State Champs ‘Secrets’: Raw Tracks & Kyle Black’s Mix Approach

Ever cracked open a session from a massive band and just marveled at how good everything sounds, even before you touch a single fader? That’s exactly the vibe when you load up the raw multi-tracks for State Champs' banger "Secrets," famously mixed by the one and only Kyle Black. This session, which was featured on Nail The Mix back in October 2016, is a masterclass in how killer recordings and smart arrangements set the stage for a powerful mix.

What's immediately striking is Kyle Black's approach. He's known for getting huge sounds without an overwhelming mountain of plugins or outboard gear. This "Secrets" session is living proof: you can achieve a phenomenal, hard-hitting mix by focusing on the fundamentals. Let's dive into what makes these raw tracks so special and how they lay the groundwork for a killer pop-punk anthem. If you want to see Kyle Black mix this track himself, you can grab the full session over at Nail The Mix: State Champs "Secrets".

Why These "Secrets" Raw Tracks Are a Goldmine (Before a Single Plugin)

The moment you press play on these raw tracks, it’s clear: the producer and the band absolutely nailed it. The song already has power, clarity, and sounds like, well, a song. This is the dream scenario for any mixer. Your job becomes less about "fixing" and more about enhancing, balancing, and bringing out the best in an already stellar performance and recording.

This track is packed with layers – from a formidable drum kit and beefy bass to stacks of guitars, 808s, organs, shakers, and a chorus-defining tambourine. The challenge, and the fun, lies in balancing these numerous elements, ensuring each interesting part is heard without overshadowing the crucial components like the lead vocal.

Foundations First: Building Powerhouse Drums with State Champs

The drum sounds in "Secrets" are fantastic right out of the gate, a testament to a great drummer with well-tuned drums, recorded skillfully. The fills are clever, tasteful, and perfectly transition between sections, always propelling the song forward. It’s not about flashy overplaying; it’s about precision, power, and intent.

The Kick Drum Core: In, Out, and Subtle Sample Reinforcement

We’ve got the standard kick in and kick out mics, both capturing a solid, punchy sound. Interestingly, there's also a kick sample. But this isn't about sample replacement. At the levels provided, it’s pure reinforcement. Think 90% real drum and just 10% sample, adding a touch of consistent weight and low-end oomph that can be incredibly helpful once layers of guitars and bass come in. You could easily get away with no sample here, but that subtle addition helps the kick maintain its presence.

Crafting a Snare with Impact: Mics, Rooms, and Smart Reinforcement

The snare top mic reveals a hard-hit, ringy snare. While there's a bit of bleed, that’s manageable. The real magic, however, happens when you bring in the overheads and room mics. The direct snare mic alone is just part of the story; the ambience mics make it truly explode and give it that commanding presence.

There’s also a "mono mic supplement" track for the snare. Blending this in adds a noticeable solidity and body. And yes, there's a snare sample too – again, used for subtle reinforcement, just adding a little more weight and consistency, not replacing the natural, vibrant snare sound. You could strip away all samples and still have a killer drum mix, but they offer that extra 10% of "oomph" if you're chasing maximum impact. For more on shaping drum tones, check out advanced EQ strategies.

Toms That Roar: Beyond the Direct Mics

This song features plenty of toms, and Kyle Black was even kind enough to gate them for us. The direct tom mics sound pretty good on their own, but just like the snare, they transform when you introduce the overheads and various room mics. Suddenly, those tom fills become huge, resonant, and powerful. Remember, just because a producer provides many room mic options doesn't mean you have to use them all. Experiment and find what works best for the song.

Cymbal Work and Crushing Room Ambiance

We've got dedicated hi-hat and ride mics, nicely isolated. An interesting detail is a "ride sample." This was likely overdubbed to achieve a perfect, clean bell "ding" with its natural decay, while simultaneously allowing the drummer to play a heavy pattern on the ride bow – something physically impossible to do on one cymbal at the same time. It’s a clever production trick!

Then there are the mono room and "farm mono" room mics. These are prime candidates for some serious character. Think about your favorite 1176-style plugins – they're practically begging to be slammed on these tracks to create some beautifully crunched and distorted room textures. This is where you can really dial in the vibe and aggression. For tips on using compression like this, explore these metal compression secrets.

The Engine Room: Bass and Rhythm Guitars Done Right

A powerful rhythm section is the backbone of any heavy track, from pop-punk to death metal. "Secrets" is no exception.

Laying Down the Low End: The "Secrets" Bass Tone

The bass setup includes a DI and an amped track. The DI sounds tight, slightly distorted, and perfectly suited for a pop-punk baseline. The amped track offers a similar character, providing options for blending. The bass player truly understands their role: holding down the fort, providing a solid foundation, and adding a bit of bounce and character. The simplicity and precision of the bassline, with its starts and stops, are crucial for the song's feel, especially when the guitars kick in.

That "Perfect Hard Rock Tone": State Champs' Rhythm Guitars

The rhythm guitars in this session sound absolutely phenomenal – a perfect hard rock tone for this style. They're smooth yet heavy, creamy, big without being spiky, and incredibly clear. Every note and chord rings through. The simplicity of the bassline really helps these guitars shine.

It takes serious skill to play parts like this with such power and tightness. That chugging, articulate sound is all in the right hand. If you think playing these riffs is easy, try recording yourself playing them, one guitar per side, and achieving this level of power and groove. It’s harder than it looks and is a hallmark of a great live band.

The Art of Arrangement: Layering for a Massive Soundscape

"Secrets" is a fantastic example of effective layering and arrangement. It’s not just about loud drums and guitars; it’s about how all the pieces fit together to create a dynamic and engaging song.

Beyond the Core: Textural Elements

Beyond the main band instruments, we have 808s adding sub-frequency weight, organs providing atmosphere, and essential percussion like shakers and, crucially for a big chorus, a well-placed tambourine. These elements add depth and interest.

Weaving Guitar Melodies and Textures

The guitar work is rich and varied. In the chorus, for instance, alongside the main rhythm guitars, there's an arpeggiated guitar line. As Kyle Black mentioned in the original Nail The Mix session, just because a part is there doesn't mean it needs to be front-and-center like a lead instrument. Sometimes, these layers are purely for texture. There are also other melodic guitar lines, lead fills (like a cool Tele lead and a slide guitar part), and feedback effects woven throughout, particularly in the intro and verses.

Vocal Layers and Making Choices: The "Secrets" Approach

The vocal production is extensive. We have the main lead vocal, a lead double (which, as a pro tip, should generally be mixed quieter than the main lead when it's an identical performance), and a plethora of harmonies: standard backing vocals, lower harmonies, filtered vocals, and even counter-melodies, especially in the bridge.

With so many vocal parts, mixing becomes about making choices. What’s the most important element to feature? How do you bring out the lead vocal and keep the chorus sounding huge and rocking without letting the intricate details (like a specific harmony or a filtered vocal effect) become distracting or turn the section into a muddled mess? The goal is to balance all these tasty elements to support the song’s energy and emotional impact.

Kyle Black's Philosophy: Power Through Simplicity (and Great Sources)

This "Secrets" session underscores a vital mixing philosophy, especially one Kyle Black is known for: you don't need a million plugins to make something sound huge. If the source tracks are well-recorded, well-arranged, and well-played, you're already 90% of the way there.

The meat and potatoes – the drums, bass, and rhythm guitars – form the foundation. If this core doesn't sound powerful, clear, and cohesive on its own, adding layers of "ear candy" on top won't fix it. You'll just be building on a faulty foundation. This session is asking for creative mixing, but it already holds its own.

Unlock Your Sound with Nail The Mix

Exploring raw multi-tracks like State Champs' "Secrets" is invaluable. You get to hear what goes into a professionally produced song before the mix even begins and understand the potential held within well-recorded audio.

If you want to see exactly how Kyle Black takes these incredible raw tracks and sculpts them into a finished, radio-ready hit, explaining every decision along the way, then you need to check out the full State Champs "Secrets" mixing session on Nail The Mix. It’s an oldie but a goldie, packed with insights. And if you're looking to elevate your own productions beyond presets and truly Unlock Your Sound, Nail The Mix offers unparalleled access to the techniques of a-list producers every single month. Happy mixing!