This video provides a behind-the-scenes look at the Dawes recording process for their new album. It features interviews with the band members and producer discussing their use of analog recording techniques. The band cares deeply about achieving the best possible sound and are willing to do multiple takes to get the right performance. Both the band and producer emphasize analog's impact on the music's quality and how it forces the band to give their full effort in the studio. Through its fly-on-the-wall footage and interviews, the video presents Dawes in a positive light as dedicated artists focused on crafting their album through hard work and high standards.

1. Analysis of ‘Dawes – Stories Don’t
End – In The Studio – The Recording
Process’
https://www.youtube.com/watch?
v=ynlZrrqG7YY

2. This video is from a series of clips about the new Dawes record, and it sticks to a slight theme
as it opens with an instrumental part of the track ‘Most People’ from the album. The first few
shots are of their analogue recording set-up, the shots are fairly short but work to establish the
subject of the video early on. A representation of the band is also given very quickly as caring a
lot about how their recorded music actually sounds. Taylor, leader singer and guitarist of the
band, explains that they “did their first two records on analogue”, helping viewers who might
not be aware of what the machine is – this acts as a kind of narration. When Taylor speaks the
song dims slightly but continues playing in the background.

3. Taylor goes on to say that they’ve
used more of a mixture of both
analogue and digital in the new
record. This is reflective of
developments in technology, and
the progression of the band
themselves. There is a high angle
shot looking quite closely at the
mixing deck, which pans upwards
to reveal the band with Taylor
playing guitar.
Whilst Taylor continues to speak and the song plays quietly in the background there are a couple of shots of
the place/time in which Taylor is speaking, firstly a close-up of Taylor himself, and then a long shot showing
the whole band. The place in which they are sitting is well lit and is aesthetically pleasing, and looks like a
comfortable place to record in. Taylor talks about “taking advantage of the qualities of analogue that are
important to us” – reinforcing that they really care about the way in which their music is recorded so that is
sounds the best it possibly can. This shot is followed by another close-up of the mixing deck.

4. There are next two shots of each
member of the band with their
respective instruments recording in the
studio. A variety of camera shots are
used, many of them (for instance a
couple of over the shoulder shots)
giving the feeling of the audience being
a fly on the wall in the recording
process. The fact that each member of
the band is shown and the screen-time
is spread evenly between them shows
the audience that the roles within the
band are equal and though Taylor could
be considered as lead the shots aren’t
all of him.

5. Taylor starts to talk about their producer for this
record, and there is a shot of them both having a
conversation. Rather than looking set-up, the shot is
over Taylor’s shoulder and again gives a fly-on-the-wall
effect. There is then footage of Taylor speaking, first
shown in the shot of the whole band, then in a two
shot with the drummer Griffin (also his brother), and
then a close-up of Taylor himself. Using three separate
shots keeps the clip flowing as using just one shot of
Taylor may have made it slightly uninteresting. As with
previously, the impression is given that Dawes care a
lot about how the record sounds.

6. After Taylor first introduces the idea of their producer
Jacquire there is a short section of him speaking. Firstly, he is
shown in a mid shot, sitting next to the mixing desk which is
relevant to the work that he does. There is a notification of
his name and that he is the producer, helping to keep the
viewers up to date with who is talking. The font used for this
is the same as the Dawes logo - sticking to a theme is good
for the aesthetics of the video.
Whilst Jacquire still speaks, he is
shown working in the studio
through a shot at the level of the
mixing desk (again there is a fly-
on-the-wall effect) and then
through another shot of him with
the whole band.
As Jacquire finishes speaking in this section the shot returns to the
mid-shot of him. A cross dissolve is used to transition to the next
shot - a clear indicator that there is a change of scene/topic about
to happen. The thing Jacquire says represents Dawes in quite a
positive light and reinforces that they’re very true to their music as
he says that in recording, if something didn’t sound right, they
wouldn’t just edit it to sound right, they would go out and record it
again, which shows once more their dedication to the sound of the
record as they understand that it is their record and want it to be
the best that it can be.

7. There is around 10 seconds of the track
‘Just My Luck’, which started quietly in
the background whilst Jacquire was
talking, with a montage of clips of the
band performing in the studio. The clips
continue but the song dims slightly and
Taylor starts to speak again. To
transition between the first few shots
cross dissolves are used and these give
the impression of passing time - giving a
positive representation of the band as
working hard on the record. The first
few shots that use cross dissolves are
from one panning shot across the room,
the cross dissolves just speed this up -
the band are all shown in this shot, it’s a
collaborative effort. The shots are a
mixture of ones quite far from the band,
once more giving the fly on the way
feeling, and some more close, showing
them playing the guitar/piano etc.

8. Taylor begins talking -
about similar things to
Jacquire - but there are
still shots of the band
recording in the studio.
The song also carries
on in the background.
There is a shot from behind Wylie,
of him playing bass, and this pans
around to show Griffin playing the
drums. The documentary seems to
show that they’re all hard at work
simultaneously.

9. There are a few more shots of the
band recording, and then Taylor is
shown talking.
The shots of Taylor speaking last for around 20 seconds and change quite regularly between the three (a
close of up Taylor, a long shot of all four members of the band and a two-shot of Taylor and Griffin.) The
fact that the editing for this sequence is quite fast paced keeps the clip flowing and holds the viewers
interest. Taylor talks about how by recording using analogue there’s less of a chance to edit and “fix”, so
they’re “forced to really make a performance out of a take”. This gives a positive representation of the
band as they put the effort into recording, rather than relying on the editing process to make them sound
good, and Taylor himself says that it makes them more determined.

10. Once Taylor finishes speaking there is another section with
Jacquire speaking, this starts with the shot of him as he speaks
which establishes that it is him talking. He mentions some of the
things he loves about analogue which he seems quite passionate
about, which is great for fans to hear!
To break the footage up there are some shots of the band
performing once more. There is then one of the whole
band and Jacquire in the studio - (clearly enjoying
recording!) - followed by the shot of Jacquire again to close
the clip. The shot of the whole band is once again
recorded out of the way and doesn’t give the impression of
it being set-up. A different song (‘From A Right Angle’)
starts quietly when the last shot of Jacquire is used, and
gets louder when he finishes speaking.