In this Puremix-exclusive Start to Finish series, Grammy-winning engineer Ben Thomas and rising R&B artist Krysten Simone team up to create a full song from scratch—not in a high-end studio, but in the middle of an Airbnb kitchen.
Armed with a compact travel rig, no vocal booth, and zero sound treatment, they prove that creativity doesn’t wait for perfect conditions. From beat production and topline writing to vocal tracking, editing, and bouncing the final demo, this is a real-time look at how modern music is made when the vibe is right.
Across 3 episodes, you’ll learn how to:
- Build a reliable mobile recording rig (interface, mic, speakers, MIDI)
- Track vocals with real-time FX and low latency in Pro Tools
- Co-write melodies and hooks driven by raw emotion and spontaneous ideas
- Tune, comp, stack harmonies, and create vocal doubles
- Use Ben’s real-world workflow tips: Vocalign, playlists, stereo bus processing
- Mix on the fly and bounce a demo that feels release-ready — even from a noisy kitchen
From writing the now-infectious line “That’s my baby… like lightning in a bottle” to building a polished vocal chain on the go, this series is a modern testament to what’s possible when talent, trust, and minimal gear come together.