Tidal Wave

Album: Torus (2012)
Charted: 12
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • The third single from UK Drum & Bass artist Sub Focus' second album became his first UK top 20 hit when it debuted at #12 on the singles chart. It was released by Mercury Records on November 4, 2012.
  • Sub Focus penned the song with South London male/female duo, Alpines. It features vocals by Catherine Pockson of the electro pop twosome, in which she compares love to a "tidal wave." Pockson's singing can also be heard on The Maccabbes' Given to The Wild track, "Unknow."
  • Sub Focus explained to MusicRadar.com how he crafted the song's punchy drum sound. "Well, I do some sidechaining, but I don't really go to town - it's largely just down to sound selection," he said.

    "Another trick I use is mix compression on all my mixes," Sub Focus added. "I'll have a compressor on the entire mix, and have the drum hits very slightly louder than they need to be. So, when you put a compressor over the whole mix it brings them in and makes them the right level. It compresses them more than everything else. A lot of the fine-tuning in my mixes is deciding how loud I put the mix into the compressor."

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

Edie Brickell

Edie BrickellSongwriter Interviews

Edie Brickell on her collaborations with Paul Simon, Steve Martin and Willie Nelson, and her 2021 album with the New Bohemians.

Hawksley Workman

Hawksley WorkmanSongwriter Interviews

One of Canada's most popular and eclectic performers, Hawksley tells stories about his oldest songs, his plentiful side projects, and the ways that he keeps his songwriting fresh.

Into The Great Wide Open: Made-up Musicians

Into The Great Wide Open: Made-up MusiciansSong Writing

Eddie (played by Johnny Depp in the video) found fame fleeting, but Chuck Berry's made-up musician fared better.

Best Band Logos

Best Band LogosSong Writing

Queen, Phish and The Stones are among our picks for the best band logos. Here are their histories and a design analysis from an expert.

Charlie Daniels

Charlie DanielsSongwriter Interviews

Charlie discusses the songs that made him a Southern Rock icon, and settles the Devil vs. Johnny argument once and for all.

Supertramp founder Roger Hodgson

Supertramp founder Roger HodgsonSongwriter Interviews

Roger tells the stories behind some of his biggest hits, including "Give a Little Bit," "Take the Long Way Home" and "The Logical Song."