Get Better is out now!
Image: Andrew Briggs
Western Australia-based duo Old Mervs have dropped their debut EP, Get Better. To celebrate the release, the duo are taking us behind-the-scenes of their recording process whilst creating the EP!
“The EP explores a few things, but the main one is self reflection. The whole theme is quite varying, but we chose ‘et Better as the title because it can be interpreted in a few ways, with it having a double meaning. A big one for us is it being a step up in songwriting and production, so in a basic sense getting better, but then also mentally in a self reflection form trying to ‘get better’. Interpret it how you will but this is why we chose it as a title track.” Henry Carrington-Jones, one half of the duo, shares.
SCRATCH TRACKS
Day 1 was as exciting as they come. A new space, a new studio, a new producer (Dave 'Parko' Parkin) and the first time we had ever done ‘scratchies’ (scratch tracks- a basic skeleton demo of the song to record polished parts over the top of), something instrumental in shaping and assisting our song structuring and the production process overall.
2. DAVE LAYING DOWN GUITARS FOR HOW I MET YOUR MOTHER
After 4 days of scratchies and drum takes, this was day 1 of guitars. Spirits were high and it was cool to see the instrumental side of things take shape as we nutted out the specifics of the guitar sounds we wanted with our producer Parko.
MID-SESSION JAM
Loosening up on a tight day. Minor stress and tension was let out by jamming some Stevie Ray Vaughan with Henry on guitar, Dave on Vocals, Parko even joining in on some rhythm guitar. Was always good to freshen up with something else.
ONE OF A FEW CONFLICTS
Towards the end of a long back and forth argument about the song Back and Forth to do with an alternate melody and minor guitar change. It's fair to say the two weeks eventually got to us.
VOCAL TRACKING HOW I MET YOUR MOTHER
One of the most liberating days of the process. To see a song we’d had for almost 2 years completed with vocals in a studio was sick. Parko turned down the lights and got a mood going for everyone involved.
LAST DAY LYRICS
This was an interesting but stressful moment on our final day. The decision was made to re-write the lyrics and melodies to verse 1 and 2 in Where I Go. As pictured, Dave played with melodies/words while we mixed and matched lyrics to fit.
Get Better is out now!