experiment.

RIVERS CUOMO PROFILE:

He’s the lead singer of Weezer.. You better know who he is already.

SMOKO ONO PROFILE:

Producer from Chicago working with a number of artists. Mostly known for working with Save Money artists in Chicago like Vic Mensa and Towkio.

GEAR:

Manley Cardioid Reference Microphone
Purple Audio Sweet 10 500 Series Rack
Great River MP500NV Pre Amp
Dangerous Music BAX EQ
Purple Audio MC77 Compressor
Manley Vari-Mu
BURL B2
Lynx Aurora 16
Dangerous D Box
Pro Tools HD3 PCIe
Pelonis Model 42s
Focal SM9s

TRUTH STUDIOS PROFILE:

Truth Studios is a boutique recording studio located in the Fairfax district of Hollywood, Los Angeles California. We are across the street from the famous CBS Television City studios and down the street from The Grove. Truth Studios started in the bedroom of owner Nick Breton’s apartment making music with local Los Angeles buzzing artists. We have since grown into a small commercial facility where the studio currently stands. Offering studio rental, recording, mixing and mastering to independent and major label clients from every corner of the globe. Our culture has developed to include several of the industries top characters. Truth Studios is affiliated with acts such as Chance The Rapper, Vic Mensa, Dom Kennedy, Asher Roth, Chuck Inglish, Freddie Gibbs, Alina Baraz, Ady Suleiman, Anatii, Joey Bada$$, Boi 1da, Macy Gray, Mr Hudson, Walk The Moon, Martin Garrix and hundreds of other musicians. This studio has become a landmark icon in Los Angeles and the music community worldwide.

SHORT DESCRIPTION:

Vic Mensa, Rivers Cuomo and Smoko Ono recording session at Truth Studios Recording Studio with Engineer Nick Breton. Vic Mena working on new album “Traffic”.