A Glimpse into Irvan Borneo’s Creative Process: Behind the Scenes of the "My Secret Number" Marathon Recording Session
October 21, 2026
Discover Irvan Borneo's creative process, tone crafting, and cross-generational collaboration during the marathon recording of 'My Secret Number'.
For music lovers and guitarists, there is no moment more captivating than witnessing firsthand how a song is born within the studio walls. From a simple melodic idea, refined through warm discussions, it eventually evolves into a complete composition ready to delight the ear.
The HOMER Indonesia YouTube channel has shared this precious moment in a video titled “Recording Behind The Scene: Irvan Borneo - My Secret Number”. The footage offers a clear look at the creative process, the meticulous crafting of guitar tone, and the tangible cross-generational collaboration taking place in the studio.
Here are the key highlights and valuable lessons drawn from this deeply dedicated recording session!
1. Cross-Generational Collaboration: Merging Experience with Fresh Energy
One of the most compelling aspects of this session was the creation of a collaborative space between senior musicians and younger generations (Gen Z/Millennials).
Inside the studio, Irvan Borneo and his team (including Ari Tri Sosianto and young talents like Ilham) exchanged ideas without ego-driven boundaries. Senior musicians brought mature experience and refined musical sensitivity, while the younger talent contributed fresh stylistic touches and a more vibrant groove.
This process proves that music is a universal language capable of uniting diverse age groups for a single purpose: creating the finest work possible.
2. On-the-Spot Arrangement Exploration
The arrangement process for the song "My Secret Number" was fluid rather than rigid. Many sections were developed on the spot within the studio:
- Building Rhythm & Groove: Before layering the main melody, the rhythmic structure and chord charts were established first to ensure the song's dynamics remained focused.
- Mood Transitions: Starting from a calming intro, the song gradually transitions into a more groovy verse, eventually reaching its climax in the guitar melody.
It wasn't just about technical proficiency; the musicians in the studio carefully preserved the simplicity of the notes. Beneath the complexity of the arrangement, the simplicity of the melodic theme was maintained to ensure the song remained pleasing to the ear and left a lasting impression (catchy).
3. The Art of Crafting Tone & "Fierce yet Human" Guitar Technique
For gear enthusiasts and audio aficionados, the section on guitar tone shaping serves as the main course of this video.
- Frequency Experimentation: The team spent considerable time seeking the perfect balance of frequencies (low, mid, high) on the amplifier and guitar effects. They sought the right pickup combination so the voice character wouldn't get lost beneath the bass instruments, yet still retained a sexy "bite" (bite).
- Economic Picking Technique: Irvan Borneo also shared details of his playing technique. Compared to the rigidity of using only alternate picking (down-up), the use of economic picking (a combination of down-up-down) provides unique accentuated pauses, making melodic phrases sound more organic, elegant, yet still fierce.
4. Studio Challenges and the Satisfaction of a 7-Hour Recording Session
Professional recording processes rarely run smoothly without hiccups. Mid-session, while the performance mood was at its peak, one of the guitar strings suddenly snapped. This "dramatic" moment was met with calmness and viewed as an integral part of the creative process.
After enduring a marathon session of nearly 7 hours, the struggle was fully rewarded. Although fingers felt sore and numb, emotional satisfaction radiated from the entire team upon hearing the final result of the lead guitar, which was successfully wrapped to perfection.
Irvan Borneo’s behind-the-scenes session for the song "My Secret Number" gives us a clear perspective: quality music is born from a combination of mature technique, patience in searching for the right sonic character, and strong chemistry among musicians.
You can watch the full video directly on the HOMER Indonesia YouTube channel
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