I’ve been producing records full-time for close to 17 years now. So many amazing artists and writers and performers and mentors and just overall amazing people have reached out to collaborate on albums together.
Through these amazing experiences, I’ve learned so much about music and seen so many trends come and go, but the one trend that has remained in a constant state of over-representation is the belief that we all need click tracks and isolated performances to make great records. Let me be totally clear – MANY records are objectively better because of this approach, and I have no intention of abandoning this method. However, when maybe one out of a thousand modern records are made live, I can’t help but feel like some of our music culture as BANDS is being lost. The collective musical chemistry of musicians in the same space, playing off each other in real time without the safety net of a metronome represents a large portion of the kinds of music I grew up with and fell in love with.
If you are a band that loves to write and perform as a band, and rely on your own internal metronome, it just makes sense to record your music together as a band. I would love to do more records that emphasize freeform expression and spontaneity. More celebratory of human “error” and the combustion and unpredictability of truly LIVE music. Again, when I stress the words “LIVE music,” I’m not doing so to imply a better way of making records, but a different one that has been severely underserved in the last two decades.
The free LIVE studio session I’m offering is both a means of giving back to the music scene that has given me so much, and also a way to spotlight the bands who go against the grain of popular album production. It’s my way of helping bring a little balance back to the current state of recorded music.
Thank you for taking the time to read my thoughts on this studio time giveaway. Thanks in advance to all those who will take the time to submit material for me to review.
The deadline for submissions is May 22, 2025. The recipient of the free studio session will be announced May 29, 2025.
Much love.
Requirements:
- You must be an unsigned band that I haven’t worked with before
- You must be able to travel to the studio in Michigan and arrange your own accommodations
By May 22, 2025, fill out the form below to provide:
- 1. A live, unedited video performance of your best song.
- 2. Answers to a few getting-to-know-you questions.
– What makes your sound unique?
– Who are your influences?
– Where do you hope to see your band in 5 years?