You ARE The Producer

So what is a producer anyway? Do I need one? Can anyone become one?

Let's deal with this one by one, from the back. Yes, almost anyone can become a producer, but the focus this requires means that only a few people ultimately do. And yes, you do need one - even if it's going to be you. And this brings me to the main question: what does a producer do?

You'll find many different answers to this question if you read music business books, or depending on whom you talk to in the music circles. But there's one common thread: the producer is the person who creates the "product." Hence the name. And the "product" is, in a nutshell, your music.

An artist or a songwriter can be, and often is, also a producer. However, it's sometimes a good idea to work with an objective outsider who can help you craft your music (art) into a commercially viable recording (product). And this is what "production" is all about.

So, when you think about it, in order for the "product" to be good, it has to undergo a "quality control" process, which is the essence of production. That's also why I said that "anyone" can become a producer, but only those with sufficient focus actually manage the job. Because the kind of focus required to be a "good" producer can be quite intense.

There are at least two basic types of producers out there. There's the "hands-on" kind and the "ears-only" kind. These days, the first kind is by far the most predominant. That's the guy who is, typically, an experienced engineer or perhaps a songwriter/musician who's been around the block a few times and knows what it takes for a recording to find an audience. The "ears-only" producer is, these days, more of a dying breed - and that's someone who basically just listens to the music and gives (sometimes very vague) instructions to his team members regarding what changes need to be made for a song to "happen."

Both kinds of producers draw on a multitude of skills, whether they themselves are so multi-talented, or whether they have a team of collaborators. They essentially DIRECT the project, down to the minutest detail.

It is not uncommon for a producer to be "everything" on a record, except for the performer him- or herself. Sometimes this leads to rather outrageous situations and accusations of "manufacturing" talent start flying.

In this post, however, we're talking about a "mindset" which is a must for and serious producer.

One of the characteristics of a good producer is the ability to cut through the clutter and bring forth the best values of any song as well as any musician and artist involved in its creation. Like a movie director or a book editor. It's not uncommon for the producer to request lyrical changes, or melodic tweaks or rearrangements. Nothing is off limits, nor should it be. Not infrequently, a producer will actually cowrite large parts of any album he is a part of. And as long as you believe in his or her "grand vision" that's perfectly okay. Troubles only begin when the artist starts feeling that the producer steps on "his" or her "exclusive" territory.

This is just an outline of what the producer does, but the real idea in this post is to bring your attention to the simple FACT that, as an independent artist, you really have almost no choice but to become your own producer. Easier said than done. But... once you realize that it's just a "mindset" that you need to adjust, things become easier.

It's all in the "programming" you've subjected yourself to. If you think that you're "just a songwriter," and "someone else" will have to produce your music, you're most likely heading nowhere fast. You NEED to change this attitude to "I will produce my music to the best of my ability" - and that will include going through EVERYTHING with a fine-tooth comb, until everything in your song is exactly right.

That's why I said that this is a "mindset" thing as much as anything else. That's why an "ears-only" producer can actually do a great job, as long as he's a real taskmaster and has a clear, strong vision. Once you adopt this kind of a mindset, you'll, naturally, also need the technical and artistic skills to execute your own commands and recommendations.

What a producer does, when faced with an inability on part of his artists (or himself) to deliver what he wants to hear, is either modify his requests to suit, or... employ session musicians, singers, engineers - whoever is needed to get the job done.

A good producer, like any good artist, NEVER COMPROMISES his vision of quality.

Take "you" as your own producer. You "hear" your new song in your head and then you record it. And you quickly discover that it doesn't sound quite the way you envisioned it. Do you (a) do "whatever it takes" to make the recording match your imagination, or (b) you settle for the best you could do under the circumstances...?

Well, if you answered "a", you're already a producer. If you answered "b" you need to give your mindset a little shake-up and reconsider your entire position. Chosing the "a" path will lead you to a measure of success, if you persevere. Chosing the "b" path will lead you exactly nowhere.

One final point. You'll wonder if the "a" path is realistically attainable to you. Do you really have the ears and the judgment needed to be a great producer? Well, the truth is that you'll never know until you really try. And another truth is: perhaps you can't be a great producer, but you CAN decide to work with one! And if you're serious about your music, getting better or working with better people is not a choice. It's an imperative.

LISTEN TO: 229-Q/Tuesday Jun 29, 2009