It’s okay the word “producer” means different things to different folks, if you can talk.
A local studio has taken me on to help produce. What’s in a job title? When I was asked about it, I still asked about responsibilities in their eyes. “Producer” has become a name for many different hats. I didn’t want to sign on for something I knew nothing about even though I am a producer. Happens. But being part of the team is my goal.
I’ve talked about what a producer is before. I’m not really into repeating that. But I am a producer now here in town. That’s what they call me. It was slightly different before I had work as a producer and was called that by folks in person. So far, my “job” has been a lot of learning.
It’s not what you already know half the time, but what you can know.
It’s funny when folks take you on for what you know. Half the time they do it, they don’t want you to know anything, really. They just want to know you can learn. A lot of folks can’t, for various reasons. It helps my case that I’m teachable and learn quickly. That’s actually more important than what I already know, I think. They want to teach me their way. I’m fine with that.
Most stubbornness for me is a set back. So I try to avoid it in musical settings. In my mind I’m trying to apply what I know to what I hear. Sometimes I have to color outside the lines. Known this a long time. I truly feel it’s key in songwriting; imagining whatever it takes to give the song itself what it wants. Goals. That’s the good kind of “stubborn.”
Being a producer is a lot about that. Hearing something in your head on a tune, and seeing if you can make it come out of the speakers. Anyone who does that, producer.
Production teams are where it’s at.
It feels great to have a job on a team. There’s camaraderie which is vital in these times for me. There’s respect which is very nice to receive and cylinders firing and engines pumping. It’s industry. It’s experience. Also, it’s fun.
I highly recommend teamwork with folks you respect. It helps me be malleable and it helps me learn. I also get things from the kind ways folks treat me that I’d never get online. Even if the tune flops, the making of that tune might have been what you needed, so it doesn’t matter.
“No man is an iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiisland..”
Very few folks are skilled enough in every instrument or in production techniques to pull off what they hear in their head. If this is you, consider teaming up. When you actually hear it, you’ll know why. See, those professionals help your idea come across better than you can by yourself in that case. Don’t be stubborn, look for a hand.
Instrumental Sludge Funk (New release from The Kintners.)
Having said all that, I made this all by myself. Worked on it a couple of days as an experiment. Ended up liking it as its own thing. Felt wrong to not put it out there. Enjoy. Pay anything, pay nothing. I just hope you vibe with it. It makes me happy. It didn’t need a lot. Was tons of fun. Djembe, bass, Les Paul. Some Logic Pro magic on percussion. Take care.
Return to home.