Deconstructing the Huge Pop-Punk Mix of State Champs’ ‘Secrets’

Let’s be real, the sound of a premium pop-punk track like State Champs’ “Secrets” is a masterclass in energy. It’s huge, punchy, and every part has its place, from the driving drums to the wall of layered guitars and vocals. When legendary producer Kyle Black sat down to mix this track, he wasn’t armed with a million plugins or an overly complex template. Instead, he had something far more valuable: an incredibly well-recorded and arranged song.

Diving into these multi-tracks, originally featured on Nail The Mix, reveals that the “secret” isn’t about fixing things in the mix. It’s about enhancing what’s already great. This session is a goldmine for producers, showing how a minimalist approach can yield massive results when your source tones are on point. Let’s break down some of the key elements.

The Foundation: Building a Powerhouse Drum Sound

The first thing you notice when you solo the drums is that they just work. The performance is tight, powerful, and full of clever fills that drive the song forward. The drummer knows exactly when to get fancy and when to lock in, providing the perfect backbone. Here’s how those raw tracks are set up for a massive mix.

The Art of Subtle Sample Reinforcement

In modern production, it’s easy to get carried away with sample replacement. But on “Secrets,” the approach is all about reinforcement.

• Kick Drum: You get a standard kick in and kick out mic, but there’s also a kick sample. When you blend it in, it’s not overpowering. Think of it as a 90/10 rule: 90% of the sound comes from the real, punchy kick drum, and that 10% from the sample just adds a touch of consistent low-end weight that helps it cut through layers of guitars and bass.
• Snare Drum: The same principle applies to the snare. The raw top and bottom mics have a nice ring and character, but they truly come alive with the overheads. A snare sample is also provided, not to replace that great natural tone, but to add a little extra body and “oomph” to each hit. You could easily make a great mix without these samples, but they’re the perfect tool for adding that last bit of power.

Bringing The Kit to Life with Room Mics

While the direct mics are solid, the sheer size of the drum sound comes from the ambient microphones. The raw snare might sound a bit ringy in isolation, but once you blend in the overheads and various room mics, it transforms into an explosive, arena-ready snare.

This session came with multiple room options, including a “Mono Room” and a “Farm Mono Room.” Tracks like these are a gift. They are practically begging to be slammed with heavy compression. Your favorite 1176-style plugins would have a field day with these, creating that pumping, breathing energy that makes a rock mix feel alive.

Clever Overdubs for a Perfect Performance

Sometimes, getting the perfect take requires a bit of studio magic. In one section, the song calls for a clean, sustained ride cymbal bell hit to ring out while a busy pattern is played on the same cymbal. That’s physically impossible to do at once. The solution? Overdubbing the bell separately. It’s a simple trick that ensures every part of the performance is captured with maximum impact.

The Rhythm Section Lock: Guitars and Bass Synergy

In pop-punk, the relationship between the bass and guitars is everything. It’s the engine that drives the song.

The Role of a Simple, Driving Bassline

The bass here—a blend of a DI and an amped track—is a lesson in function. The tone is tight and slightly distorted, and the playing is locked perfectly to the kick drum. The bass player isn’t trying to be overly flashy; he’s holding down the root notes, providing that essential low-end foundation, and adding a bit of bounce. This simplicity is what creates the space for the guitars to do their thing.

Dialing In That Creamy, High-Gain Guitar Tone

These guitar tones are the definition of perfect for this genre. They are heavy, but also smooth and creamy—big without being harsh or spiky. Every note is clear and defined. This clarity isn’t just about the amp settings; it’s a testament to incredible right-hand technique. Playing chugging, palm-muted rhythms this tightly and powerfully is much harder than it sounds. It’s this kind of rock-solid performance on the foundational parts that separates a good band from a great one.

The Delicate Art of Layering and Arrangement

With the foundation set, “Secrets” builds its epic sound through countless layers. The real challenge of this mix is managing all of them without creating a muddy mess.

Weaving a Lush Chorus with Multiple Guitar Parts

The chorus is an absolute monster of arrangement. On top of the main rhythm guitars, bass, and drums, you have:

• An arpeggiated guitar line adding melodic texture.
• Another distinct lead guitar line.
• An organ filling out the sonic space.
• A tambourine providing that classic chorus lift.

As Kyle Black himself advised, just because a track is there doesn’t mean it needs to be front-and-center like a lead instrument. Many of these elements are meant to be felt more than heard, creating a rich texture. The key is to make them all fit. This is where you need to get surgical with your mixing tools, using smart EQ strategies to carve out a specific frequency pocket for each part so they can coexist.

Managing a Wall of Vocal Harmonies

The track is flooded with vocals: leads, doubles, harmonies, filtered vocals, and even complex counter-melodies in the bridge. Keeping this from turning into chaos is crucial.

A great starting point is understanding the lead/double relationship. When you have a main lead vocal and an identical double, the double is meant to be tucked way underneath the lead in the mix. It’s there to add subtle thickness, not to be heard as a distinct second voice. From there, it’s a careful balancing act of panning, leveling, and EQ to make the complex web of harmonies sound like one massive, cohesive unit that supports the lead vocal.

Bring It All Together

Mixing State Champs’ “Secrets” isn’t about fighting bad sounds; it’s about taking expertly crafted elements and making them shine together. It highlights foundational principles: the power of great source tones, the effectiveness of subtle sample reinforcement, and the importance of a well-thought-out arrangement.

This breakdown is just a peek into what makes this session so special. If you want to see how it’s really done, you need to see a pro at the controls. With a Nail The Mix membership, you can get your hands on these exact multi-tracks and watch a multi-hour masterclass where Kyle Black builds this entire mix from scratch, explaining every decision along the way. It’s the ultimate way to unlock your sound and mix a track beyond presets.

Ready to put these techniques into practice? Get the State Champs “Secrets” multi-tracks and the full mixing course today!