studio notes
#1.1
NGOLA - NRG!
(2025)
EBK Records
Cape Town, SA

credits:
Written by: Kuthula Magubane
Performed by: NGOLA
Produced by: Elu Eboka
Mixed by: Elu Eboka
Mastered by: Egbon Cass



CONCEPT:
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PRODUCTION:
For the sonics of the project, I wanted to keep things simple. The character of the project had to come from the contrast between typical trap 808 inspired production and the samples used in the project. I wanted the trap aspect of the project to feel...mundane. Like not special at all. Anyone could’ve done it. But that is also to allow NGOLA the space and freedom to rap however he wanted and display their lyrical prowess. So it was important to make sure that the beats were simple, except where necesssary for dramatic effect. That against the samples and switch-ups was how we created contrast. Contrast and conflict is what made the project ‘work’ in my opinion.

DAW - Ableton Live 10

1. Better Nights
Generally speaking, there’s alot of distortion in this track. With the opening track, its always important to me that the sonic character of project gets established quickly. So it opens with a sample, but quickly cuts to a distorted aggressive beat with lots of switch-ups and mis-directs. Keeping the audience on their toes like this, helps to pull them into the world we’re trying to build and NGOLA’s ability to ride out all the changes and maintain a flow that also cements this as a traditional hip hop album where the emcee is always front and centre. 

Drum Kit - Ableton Stock 808 Kit
808 Bass - Ableton Stock 808 Kit distorted w/ D16 Devastor plugin

2. Ice-Cream
Drum Kit - Ableton Stock 808 Kit + Latin Perc Kit (I think???)
808 Bass - Ableton Stock 808 distorted with Ableton Overdrive plugin
Lead Synth - Ableton Analog VST Preset (can’t remember which)

3. Pirate Juice
Drum Kit - Ableon Stock 808 Kit
Bass - Ableton Hip Hop Sub Bass
Whistle - Me :)
Break Beat - Found it on the internet somewhere??

4. Tip Large
Drums / Percussian - Native Instruments West Africa Ensemble 

5. More Energy
Drum Kit - Ableton Stock 808
Bass - Ableton Hip Hop Sub Bass
Vocal Delay Thing - Pitched down + Ableton Echo plugin



RECORDING:
We wanted the vocals to sound ugly, but expressive. We wanted it to feel like it was coming straight from the head (which alot of it was), and more akin to a live performance than a studio recording. So we used a handheld dynamic on a mic stand for all the vocals. No pop filter. Really close to the mic. 

Prodipe TT1-Lanen -> ART Pro Audio Tube MP/C -> Focusrite Liquid Pro 56



MIXING:
Standard Audio Chain - DMG Track Control -> Voxengo VariSaturator (for transient stuff) or Softube Saturation Knob (for more compressed feel) -> DMG Track Gate (Transient stuff) or Fabfilter Pro-G (delicate stuff) or MOTU Dynamic (Gate) - DMG Track Comp 2 or Voxengo Deft Compressor or Crunchessor or MOTU Dynamic (Compressor) -> DMG EQuick (Linear) or MOTU ParaEQ -> DMG Track Limiter

Buss Chain - DMG Track Gate -> Fabfilter Pro-C -> DMG EQuick (Linear) ->