The Interest element — finding and emphasizing the song's most compelling focal point — separates great mixes from merely good ones

Of the six mix elements, Interest is described as the key to transcending competence. Every song has a part so compelling that the listener cannot look away — a riff, a hook, a vocal line, a groove. The mixer’s job is to identify this focal point and make it unmistakable. The most important element is often (not always) the lead vocal: in EDM and hip-hop it may be the groove; in country, the vocal; in rock, a signature riff. The approach: raise level 1 dB at a time, try compression, try EQ, try effects — each step asking ‘does it jump out?’ A mix that is technically correct on all five other elements but lacks Interest feels flat and unremarkable even if nothing is wrong with it.

Examples

‘Satisfaction’ by the Stones: the riff is the interest element. ‘Clocks’ by Coldplay: the piano intro. ‘I Bet You Look Good on the Dancefloor’ by Arctic Monkeys: the rhythm on the verses. Ed Seay: ‘The tough part… is the several hours it takes for me to make it sound emotional and urgent and exciting so that it’s not just a song, it’s a record.‘

Assessment

Given a technically balanced mix (good EQ, dynamics, effects, and panning) that still ‘feels flat’, describe the systematic procedure for identifying and elevating the Interest element, and list four tools you would apply in order.