Press Photos Courtesy Of Clara Infante
British producer and composer SOHN has long been known for music that balances emotional weight with meticulous production, and his latest single “Let Go” marks the start of a new chapter. Released on his freshly launched imprint, adaptpivotmove, the track sets the tone for his upcoming album Albadas (Dawn Songs), an instrumental body of work created during early morning sessions in his Garraf home studio.
“Let Go” reflects SOHN’s decision to move away from lyrics and lean into sound as a direct emotional language. The piece revolves around a manipulated vocal recording, reshaped into a melodic motif that became the foundation of the arrangement. Layers of processed audio, subtle synth textures, and atmospheric treatments create a composition that feels patient and focused while retaining the intimacy of its improvised origins.
With Albadas due on October 10, “Let Go” offers a first glimpse of an album designed less for traditional song structure and more for immersive listening. It highlights SOHN’s instinct for turning simple sketches into expansive works, using tools like Quick Sampler, Decapitator, and the API 560 EQ to transform raw ideas into something purposeful. For an artist whose career has spanned collaborations with BANKS, Kwabs, and Lana Del Rey, this release shows a clear commitment to exploration and reinvention.
Vocal as Instrument
The foundation of Let Go was a vocal I recorded, which I then chopped, manipulated, and reshaped into a melodic element. This became the backbone of the track, carrying the main theme without relying on lyrics. I wanted the vocal to feel human but abstract, something that blurred the line between voice and instrument. The treatment included heavy time-stretching, layering, and resampling until it became both familiar and unrecognizable.
Quick Sampler in Logic
Apple’s Quick Sampler in Logic was crucial for how I approached this track. I used it to slice up recordings and assign them across the keyboard, which allowed me to play new patterns out of something that had originally been linear. It gave me the freedom to improvise and experiment in real time. With Let Go, this workflow made the vocal fragments feel alive, letting me treat them like synth notes or percussive hits.
Decapitator by Soundtoys
To give the vocal and surrounding textures more character, I turned to Decapitator. It’s a saturation tool that adds warmth, grit, and presence, and it worked perfectly for keeping the processed vocal from feeling too sterile. I applied it subtly in parallel to retain clarity while still adding that analog-style edge. This gave the central motif more body and emotional weight.
API 560 EQ (UAD)
The API 560 is an EQ I use when I want precision with character. On this track, it helped me carve out space in the midrange so the vocal element could sit alongside the atmospheric layers without clashing. I leaned on it to brighten certain harmonics while cutting out mud in the low mids. The result was a more open and spacious mix that let the details breathe.
Process Takeaway
The most important aspect of Let Go was trusting in the process of transformation. By allowing the vocal to evolve into something completely new, I discovered textures and melodies I wouldn’t have written otherwise. The combination of resampling, creative use of Quick Sampler, and tasteful saturation and EQ turned a simple recording into the emotional core of the piece.
The post How It Was Made: SOHN – Let Go (adaptpivotmove – Ambient / Instrumental) appeared first on Magnetic Magazine.