Process
The part nobody puts on the sleeve
Colors tell a story. It's why Luke has spent years imagining which sound goes with which color, and why every project starts by choosing one.
How a record happens
01
The color
Each project begins with a color. The color has to follow in harmony from the one before it. Some colors prove more challenging than others and are reserved for future years.
02
The work
Being curious means brainstorming songs and ideas for months or even years until they start to sound right. Sometimes that means hundreds of songs that never come out. Luke gets feedback from other artists and builds a playlist of songs that match the sound of the record.
03
The mixing
Luke has long worked with Craig Bauer, a legendary mix engineer. Craig's unconventional approach to mixing is what drew Luke in. Decisions in Luke's mixes are made with intention rather than pure instinct. Big problems are fixed as the signal is recorded, saving clinical computer work later on. It takes longer, costs more, but it means fewer adjustments and a complete sound.
04
The jacket
In the final rush before the deadline, the jacket gets ordered. It gets signed and has to be out of production so it's one-of-one. Once every song on the record is finalized, it starts streaming within two weeks.
Per record