On Choosing a Producer (Part 2)

Your budget is settled, you’ve got a short list of producers. What next?

Next, you contact the producers and/or visit the studio in which you will be recording in. I spoke on the phone with one potential producer, visited the studio of another, and had email correspondence with the third. My three stellar choices were:

1) Jason Martin (Riverside, CA) (Starflyer 59)
http://www.myspace.com/jasonmartinrecording, http://www.myspace.com/starflyer59
2) Michael Rossback (Colorado Springs, CO): http://www.myspace.com/michaelrossback
3) Tim Schoenhals (Los Angeles, CA) : http://www.myspace.com/timschoenhals, http://www.myspace.com/kendallpayne

All three could help me make an amazing album. Jason Martin is an amazing musician with an indie edge, original, creative, and a genius with the electric guitar. If I went with Jason, I knew he would help me stay as close to indie rock as I could. Michael Rossback is an amazing musician period! What intrigued me about Michael is that he can mix eclectic styles and genres within one song, which is what I would like to be going for in the next album. Tim Schoenhal’s work speaks for itself. Not only is he a talented all-round musician, he REALLY knows how to record vocals and I hear so much beauty and care in his production. Tim was also the only producer whose studio I got to visit. It was a great opportunity to get a feel for his work environment and for the place in which I would potentially be recording sounds for posterity.

I carefully listened all of their past work and consulted my support team. This is where the decision got a bit stressful! I had to really figure out what I wanted this album to sound like. It helps to have a clear idea of what genre/style your music is in and what your target market is. The producer you choose will designate the general direction you will go in terms of sound and style. Did I want this second album to sound more spacey/indie/alternative/rock? Did I want to go more in the direction of mainstream/singer/songwriter/pop/rock? Hmmm… After taking everything in consideration, I finally decided on a producer who I know would do an EXCELLENT job and made me feel *tres* comfortable in the studio. Someone I knew who could help me bring a bit of all genres into the songs. *drum roll* The producer for my second album is Tim Schoenhals! Not only is he so encouraging and kind, he really puts me at ease. It’s important for me to have a producer who is encouraging and patient but can still get me in gear. We’ll be starting pre-production in the first week of June and then record through the month of June!

Oh my, I’ve got to get to that fundraising. $3000 RAISED SO FAR!!!! Need at least $4000 more by the end of May and the rest by the end of June. Please spread the word. Thank you for supporting independent music.

-M