What is the Wall?

Crafting a captivating chorus.

There is a wall about songwriting when you can’t write anymore. That’s not what I’m talking about here. I’m talking about the wall that allows you to hit your listeners with: a wall of voices, that ultimately lets you captivate the main part of your song - mostly your chorus. Here’s how I discovered this.

I have a co-writer in Nashville, a friend who has written not only many, many hit songs but also possesses remarkable producer skills and wears the hat of “super producer.” Our creative journey together has been nothing short of extraordinary.

I vividly recall a particular day when I arrived at Barry’s studio to collaborate. As I entered, I found him meticulously putting the finishing touches on a demo track. With genuine warmth, he shared his vision for this track, which unquestionably sounded more magnificent than the final version released by the artist in the end. The secret to its breathtaking quality? It all boiled down to one thing: The Wall.

This was a brilliant way to leave a lasting impact on the listeners from any chorus in his songs. Ultimately, crafting a captivating chorus to your demo is one of the key things to make it sound as good as it can.

Crafting a Captivating Chorus

How to Produce a Wall of Voices

So, how do you craft a chorus with a wall of voices? This is something that can be done in any DAW. Given my favorite is Logic Pro right now, here’s how I’d suggest you use this technique:

1. Track Stacking and Harmonies

Start by recording multiple vocal takes of the same part, each with a slightly different pitch or tone, to create a super-dense chorus. I’m not talking a couple of voices, I mean 5-10 takes all sounding great together. In Logic Pro, you can use the Track Stacks feature to group these vocal tracks together. Experiment with harmonies, and don't hesitate to try different intervals to find the perfect blend of voices.

2. Panning and Effects

Utilize panning and effects to create depth in your wall of voices. Pan each vocal track slightly to the left or right to give the illusion of a wider soundscape. Experiment with reverb and delay to add a sense of space and dimension to these voices.

3. Layering and Dynamics

To create a compelling wall of voices, experiment with layering techniques to vary the intensity and volume of different vocal tracks throughout the chorus to build dynamics. This dynamic movement can add emotion and intrigue to your song.

“The Wall” technique is a powerful tool in songwriting, capable of evoking deep emotions and resonating with your audience. By using Logic Pro to stack tracks, apply panning and effects, and experiment with layering and dynamics, you can master this technique and elevate your choruses to new heights.

To see how this is done using ProTools, which is what my chum Barry uses, see this done by Devin Townsend, who does all of these three techniques brilliantly, too. (YouTube)

Questions

Here are some questions you could ask yourself –

1. What emotions and messages do you want to convey in your chorus, and how can a wall of voices amplify these sentiments?

2. How can you create vocal harmonies that complement the lead vocals while building a cohesive and harmonious wall of sound?

3. What storytelling elements can you incorporate into your song to engage your listeners and make the most of your wall of voices?

Hope this helps!

Simon.

www.simonhawkins.com