Brian Johnson—aka TLUXX—isn’t shy about what it took to finish his latest single, “Destination.” After a full year of iterations, frustration, and near-abandonment, the track came to life through an intentional mix of synth precision and emotional clarity. Featuring the vocals of Adara, “Destination” is both a production masterclass and a personal statement—a reminder that the journey shapes the song, not the other way around.
Below, TLUXX walks us through the lead synth stack, vocal processing, and emotional significance behind the track. The rest of the words are from the artist!
Hello! My name is Brian Johnson, aka TLUXX, and today, we’re diving into the production of my latest track, ‘Destination’, featuring the incredible vocalist Adara.
Serum
Let’s start with the heart of this track – my main synth, a large horn/bass sound that follows a lead pattern in B♭ minor.
For this, I used Serum, a leading wavetable synthesizer known for its high-quality sound and intuitive workflow. Likely one of the most used ones in the industry too.
The preset I used consists of two sawtooth waveforms modulated by both LFOs and envelopes.
• The two sawtooth waves are separated by two octaves, creating a wider, larger sound with enhanced stereo imaging.
I modulated two key elements in this synth:
• Macro 1 is automated to introduce a burning sensation in the sound. A mix of envelopes and LFOs is routed to the internal compressor and filter to fine-tune the tone.
• I also mapped delays and reverb macros within Serum for easier automation. Instead of navigating through complex settings, I can quickly adjust Macro 1 and Macro 2, improving my workflow.
Neve 1073
Next, let’s discuss the vocal processing chain.
The first step is a preamplifier called the Neve 1073 that adds warmth, shimmer, and presence to the vocal. I typically use a hardware version of it, but I’ve also worked with the UAD digital plugin, which comes pretty close.
Simply adding this plugin at its default settings instantly enhances the vocal, and it gives it extra shine and volume gain. Tweaking settings can tailor the sound to different microphones and vocalists, but often, the default setting is already good enough!
Empirical Labs Distressor Compressor
Next in the chain is the Empirical Labs Distressor Compressor, which is well known for its versatility and ability to add character to vocals.
Using this compressor after the preamp adds a smooth texture to the vocal. To avoid over-compression, I recommend the following settings:
• Attack/Release: I use short to medium attack and release settings.
• Compression Ratio: Typically 3:1, occasionally 6:1 if needed.
• Gain Reduction: I ensure at least 3dB of reduction, adjusting the input gain accordingly.
These settings are pretty good for achieving natural-sounding vocal compression.
FabFilter Pro Q 3
One of the final steps in the vocal chain is EQing with FabFilter Pro-Q 3.
This vocal had some harsh frequencies around 1kHz, so I used bell curves to identify and soften them. However, later in the track, that same frequency range became too quiet. To address this:
• I used the dynamic EQ feature to cut or boost frequencies based on volume levels, ensuring that frequency cuts in one section don’t affect other sections unnecessarily.
Pro Tip: Avoid excessive EQ cuts—sometimes, retaining certain frequencies maintains the mix’s natural sound. This approach prevents the mix from sounding hollow.
The Meaning Behind ‘Destination’
During the production of this track, it went through a year’s worth of changes. At one point, I became so frustrated that I dreaded working on it. However, this process taught me that it’s not just about the end goal; it’s about the journey.
When Adara asked about the track’s theme, that’s what I told her.
“The journey is the beating of your heart, not the destination” is what perfectly encapsulated the message I wanted to share.
From Adara: Destination was written at a time in my life when I was going through some big changes and desperately seeking a rebalancing. Every fiber in my being was searching for more peace and calmness and to be more present. I wanted to slow down. I realized that in being laser focused on my future goals, I have been missing out on the beautiful journey I’m on. It felt like I had lost my connection to my heart and the reason I was even working so hard to reach this future I had built up in my mind. It feels like my whole life has been spent telling myself “I’ll be happy when this happens” or “I can finally relax once I accomplish this.” That’s where the lyrics “My story goes, I was someone who didn’t know that time was liquid slipping through my hands.” I also realized I’ve let a lot of beautiful friendships fall to the wayside in pursuit of my dreams and I am so saddened by the loss of those connections. “I built a home on burning bridges.” Perhaps the most emotional lines for me in this song are “Why can’t you find me? What do you fear? Lost in your rib cage, I’m right here.” Those are words spoken from my heart reaching out to try to reconnect. I hope that this song can be a reminder to anyone who listens that “the journey is the beating of your heart, not the destination.” This very moment is what truly matters, nothing else.
Final Thoughts
“Destination” was one of the most challenging tracks in my life – primarily because I was on a journey to discover my new sound, find myself in a sea of music out there that I didn’t really connect to and try to stand out in an already very saturated market. I grew to hate it at one point, so I stepped away from it and I continued working on it on my own terms and once I was ready. You can’t push creativity and I was happy that I didn’t have the pressure of deadlines. When I got back to it, it all just came together, I guess in a way I was meant to step away from it for a bit. So now I am in a place where I absolutely love it, it sounds perfect in my books and it hits the goals I had for it. So I truly hope you guys enjoy it as much as I do and that this walkthrough taught you something new. Thank you!
The post How It Was Made: TLUXX – ‘Destination’ appeared first on Magnetic Magazine.