This always makes a huge improvement on any song

Summary by Krater

Andrew Huang demonstrates how to create and use ear candy—extra musical details and sounds that fill in space and create interest beyond the main elements of a song—using examples from his track Interstellar.

From the video

Answers: How do I add ear candy to my music production?

• ear candy production techniques
• vocal manipulation and formant shifting
• background instrument fills
• arpeggiator modulation
• reverb tricks for transitions
• swells and impacts for song structure
• one-off ear candy moments for lyrics

What it concludes

• Manipulating vocals with formant shifts, pitch changes, and automation creates effective ear candy in verse sections.
• Background instrument fills and arpeggios that constantly modulate keep musical textures alive without distracting from lead vocals.
• Using a reverb send that increases over a bridge and cutting it off abruptly at the drop adds satisfying anticipation and impact.
• Swells, risers, and fallers placed before key moments or transitions help build momentum in song arrangements.
• One-off ear candy moments timed to specific lyrics can add extra fun and interest to a mix.