MP3 Resources
April 29th 2009
Big Studio Advantage? Maybe Not…
May 15th 2008
From an interview originally posted on myHitOnline:
Interviewer: What do you do differently than other producers?
Producer: Lately I’ve been recording a lot in hotel rooms!
I recorded three of (artist’s name omitted) songs on their album in Sydney in a hotel room. And with (artist’s name omitted), I recorded the entire first album in her living room on a laptop. So studios are losing out. I’m not using big studios any more.
I have my two studios in Manhattan, New York which I use to mix the songs. But I am doing most of the recording and the producing in hotels rooms on the laptop. I’ve come back from England and done a few songs with (artist’s name omitted) in her living room. And next week I’m going to L.A. with (artist’s name omitted) and I’m going to record in their living room again.
When I first discovered I could do that it was like a breakthrough – a revelation! You can do your entire production on a laptop if you know your set-up well!
Great to know. This producer is working with some big, big stars.
The Future of Music Delivery?
May 5th 2008
From an interview originally posted on myHitOnline:
Interviewer: What trends do you see in the music industry, what will happen in your opinion?
Producer: I think it is pretty exciting that there is a new outlet for artists on the Internet on sites like mySpace. Artists can now sell and promote their own records. I think this is very healthy in the grand scheme of things for the music industry.
When CDs replaced the vinyl records there was the promise from the record labels that as soon as the technology is cheaper they would cut the price in half but they never did. So they made tremendous profits on the CDs. And there were times when the manufacturing of CDs cost less than a dollar and they would sell for $17 or $18. Now, I think record labels are struggling to stay profitable, but it’s like a cleansing process. The music industry has to constantly reinvent itself to survive.
I think listening to music on mobile phones is going to be a big part of the future. I think very soon mobile phones and iPods will be the main device for kids to listen to music.
Great news for FGM subscribers and indie artists in general!
What to Look For in a Producer
April 25th 2008
From an interview originally posted on myHitOnline:
Interviewer: When working with up-and-coming artists such as (artists’ names omitted) or even established artists what should a new producer know when sitting down in the studio with them?
Producer: The biggest mistake is not to listen to the artists. For example, when I worked with (artist’s name omitted), I let her direct the sessions, I come in with ideas, but then I let her decide what she wants to do.
I write the lyrics with her, but I let her sing the song how she wants to sing it. I only help the artists to make their record, so the record will sound the way the artist wants it.
A big mistake is when a producer comes in with a finished song and tells the artist how to sing it.
To put it another way, writing music is like therapy. My mother, who is actually a psychotherapist, pointed this out to me. By listening to the artists and finding out their problems or thoughts, you need to believe that the music can ease their problems. Then once the song is written they will feel better and think that “Wow! This song has helped me”.
In turn, the artist will love the song and someone else will be able to feel its healing power. I firmly believe that music needs to be personal – about the life of the artist and the songs on the album need to reflect that.
Note to self: this is the kind of producer I want.