Archive 2003: Cinérex – Feeling Fine

Refine what you do until this is true.

Feeling Fine is a single by Cinérex, released in 2003. Written and produced by Tommy Rombouts, Kevin Ross, and Alissa Kueker. The song exists in two versions: the original Album Version and the Delicate Edit, which became the lead track of the CD single release.

The Album Version

The original version of Feeling Fine, as heard on the album, was shaped by a clear set of sonic references: the soulful, understated vocals and neo-soul atmosphere of Erykah Badu, the live-band-meets-hip-hop groove of The Roots, and the stripped-back minimalism of The Neptunes — the production duo behind N.E.R.D., known for their sparse drum programming, unexpected chord choices, and the ability to make space feel deliberate rather than empty. That influence is audible in the restraint of the arrangement: not filling every bar, letting the low end breathe, and trusting the feel of the groove over density.

From album to stage

When Cinérex began performing the material live, Feeling Fine developed into something more immediate. The live version pushed harder — more presence, tighter energy, less room for the arrangement to drift. That version became the foundation for the Delicate Edit, a reworked cut built around performance feel rather than studio precision. It runs 3:20 and prioritises concision: elements enter and leave with intention, and the structure is tight enough to hold attention without overstaying.

Synthesis and arrangement

The EMU Planet Phatt and Clavia Nord Lead 1 remain the primary sound sources. By 2003 the workflow had settled into a reliable pattern: rhythmic and lower-register content from the Planet Phatt, harmonic and melodic material from the Nord Lead, all running through the Focusrite channelstrip before hitting the converters in Samplitude 2496. The arrangement was constructed in audio rather than MIDI — each part recorded and placed manually on the timeline.