This thesis explores the sonic architecture of Disney’s Renaissance-era “I Want” songs and develops a framework for recreating their signature production style. This study analyzes how vocal timbre, microphone choices, layering, stereo placement, and mixing strategies contribute to the immersive qualities that define the Disney sound. Drawing from historical accounts, interviews with industry professionals, and technical literature, the thesis documents production practices unexamined in scholarly work. Inspired by David Gibson’s The Art of Mixing, my analyses prioritize spatial and textural qualities in Disney mixes, highlighting how sound design shapes narrative impact. The study culminates in two original compositions modeled after the Disney style, demonstrating the framework in practice. By bridging scholarship and applied recording, this thesis preserves and extends the techniques of a culturally significant musical era, offering a practical guide for future audio engineers and producers.
","abstract_html":"<p>This thesis explores the sonic architecture of Disney’s Renaissance-era “I Want” songs and develops a framework for recreating their signature production style. This study analyzes how vocal timbre, microphone choices, layering, stereo placement, and mixing strategies contribute to the immersive qualities that define the Disney sound. Drawing from historical accounts, interviews with industry professionals, and technical literature, the thesis documents production practices unexamined in scholarly work. Inspired by David Gibson’s <em>The Art of Mixing</em>, my analyses prioritize spatial and textural qualities in Disney mixes, highlighting how sound design shapes narrative impact. The study culminates in two original compositions modeled after the Disney style, demonstrating the framework in practice. By bridging scholarship and applied recording, this thesis preserves and extends the techniques of a culturally significant musical era, offering a practical guide for future audio engineers and producers.</p>","abstract_has_math":false,"creators":["Riley, Aiyanna E"],"institution":null,"degree_name":"Master of Music","degree_level":"Thesis","degree_discipline":"School of Music","degree_department":null,"school":null,"contributors":["James Adams","Jenna Sehmann","Benjamin Morris"],"advisors":[],"committee_chairs":[],"committee_members":[],"year":2025,"date_issued":"2025-11-10T08:00:00Z","date_published":"2025-11-10T08:00:00Z","updated_at":"2026-07-24T04:30:49Z","subjects":["Audio engineering","Music","Disney","Mixing","Audio Production","vocals","Audio Arts and Acoustics","Composition","Musicology","Music Performance","Music Theory","Other Engineering"],"languages":[],"rights":[],"rights_urls":[],"identifier_entries":[]},"links":{"outbound_url":"https://scholarworks.sfasu.edu/etds/644","outbound_label":"Repository record","outbound_source":"dc:identifier"},"metadata_groups":[{"id":"people","label":"People","entries":[{"key":"dc:contributor","label":"Contributor","values":["James Adams","Jenna Sehmann","Benjamin Morris"]},{"key":"dc:creator","label":"Author","values":["Riley, Aiyanna E"]}]},{"id":"academic_context","label":"Academic Context","entries":[{"key":"dc:date.available","label":"Dc Date Available","values":["2025-12-03T08:00:00Z"]},{"key":"thesis:degree_discipline","label":"Discipline","values":["School of Music"]},{"key":"thesis:degree_level","label":"Degree Level","values":["Thesis"]},{"key":"thesis:degree_name","label":"Degree Name","values":["Master of Music"]}]},{"id":"subjects_keywords","label":"Subjects and Keywords","entries":[{"key":"dc:subject","label":"Dc Subject","values":["Audio engineering","Music","Disney","Mixing","Audio Production","vocals","Audio Arts and Acoustics","Composition","Musicology","Music Performance","Music Theory","Other Engineering"]}]},{"id":"identifiers","label":"Identifiers","entries":[{"key":"dc:identifier","label":"Identifier","values":["https://scholarworks.sfasu.edu/etds/644"]}]},{"id":"additional","label":"Additional Metadata","entries":[{"key":"dc:description.abstract","label":"Abstract","values":["This thesis explores the sonic architecture of Disney’s Renaissance-era “I Want” songs and develops a framework for recreating their signature production style. This study analyzes how vocal timbre, microphone choices, layering, stereo placement, and mixing strategies contribute to the immersive qualities that define the Disney sound. Drawing from historical accounts, interviews with industry professionals, and technical literature, the thesis documents production practices unexamined in scholarly work. Inspired by David Gibson’s The Art of Mixing, my analyses prioritize spatial and textural qualities in Disney mixes, highlighting how sound design shapes narrative impact. The study culminates in two original compositions modeled after the Disney style, demonstrating the framework in practice. By bridging scholarship and applied recording, this thesis preserves and extends the techniques of a culturally significant musical era, offering a practical guide for future audio engineers and producers.
"]},{"key":"dc:title","label":"Title","values":["THE RESONANCE OF DESIRE: A SONIC EXPLORATION AND GUIDE TO RECREATING DISNEY’S SIGNATURE ‘I WANT’ SONGS"]}]}],"canonical_facts":{"dc:contributor":["James Adams","Jenna Sehmann","Benjamin Morris"],"dc:creator":["Riley, Aiyanna E"],"dc:date.available":["2025-12-03T08:00:00Z"],"dc:description.abstract":["This thesis explores the sonic architecture of Disney’s Renaissance-era “I Want” songs and develops a framework for recreating their signature production style. This study analyzes how vocal timbre, microphone choices, layering, stereo placement, and mixing strategies contribute to the immersive qualities that define the Disney sound. Drawing from historical accounts, interviews with industry professionals, and technical literature, the thesis documents production practices unexamined in scholarly work. Inspired by David Gibson’s The Art of Mixing, my analyses prioritize spatial and textural qualities in Disney mixes, highlighting how sound design shapes narrative impact. The study culminates in two original compositions modeled after the Disney style, demonstrating the framework in practice. By bridging scholarship and applied recording, this thesis preserves and extends the techniques of a culturally significant musical era, offering a practical guide for future audio engineers and producers.
"],"dc:identifier":["https://scholarworks.sfasu.edu/etds/644"],"dc:subject":["Audio engineering","Music","Disney","Mixing","Audio Production","vocals","Audio Arts and Acoustics","Composition","Musicology","Music Performance","Music Theory","Other Engineering"],"dc:title":["THE RESONANCE OF DESIRE: A SONIC EXPLORATION AND GUIDE TO RECREATING DISNEY’S SIGNATURE ‘I WANT’ SONGS"],"thesis:degree_discipline":["School of Music"],"thesis:degree_level":["Thesis"],"thesis:degree_name":["Master of Music"]},"updated_at":"2026-07-24T04:30:49Z"}