- in Production by Bobby Owsinski
Words Of Wisdom From Producer/Engineer Joel Hamilton
When I was compiling my Music Business Advice Book there were so many fantastic pieces of advice that it was difficult to get them all in the book. There was one phrase by 6 time Grammy-nominated producer/engineer/musician Joel Hamilton (who’s credits include the Black Keys, Iggy Pop, Elvis Costello, and Pretty Lights, among many others) that I still remember though, and I thought worth sharing (it’s highlighted below). His advice comes from my Inner Circle Podcast #194.
Joel: Something I learned first and foremost is that the phrase, “Dude, I don’t know,” has eaten more budgets that anything I can think of. Second guessing every decision in the studio has cost record labels, engineers, producers, bands more money than the cost of any big console you’ve ever seen.
Think about the number of times someone’s said, “Dude, I don’t know,” and you’ve had to backtrack and have everyone doubt themselves. The thing that I recognized is that we can do something and we can do something else, but we can’t do nothing. Kind of like oil paint where it doesn’t set until you leave it for quite some time, we’re not done until we’re done. Just track the idea.
The song is 3½ minutes and you want to talk about it for 40 for a part that would’ve just taken 3½ to do. For me it’s do the thing, be definitive, and commit to sounds. All my favorite records had commitment in them.
People drive long distances and pay great sums of money to be in the presence of confidence. I think that reads in a record like in the production style and the way that people deliver the message on a microphone – you can sense that. Would you ever pick a take where you thought, “Well, it might rock now”?
Being definitive actually is compassionate. It’s not ruling with an iron fist in the studio; it’s having compassion for more things that just the feelings of the guy who suggest it. We know that the meter’s running and we’re draining resources with every minute that I don’t say yes or no as the producer. You wind up spending more time on what matters to the song if you make those decisions quickly.
You might realize that your decision was wrong, and if you get your ego out of the way, you track over it. Admit that it’s not the way to go or do something else but don’t just do nothing.”
You can find out more about Joel Hamilton on his website.
You can read more from The Music Business Advice Book and my other books on the excerpt section of bobbyowsinski.com.
