Music Production: The Creative Process with Malay

Oct 18, 2021 | 36,710 Views

Grammy^®-winning producer Malay, the man behind the genre-bending, atmospheric sound of chart-topping records from Lorde, Frank Ocean, Sam Smith, Zayn and John Legend, reveals his approach to the creative process behind music production, in this rare look at his workflow, start to finish.

From adlibs to basslines, Malay shares how he turns every element into a hook and how drawing inspiration from unexpected sources can help you find a one-of-a-kind sound that’s uniquely yours.

00:29 Developing small ideas into powerful themes that help bring the artist’s vision to life
02:12 Discovering, dissecting, and reconstructing melodies and vocal hooks
07:50 The lost artform of the bassline you can sing
09:18 Using drums & percussion for a surprising vibe; Referencing traditional influences in non-traditional ways
14:30 Playing with adlibs to create ear candy “effects”; Using space to create powerful vocals
22:22 Malay’s Lead Vocal Chain for raw, honest vocals that preserve the spirit of the artist’s original vision; Adding emotion-driven automation to effects for a human feel
27:00 Drawing from unexpected inspirations can help you find a new sound that hits in the same way as your inspirations without sounding like everyone else

Song used in this video: “Gemini Amor”
Performed by Yoandri
Written by Malay and Yoandri
Produced by Malay

[{"nodeGUID":"9f60641c-d2ee-4b60-bf96-62a837e31bfe","nodeID":267,"documentName":"Renaissance Vox","documentID":267,"documentUrlPath":"/plugins/renaissance-vox","thumb":"https://media.wavescdn.com/images/products/plugins/600/renaissance-vox.png","msrp":129.000000000,"skuPrice":29.990000000,"discount":77,"mainOrder":10006,"includedInSBS":0,"skuid":196,"skuName":"","skuParentSKUID":0,"skuEnabled":true,"skuNumber":"V5-RVT40","note":"","documentPageDescription":"The first-choice vocal compressor for top engineers worldwide. With its approachable interface of just 3 controls for gating, compression and output gain, R-Vox is the quickest route to a legendary vocal sound. ","tagline":"Classic compressor/limiter optimized for vocals ","departmentID":2,"gsfCategory":"Vocals","fixedPosition":false,"expectedShipping":"","productID":0,"upgrades":false,"demoType":0,"isInventory":false,"manualPDF":"","sbsIncludedIn":2,"addToCartStatus":0,"isWishlist":true,"soldMsg":"1k\u002B bought in past month","couponCode":"","couponCampaignID":0,"couponPrice":0.00,"couponStripeHTML":"","numberOfLessons":0,"courseDurationHours":0.00,"numberOfPlugins":0,"upgradeTargetID":0,"parentSKUNumber":"","categoryDisplayName":"","isProductOptions":false,"variantsMinimalPrice":0.000000000,"isVariantsPriceSame":false,"isPreorder":false,"optionOrder":0,"optionName":"","reviewsTotal":595,"rating":4.82521,"saleEndDate":"0001-01-01T00:00:00","badgeClass":"","badgeText":""},{"nodeGUID":"b12f106f-f60c-48e9-b249-2e42bc1cc6f2","nodeID":187,"documentName":"Abbey Road J37 Tape","documentID":187,"documentUrlPath":"/plugins/j37-tape","thumb":"https://media.wavescdn.com/images/products/plugins/600/j37-tape.png","msrp":149.000000000,"skuPrice":29.990000000,"discount":80,"mainOrder":10009,"includedInSBS":0,"skuid":458,"skuName":"","skuParentSKUID":0,"skuEnabled":true,"skuNumber":"J37SG","note":"","documentPageDescription":"The Waves: Abbey Road J37 tape saturation plugin, modeled on the machine used to record many of the greatest masterpieces in modern music, brings analog warmth to digital recordings.","tagline":"Valve Analog Tape Sound from Abbey Road Studios","departmentID":2,"gsfCategory":"Modeling","fixedPosition":false,"expectedShipping":"","productID":0,"upgrades":false,"demoType":0,"isInventory":false,"manualPDF":"","sbsIncludedIn":1,"addToCartStatus":0,"isWishlist":true,"soldMsg":"400\u002B bought in past month","couponCode":"","couponCampaignID":0,"couponPrice":0.00,"couponStripeHTML":"","numberOfLessons":0,"courseDurationHours":0.00,"numberOfPlugins":0,"upgradeTargetID":0,"parentSKUNumber":"","categoryDisplayName":"","isProductOptions":false,"variantsMinimalPrice":0.000000000,"isVariantsPriceSame":false,"isPreorder":false,"optionOrder":0,"optionName":"","reviewsTotal":963,"rating":4.796469,"saleEndDate":"0001-01-01T00:00:00","badgeClass":"","badgeText":""},{"nodeGUID":"9f64489c-1189-498b-9467-e15f17ac130a","nodeID":253,"documentName":"PuigChild Compressor","documentID":253,"documentUrlPath":"/plugins/puigchild-compressor","thumb":"https://media.wavescdn.com/images/products/plugins/600/puigchild-compressor.png","msrp":149.000000000,"skuPrice":27.990000000,"discount":81,"mainOrder":10058,"includedInSBS":0,"skuid":175,"skuName":"","skuParentSKUID":0,"skuEnabled":true,"skuNumber":"JJPCTDM","note":"","documentPageDescription":"Modeled on the legendary Fairchild compressor, the PuigChild 660/670 includes the PuigChild 660 mono Fairchild plugin and PuigChild 670 stereo Fairchild plugin. ","tagline":"The Ultimate Tube Compressor/Limiter ","departmentID":2,"gsfCategory":"Modeling","fixedPosition":false,"expectedShipping":"","productID":0,"upgrades":false,"demoType":0,"isInventory":false,"manualPDF":"","sbsIncludedIn":1,"addToCartStatus":0,"isWishlist":true,"soldMsg":"100\u002B bought in past month","couponCode":"","couponCampaignID":0,"couponPrice":0.00,"couponStripeHTML":"","numberOfLessons":0,"courseDurationHours":0.00,"numberOfPlugins":0,"upgradeTargetID":0,"parentSKUNumber":"","categoryDisplayName":"","isProductOptions":false,"variantsMinimalPrice":0.000000000,"isVariantsPriceSame":false,"isPreorder":false,"optionOrder":0,"optionName":"","reviewsTotal":486,"rating":4.851852,"saleEndDate":"0001-01-01T00:00:00","badgeClass":"","badgeText":""},{"nodeGUID":"c790ace8-b7f7-455c-88e5-6473f0860eec","nodeID":217,"documentName":"Manny Marroquin Triple D","documentID":217,"documentUrlPath":"/plugins/manny-marroquin-triple-d","thumb":"https://media.wavescdn.com/images/products/plugins/600/manny-marroquin-triple-d.png","msrp":99.000000000,"skuPrice":29.990000000,"discount":70,"mainOrder":10065,"includedInSBS":0,"skuid":494,"skuName":"","skuParentSKUID":0,"skuEnabled":true,"skuNumber":"MMDE3SG","note":"","documentPageDescription":"The Manny Marroquin Triple D plugin: DeBoxy to remove \u2018boxy\u2019sound from the low mids, DeHarsher to eliminate harshness in the mids/high mids and DeEsser for high \u2018sss\u2019 and \u2018shh\u2019 sounds.","tagline":"Minimize boxy, sibilant, and harsh vocal sounds","departmentID":2,"gsfCategory":"Signature Series","fixedPosition":false,"expectedShipping":"","productID":0,"upgrades":false,"demoType":0,"isInventory":false,"manualPDF":"","sbsIncludedIn":2,"addToCartStatus":0,"isWishlist":true,"soldMsg":"","couponCode":"","couponCampaignID":0,"couponPrice":0.00,"couponStripeHTML":"","numberOfLessons":0,"courseDurationHours":0.00,"numberOfPlugins":0,"upgradeTargetID":0,"parentSKUNumber":"","categoryDisplayName":"","isProductOptions":false,"variantsMinimalPrice":0.000000000,"isVariantsPriceSame":false,"isPreorder":false,"optionOrder":0,"optionName":"","reviewsTotal":151,"rating":4.5960264,"saleEndDate":"0001-01-01T00:00:00","badgeClass":"","badgeText":""},{"nodeGUID":"3887064b-6daf-4a42-bd7e-d8083371960e","nodeID":114,"documentName":"C4 Multiband Compressor","documentID":114,"documentUrlPath":"/plugins/c4-multiband-compressor","thumb":"https://media.wavescdn.com/images/products/plugins/600/c4-multiband-compressor.png","msrp":99.000000000,"skuPrice":39.990000000,"discount":60,"mainOrder":10073,"includedInSBS":0,"skuid":79,"skuName":"","skuParentSKUID":0,"skuEnabled":true,"skuNumber":"V5-C4D40","note":"","documentPageDescription":"A uniquely powerful dynamics processor, C4 Multiband Compressor plugin features 4 bands of up and down expansion, limiting, and compression plus dynamic EQ and standard EQ.","tagline":"4-band multiband dynamics and equalization","departmentID":2,"gsfCategory":"Compressors","fixedPosition":false,"expectedShipping":"","productID":0,"upgrades":false,"demoType":0,"isInventory":false,"manualPDF":"","sbsIncludedIn":2,"addToCartStatus":0,"isWishlist":true,"soldMsg":"100\u002B bought in past month","couponCode":"","couponCampaignID":0,"couponPrice":0.00,"couponStripeHTML":"","numberOfLessons":0,"courseDurationHours":0.00,"numberOfPlugins":0,"upgradeTargetID":0,"parentSKUNumber":"","categoryDisplayName":"","isProductOptions":false,"variantsMinimalPrice":0.000000000,"isVariantsPriceSame":false,"isPreorder":false,"optionOrder":0,"optionName":"","reviewsTotal":267,"rating":4.8314605,"saleEndDate":"0001-01-01T00:00:00","badgeClass":"","badgeText":""},{"nodeGUID":"06ce8989-9657-40ac-b95a-379c8aed38ed","nodeID":214,"documentName":"Manny Marroquin EQ","documentID":214,"documentUrlPath":"/plugins/manny-marroquin-eq","thumb":"https://media.wavescdn.com/images/products/plugins/600/manny-marroquin-eq.png","msrp":99.000000000,"skuPrice":19.990000000,"discount":80,"mainOrder":10132,"includedInSBS":0,"skuid":491,"skuName":"","skuParentSKUID":0,"skuEnabled":true,"skuNumber":"MMEQSG","note":"","documentPageDescription":"The Manny Marroquin EQ plugin captures the best of the SSL 9080 XL K, Quad 8, Motown, Neve 1073, API 550B and Avalon 2055 and puts them all together in one plugin.","tagline":"6-band EQ with vintage models and modern workflow","departmentID":2,"gsfCategory":"Signature Series","fixedPosition":false,"expectedShipping":"","productID":0,"upgrades":false,"demoType":0,"isInventory":false,"manualPDF":"","sbsIncludedIn":1,"addToCartStatus":0,"isWishlist":true,"soldMsg":"","couponCode":"","couponCampaignID":0,"couponPrice":0.00,"couponStripeHTML":"","numberOfLessons":0,"courseDurationHours":0.00,"numberOfPlugins":0,"upgradeTargetID":0,"parentSKUNumber":"","categoryDisplayName":"","isProductOptions":false,"variantsMinimalPrice":0.000000000,"isVariantsPriceSame":false,"isPreorder":false,"optionOrder":0,"optionName":"","reviewsTotal":114,"rating":4.736842,"saleEndDate":"0001-01-01T00:00:00","badgeClass":"","badgeText":""}]

Loading....

More Mixing & Production Tips