Working with FUC on their new EP "Desidia"
I think I've known these guys for at least 7 or 8 years, I remember those earlier days of me renting gear for live gigs from Diego Avila (drummer, composer and engineer master mind behind FUC). Many stories come down this way but that's not what we are here to talk about. FUC (Folclor Urbano Contemporáneo - Contemporary Urban Folklore) is a machine of live energy, controversy and real thought! Yes, FUC unlike many artists and bands now days, cares about delivering thoughtful messages and stories that make you think about what has happened in Colombian history in a very authentic way with a touch of sarcasm and humor. FUC also has its ramifications or brother bands, Pablo Russi (bass player and composer) is a multi-instrumentalist and historian who has been involved in many acts including CHINO and INDIO. INDIO (the born child of CHINO) is a collective of extremely talented musicians consisting of Patricio Stiglich - Music Director of Patricio Stiglich Project, Luis Ramirez - bass player and music arranger of KRAKEN and, multi-instrumentalist Andres Rojas. This is worth mentioning because INDIO takes substantial influence from FUC and its heavy and scathing urban folklore that invites you to express, understand and live life in a more realistic way. Now and after giving some insightful background about these guys, lets talk about the fun part. Mixing and mastering this EP was a very exciting time for me. FUC has a minimalistic approach when it comes down to their music style. One of the first things they asked me to do was to keep it nice and big but without making them sound "overproduced". As a mixer when you have very few tracks specially for vocals, bass and guitars, it's very easy to let your creativity take over with absolute control over each single instrument. You have a strong desire to come up with creative touch ups that "fill in blanks" or that make the production "prettier". But this time, I tried to work exclusively with what I was given on the melodic side. Without adding too much, I made sure things were big and in your face.
Unlike in many occasions when you don't get to see your client perform the songs that you are about to work on before hand, I have seen FUC perform a few times in the past and God they do have energy on stage. So, as I was mixing and mastering these tunes, I knew I needed to make sure that same energy was transmitted to their audience and anybody that would hear them for the first time with this EP. Two of the color tools that I used the most over this record were, the VCC channel and mix bus by Slate Digital and, the Ampex ATR-102 Mastering Tape Recorder by UAD Audio. Be sure to check them out if you are in the hunt for some tape simulation, get more depth out of your recordings, a serious sub-bus or master-bus compressor or a variety of transformers with beautiful tones and harmonics. These are very powerful plug-ins and two of my favorites for sure. All the recording was done down south in Bogota - Colombia at Kpsula Laboratorio de Sonido by Juan Manuel Zapata and Diego Avila Lozano and, mixed and mastered ITB (in the box) here in New York City. Stay tuned for more details about this and other projects here at #bynacor Make sure to check out this EP on Bandcamp as well as INDIO's new self-titled EP produced by Patricio Stiglich. Recorded and Edited by Juan Manuel Zapata and Diego Avila Lozano at Kpsula Laboratorio de Sonido Mixed and Mastered by Nacor Zuluaga Morelo
