SAE Magazine 13-3

music that I usually do, I as pretty much two things. ntrate on songs, you need e there. You need to make o record and that arrange- world of singer/songwriter to the “song” really. If the nal then you have a prob- ing. ormance, something I be- ued element in making of mance records still being e. hen we can do all kinds of pulations with digital tech- becomes potentially less uite possible to manufac- ever most of the records I t around performance. mosphere where wonder- ery surprising performanc- usly rooms themselves are be and setting the param- mance that is possible. p the room so everybody without headphones and ach other. That is definite- tain kind of performance. So how much creative influence do you give when working as a producer? Do you feel the need to influence the creative flow or do you let it linger be- tween the band members? Does it vary? I think this really varies, as the producer needs to be very conscious and aware when to step in and when to step out. If things are going along in a really smooth and su- per creative way, there is usually no reason for the producer to be throwing diversions and adding too much commentary into it. It is really interesting to see when people stop by the studio when I am working with the band on a particular day and they say: “Wow, you really don’t say very much.” But if they come the next day it is possible I’m talk- ing non-stop. So it is really a day-to-day situation as one song can go very easily and the next one can be just a long series of challenges thrown at you. During a production there are 4,000 ideas being knocked around. Sometimes they get added by the producer, sometimes by the engineer, sometimes from the artist or even from a friend that decides to visit for 15 minutes. Part of the producer’s central role is to be able to arbitrate from these ideas and highlight the best or at least the most functional offering. Sometimes seemingly accidental ideas are the best ones and the ownership of them is not so important as the quality of the idea and the producer can be crucial in helping navigate this. ➤ INDEX

SAE Magazine 13-3

Pages