Stacking three synths up in this way gives a powerful, rich sound that’ll react well to further processing. To make our version of the lead synth, we’ll use the analogue-emulating Juno-60 from Roland Cloud and U-he Diva, then supplement them with Xfer’s Serum wavetable synth. The synths are then processed as a group using complex effects and filtering. These are the analogue Roland Juno-60 and Alesis Andromeda, alongside the digital wavetable-based Waldorf Microwave. The main synth that runs through Apricots, might sound like a complicated patch, but it’s composed of raw layers taken from three classic synths. Finally, we add some sidechain compression to the ride, triggered by the kick drum, making it move around the kick, giving the drums a splashy feel without overpowering the other elements in the track. Meanwhile, the ride cymbal on every beat in the bar is more heavily saturated for a fizzy, rounded sound. We’ll place a closed hi-hat on the offbeat, with a touch of saturation.
Later in the track, after the breakdown, there’s a hi-hat and ride that helps the arrangement evolve. Routing the layers to a bus with some Omega TWK saturation glues them together, with a splash of short but dense reverb from ValhallaRoom completing the effect. We’ve used a pitched up 909 rimshot and clap layered together to make this sound, with the amp envelopes set to give a short, tight sound. The cool, lightweight rimshot in Apricots is naturally snappy and lacking in decay, with a little reverb added afterwards for effect. We’ve taken a stock sample from our DAW, then added some saturation courtesy of Kush Audio’s Omega TWK to give the kick a more rounded, analogue sound. We’ll use some 909 sounds to make our drums, with a bit of swing for groove. Roland’s TR-909, treated with some saturation for a warm analogue sound, is a staple in most Bicep tracks, including this one.
To avoid the finished piece sounding overly cluttered, the drum track in Apricots is purposefully sparse, with a kick drum, rimshot, hi-hat and ride making up the kit. By running through how the duo use production techniques such as synth layering, MIDI triggering of effects and sampling, we can gain a deeper understanding of their sound, and how you can achieve something similar in your studio.
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