| Element | Spec |
| ----------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------- |
| **Piano** | Upright, slightly out of tune, close mic'd, pedal noise |
| **Voice** | No tuning, no comping, one take preferred, breath audible |
| **Strings** | Single cello, single violin, enter on chorus, leave on bridge |
| **Space** | Room reverb, small bedroom, intimate |
| **Imperfections** | Keep them. The crack in voice. The pedal squeak. The truth. || Section | Delivery |
| ---------- | -------------------------------------------- |
| **Intro** | Spoken, raw, confessional |
| **Verses** | Soft, fragile, no vibrato, close to breaking |
| **Chorus** | Controlled pain, acceptance, not performance |
| **Bridge** | Breaking, a cappella, no hiding |
| **Outro** | Resolution,