How to make The Beloved 'Sweet Harmony' with DRC

Originally used to promote the second season of the popular American soap opera 'Melrose Place' in 1993, 'Sweet Harmony' by British electronic music group 'The Beloved' is probably best known for its then much talked about music video, which since being uploaded to YouTube has received nearly 4 million views.

The Beloved formed in 1983 and were originally a post-punk/new wave band, but during the late 80s they underwent a change in direction and style, to a more house/alternative dance sound, which proved to be a successful move.

The track, once described as a “glorious slice of ice-cool synth pop which manages to be both brooding and euphoric at the same time” is a hypnotising mix of house grooves and the warm, soothing tones of lead singer Jon Marsh.

The music video was based on the record sleeve of the Jimi Hendrix 1968 album ‘Electric Ladyland’.  It featured the band’s singer nude and surrounded by nude women - all lip-synching the lyrics - in a heaven-like setting.  Clouds, fog and white-out effects were used to create a high contrast, while the participants used their arms, legs and hair to cover themselves up, so as not to reveal anything which might cause the video to be censored.

Marsh said the video was “not intended to be sexual” and was “as asexual as you can get” with its primary artistic intention to represent unity between humans.

As well as showing us a sweet 6 sounds from the track, in this week’s DRC Sound Design Tutorial, Lucas takes to the mic once again to deliver a super layered vocal too!

Click here to download the Ableton project file.

In sweet harmony,
Team Imaginando

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