For over a year, Mr. Elio di Menza has been a part of our team of artists/mix engineers. He integrated naturally, bringing a breath of fresh bluesmanship, psychedelic rock, and much more.
When creative flows converge, unique alchemies are created, and this is how Elio was inspired to produce the new single for his band “Elius Inferno & the magic Octagram” right here at StudioGaudio: “The Magic Mountain”.
We were thrilled to see Elio and Donnie Guasto at work; the determination and sheer talent they share fascinated and inspired us. The recording was done strictly live in the studio (“presa diretta”), with the setup meticulously focused on sound design and discovery.
The drums, played by our friend Marcello DeFelice, feature a standard mic setup with the addition of a stereo ribbon mic technique, used quite creatively. A combination of small tricks applied to each instrument resulted in a truly distinctive sound. For the vocals, for example, we used a vintage 1959 Davoli microphone, and the pre-amplification was massive—passing through various analog preamps and compressors to achieve a unique and recognizable sound.
The band’s performance was incredible, perfectly capturing the dynamic shifts that the track demands. You can feel the symbiotic moment shared by the 4 musicians—a mantra that embodies the vision of this magical mountain imagined by Elio.
The mixing was also done in association with StudioGaudio, utilizing all available hardware on the ProTools platform. Elio mixed the track with extreme care, consulting with all of us before finally entrusting the mastering to our own Francesco G..
Magic Mountain paves the way for the new EP, which will be produced and created entirely in association with StudioGaudio.
Over to you Magic Mountain
