Firstly, don’t be put off by the cover and look of this book – it is far less technical than it appears, and is actually an easily readable portrayal of the music industry, with anecdotes about a number of celebrities and the producers behind them. If you have any interest in the creativity involved in recording music, this book will fascinate you.
If you’re thinking of a career behind the scenes in the industry, you will find plenty of advice and inspiration, while musicians and songwriters will find this book invaluable in making an informed decision on the type of producer you need to work with to complement your skills – or what you need to know and learn in order to self-produce an album. Richard Burgess is the producer behind names like Spandau Ballet, Kim Wilde, and Adam Ant. In The Art Of Music Production he sets out to demystify the strange profession of producing music albums, and advise potential producers on embarking on a career in the music industry.
Unlike the film producer, the record producer acts more like a director. There may be some administration, management, and sound engineering elements to the job, but the most sought after producers are those who add a great deal of creativity to the mix. The most experienced, successful, and talented producers have reached the stage where their job is pure creative involvement, and they can hire accountants, PR people, managers, and engineers to do the left-brain side of the job.
There are a number of different levels a producer can attain in the music industry, and also many ways into the field. Burgess clarifies how almost anyone with a love of music can use their specific talents to produce albums. For example, a producer with no musical ability might be the perfect people manager, able to coax a grumpy diva into pitching up and giving a sterling performance. Or a shy songwriter might have the uncanny talent of spotting a potential star and the ability (flexibility and humility) to collaborate on the perfect song – sitting more in the shadows, but leaving the album with an undeniable golden touch.
At the more experienced level are producers who lead every aspect of the album creation, from writing most of the music and lyrics, to playing some of the instruments, and mixing the sound in the engineering room. And conversely, the guru producer whose name and interest in a new act can sometimes be enough to catapult them into the charts. This type of producer doesn’t need to do much more than listen to a few tracks, give some advice or encouragement, and point the rest of his crew in the right direction. Burgess believes that this kind of charisma is something a person is born with.
Starting as an apprentice or assistant to an audio engineer is usually the most logical route to take, and is an invaluable way to learn a great deal about the industry, the technical skills, and the key players. Musicians and songwriters also have a foot in the door, and Burgess recommends that songwriters collaborate with an artist on songs to showcase their production abilities, rather than trying to head straight to producer status. DJs also have a good path to follow because of the popularity of remixes and the technical skill and talent they’ve already developed.
Burgess has an upbeat and extremely positive tone, and his key advice is to be persistent and determined. You can be a tortured genius whom no one knows about – or you can grab some opportunities and let the world know what you can do. He even tries to encourage more women to join the creative world of music production.
The Art of Music Production by Richard Burgess is available from Amazon.com
