Laura Hickli - Float Away (Altair Remix)

[Altair]

https://soundcloud.com/altairsjh%2Flaura-hickli-float-away-altair

I've had this remix idea for a number of years now, and finally brought it to light. Wanted to make it into something that respected the original's ethereal vibe but with a fast-paced beat - I don't really hear 140 bpm progressive trance like this anymore. The original is by a lovely, severely-underrated folk/rock singer and songwriter here in Calgary, who writes unbelievably emotionally compelling music, and even did so after experiencing the trauma of nearly dying in a car accident two years ago during a tour. But she is also a wonderful human being I am lucky to call my friend.

Original track: laurahickli.bandcamp.com/track/float-away. I extracted the vocals using this AI tool and built everything up from there.


Here's a picture of the Ableton file right before I did the mixdown too:

 

[Altair]

@Jetflag @Archon @LostLegend @tranceking26

 

[Archon]

For me, the beats and vocals/melodies are in great contrast. You make it work, but at times it does sound a bit disjointed, especially when they are playing all at once. So I would either adjust the beats, or the rest of the track. If I would want to keep the beats, I would perhaps try to make the guitars and vocals a bit more washed, used more creatively. If I wanted to keep the guitars and vocals, Junkie XL in and around 2004 is a great example. If you want to keep it all, I would work on the arrangement.

I also am missing some high points in the track, some interesting sections, some sense of development and progression.

Overall, it's absolutely fine if this is what you wanted and stand by your stylistic choices. It's just not something that I would listen to, and that's ok.

Here's a picture of the Ableton file right before I did the mixdown too:

I do miss these looks though. I miss producing. Enjoy it as much as you can!

 

[LostLegend]

Positive stuff:

I love remixing non-trance tracks myself and turning them into trance/prog tunes. The trance scene can be kind of insular, so it's rare to see that combination of genre styles unless you go out and make it yourself. Some of my favorite vocal trance tracks have that non-conventional vocal rather than the usual "belt out every note-trance diva" thing going on (eg. Human Movement - Love Has Come Again, Tilt/Maria Naylor - Angry Skies) and you've picked a really beautiful track with a nice vocal to remix. I took a listen to the original and it's really haunting!

The production is pretty good. The sub bass does feel a little bit overwhelming to me, but that's easily fixed.
I love your use of shimmer/reverb on the guitar, it creates a nice ambience/pad and fills up the space without being over bearing.
The mix over all sounds pretty clean to my ears.

Some critique:

The percussion sounds a bit off to me. It sounds like something in there has different swing/groove to the rest. The shaker/tamb that's there from the start sounds like it's tripping up over the other percussive elements a bit. Having swing/groove can be difficult to manage once you get north of 135bpm as any elements like this will stand out more. So worth checking on that to make sure you have that continuity in your track.

The arrangement needs some work. You've got this vocal with some really distinct parts, yet I feel the arrangement behind it isn't dynamic enough.
You have this little break at 2:45 before the percussion steps up, but then nothing really changes in terms of the pacing of the track until the next breakdown at 6:20. The track needs more ebb and flow in this part to match the changes in the vocal. Some more subtle build-ups, releases & transitions would really set everything off. Especially if you are hitting the 10 minute mark, you need your track to modulate a bit more.

The breakdown at 6:20 is gorgeous, but I feel that you could have used those pads a bit more in the track, bringing them in gradually a minute or so earlier would not only fill the track a bit during that earlier vocal section, but also give you that build of tension that you can pay off with the breakdown itself.


Just as an additional example, you're probably already familiar with this tune, but just listen to how it subtly ebbs and flows throughout the track. The kick/bass & perc sections are pretty simple, but listen to how the elements are introduced/removed at points when the vocal changes and how the whole track seems to build very gradually with different elements being introduced in each section.

Hope this helps!

 

[Magdelayna]

My very first thought is its too fast?? A slower tempo and this would much nicer imo - youve got some lovely dreamy sounds in there with her vocals....the speed doesnt match for me though