At the helm is Sam Pura (The Panda Studios), whose credits include State Champs, Basement, and The Story So Far’s earlier landmark albums. Known for pushing aggressive guitar-driven genres into polished, impactful mixes without compromising edge or emotion, Pura takes a more refined and textural approach with “Lightyear.” This is an opportunity to see how a punk-rooted band leans into subtlety without sounding soft.

Mixing “Lightyear” is a deep dive into spacious, melodic arrangements, where every reverb tail, transient shape, and parallel bus ride matters. You’ll confront tight drum alignment that still breathes, tastefully filtered clean guitars that support the vocal story without clashing, and wide stereo elements that push the sides without feeling unnatural. Vocal production is particularly key in this session — precise pitch work, warm saturation layers, and micro-level automation all contribute to the emotional lift. Pura’s choices around dynamic range management, saturation staging, and clarity throughout the midrange are masterclasses in balance.

Download the multitracks for “Lightyear” and challenge yourself to reproduce or reinvent this deceptively complex mix. Ideal for producers looking to improve their vocal layering, mix depth, and control over emotionally expressive arrangements.