Matthew Kourie

In Production: The When

matthewkourie — Wed, 05 Dec 2012 23:04:26 +0000

Now with the re-release of, theWhen(project) behind us, a more intense production schedule has been put into action to create, The When. Set to be a content packed EP with post modern and fused sounds of the best of alternative rock, dark synth pop and some influence of dub step rhythms blended with a more traditional song structure to create a new sound that is very tantalizing for the senses and heart. Fans of the original When will be jumping through time to see how the sound has evolved since it’s debut in 2000. “The When has always been a representation of whatever I am currently feeling and thinking at the time….so I use it as a therapeutic outlet along with satisfying the creative needs of a recording artist and performer”. The same themes of loss and change through struggle are there in its lyrical content, however things will get a lot more real and even more honest then they were before. The process for creating the new When is streamlined in a way that writing and recording happens very quickly so the prolific nature is not stunted out of its inspiration and momentum. Audio production platforms, Pro Tools and Nuendo are rewired to Propellerheads Reason after the initial laying down of the foundation tracks within the sequencer. Ideas and hooks are generally recorded vocally into a portable recording device than translated into the instrumentation and arrangement in the digital audio world. “Being able to do a lot with your voice, whether it’s making strange sounds, singing memorable melodies in various characterizations or beat boxing an intense rhythm, makes for a serious and unique approach to writing music. It can all be transformed later when you’re really in producer mode making things happen in the control room”. Production for the When will continue throughout the first quarter of 2013, scheduling for a summer release.

Mastering Syllable Seven’s, “Psychoacoustics”

matthewkourie — Wed, 07 Nov 2012 00:25:24 +0000

My idea of a successful completed project is, deadline met and client smiling from ear to ear. Mastering audio for clients who are across the country, is no different. Syllable Seven of Baton Rouge, Louisiana, describe themselves as Funk, Reggae, & Hip Hop with little bits of Blues, Punk and Metal that creates a solid groove. This diversity in the music also created a diverse angle to the mastering approach used for their newly released album, “Psychoacoustics”. While their needed to be an underlying continuity to the twelve song collection, there also needed to be a connection between the feel of the songs while still respecting the integrity of each tune, to let it be what it should be. While there was some absolute boosting and sweetening to take it where it was going sonically, careful handling was used between each song to maintain it’s honest presentation, while amping up the low frequencies to get that booty shaking and high frequencies to get your head boppin.Multi-Compressed and limited into a groove-tacular and power-funkified good time. Both ProTools and Nuendo platforms were used to finish the project for its November release.

Syllable Seven, “Psychoacoustics” Available now on iTunes and other digital music outlets

The When, in Demand and Remastered

matthewkourie — Tue, 06 Nov 2012 23:37:28 +0000

Sometimes we are called to restore or upgrade works that were done in the past. Recently, I have received a great deal of emails from fans to re-release an EP I put out in 2000 entitled, The When (project). Recorded with Lo-Fi analog equipment almost 20 years out of style, this alternative rock certainly has stood the test of time. While the fidelity to me personally, has not. With active 7-string riff rock and addictive and catchy vocal themes, these tunes were primed for a serious resolution boost. Working with the stereo files from the original master, the audio had to be sweetened with very little headroom to work with. After putting it through a series of choice finishing plug-ins and working on the filtering in Steinberg’s Nuendo platform, the final outcome is a bolder, clearer and certainly louder version of some intensely enjoyable music. The five song EP will be released on November 20th and will be available through iTunes, Amazon, Spotify and other digital music outlets.

the When (project), the Dept. Records

Salon Montaage gets a Spot

matthewkourie — Tue, 06 Nov 2012 23:04:06 +0000

Matthew Kourie Productions concludes its work in producing a classy and informative spot for Salon Montaage. Shot on the Canon XH-A1 by Kourie, This upbeat work features actual employees of the facility working with actors sitting in as the clientele. This was directed in a way to simply get them enjoying their time together as the camera ran picking up the most natural portions of the interactions to be cut together. This created the look and feel of a real happening business that not only is fun to be at but you’ll actually come out looking good too.

The color grading was something we knew would be simple, as we did not want to stray too much from a tangible reality in that, this is what it will look like when you are actually in the place. Some saturation and contrast was added with a blended gaussian blur to give a practical yet elegant look to the footage in post. Animated titles were added in After Effects along with some overall channel mixing of the color.

Producing The Fools of Perception’s, “The Sound of Rock and Roll”

matthewkourie — Tue, 06 Nov 2012 20:14:58 +0000

The concept was simple, create timeless rock songs like those of the 60s and 70s, starting with a singer/songwriter approach into practical studio producing, to create something classic and modern at the same time. The first time you hear the song, “Get it back again”, you will believe that you should either know the song or have heard it before through the years. It’s the same for all the songs on modern classic rock outfit’s, The Fools of Perception’s release entitled, “The Sound of Rock and Roll”. It’s that quality in a melody or sound that makes the timeless factor possible. The title of the EP is a great fit because in a world that hasn’t really seen rock n’ roll of this heart in a while, it will be a stark reminder of the glory and magic of that time and genre. In order to give the blended character of a real rock band hammering it out and clever studio producing, the foundation of the songs were recorded in three parts. Drums were tracked with an accompaniment for reference, while the rhythm guitars including bass were tracked simultaneously with the performers in the same room and recorded sources isolated. The vocals were tracked separately from that and all other over dubs followed, including lead guitars and organs. While listening to, “The Sound of Rock and Roll” a guided visual experience is conjured up by creative and scene inspiring sound design. This blurs the line between song based EP to conceptual experience. Airplanes, motorcycles, gang leaders shouting and pounding thunder elicit an extra sensory ride as they are peppered throughout The Fools debut release.

The Fools of Perception’s, “The Sound of Rock and Roll” Available now on iTunes, Amazon, Spotify and other Digital Music Outlets

Making Music for, “the Beat Keeper”

matthewkourie — Mon, 05 Nov 2012 19:20:30 +0000

“Having the role of making the music bed for the ” mock-umentary” comedy, the Beat keeper, was a right at home feel. Actor David Rispoli’s character, Danny Jammerson, is an overly confident, grand dios statement making, would be guru of his own mind and proclamations. Never the less, his words seem genuinely inspiring…So that’s the angle that was chosen to go with for the feel of the music in this lil niblet.”

Remastering Internal Bleeding’s “Heritage of Sickness”

matthewkourie — Sat, 12 May 2012 20:21:49 +0000

In the spring of 2012, Matthew Kourie Productions was approached by NY death metal icons Internal Bleeding to bring their classic demos, “Invocation of Evil” and “Perpetual Degradation” to life, by remastering them for the new age. As a long time fan of the group, audio producer and engineer Matthew Kourie, was thrilled and honored to take on this great project. He knew what it was like to experience their performances, having attended many of the group’s raucous live shows. Without question, the band thought he would be the perfect choice to take this on. As a seasoned audio engineer and an old school fan, he knew he would take the right approach to bring these classic tracks where they always deserved to go. The idea was simple, keep the original integrity of Internal Bleeding‘s trademark sound and bring out its potential from the original recordings to be as heavy as possible but with a new sense of clarity and modern day volume.

Kourie acting almost like an audio archeologist, discovered robust sonic information within the stereo tracks that were never tapped into. All the content within the frequencies made it possible to hear every instrument pronounced. Kourie, using modern day digital audio technologies, not only improved the fidelity but brought out the hidden potential buried within the layers of the raw audio. Guitars are now clearer and heavier, the bass can be heard and felt. Listening to the drums you would think you are in the studio getting punched in the gut. The vocals too have more clarity and presence. All of this together makes for a very serious experience for IB fans old and new.

“I personally feel the end result brings out the intensity you feel at their live shows. It makes you want to move. And that’s Internal Bleeding. Original New York Slam Style Death Metal. I hope other fans like myself, will enjoy “Heritage of Sickness”, as these classic tracks have finally been given their due justice. ” - Matthew Kourie