(Almost) Everything I Know About Producing I Learned From Stephen King
I am a huge Stephen King fan. I wasn't fully aware of this until I moved back to Los Angeles and began unpacking stuff that had been in boxes for 2 years. Among the Queen cassettes and socks, I found my Stephen King collection. I have the following books:
The Stand
Different Seasons
The Shining
Christine
Cujo
The Dead Zone
Needful Things
Skeleton Crew
The Bachman Books
Wizard & Glass (Dark Tower IV)
The Drawing of the Three (Dark Tower II)
The Wolf Howlers (Dark Tower V)
IT
The Tommyknockers
Misery
Different Seasons
Bag of Bones
Desperation
The Green Mile
Song of Susannah (VI)
The Dark Tower (The Dark Tower VII)
What I don't have is the one that has most deeply touched my life: "On Writing." If you are a writer or a creative artist of any kind it should be mandatory reading.
It also happens to be the best textbook on how to produce rock and roll music you can buy.
7 THINGS I LEARNED ABOUT PRODUCING ROCK MUSIC FROM STEPHEN KING
1. The first draft is playing Legos when you were a kid. It's all "YES! And..." A good example of this is the helicopter intro and outro to "Goodnight Saigon" by Billy Joel. Gotta throw it on there. Why not? Sounds awesome! And the song is about VIETNAM!
2. After you finish the first draft, you can't listen to it for awhile. You are not allowed. Take walks, hang out with friends, see movies, listen to a lot of music (but not that one). You'll want to -- just for a minute -- but don't. Two weeks is the minimum. I think one month is ideal, but I usually can't wait that long.
3. One magical day the universe will provide a sign: it's time to listen to that first draft. Maybe this sign will be the record label sending you an e-mail that says: "When is your album going to be done?" Maybe it will be finding a shoe you thought you lost or one sentence a stranger says to you. It's often subtle and if you want to stay on the Path of the Beam you'd better PAY ATTENTION. Read the sign when it appears; then settle in for a cozy night with your first draft and some headphones. CRANK IT. Don't worry about your hearing. Listen. Loud. Enjoy it.
4. After one time through you'll know pretty much how to finish it. Bad choices will stick out. Dishonesty will kick you in the gut. Technical stuff will become clear (the drums are too loud on that song). Creative stuff will become clear (the helicopter intro and outro should be cut). Do another pass and call it done. Take your time. Get it right. No deadlines.
5. Listen a lot -- as you're driving, walking, riding & surfing the web. SHARE. Play the almost final mixes for people. Give them CDs or songs to listen to. Don't worry, about 89% will not say anything at all. Some people have to work for a living. So: PAY ATTENTION to the 11% who do respond. Listen to every word they say. Read between the lines. Address every point that rings true. This can be a bit tricky. Someone says: "I really don't like the organ song." That could translate to: "The Organ Song" is sequenced wrong. Try it elsewhere. It could also mean that "The Organ Song" is a B-side. Somehow, you're going to have to deal with "The Organ Song." It has been my experience that every track you address from someone else's perspective will improve in one way or another.
6. Tie goes to the artist.
7. No one will like you for making music. They might like the MUSIC, but they won't like YOU for making it. Some people have to work for a living. Be grateful, be humble, be proud, always say please & thank you, LISTEN, and hope that you'll be able to continue to make music for a long time because it brings so much joy into your life.
Thanks Stephen! You are the best producer on the planet. You should produce Bruce's next album.
I love producing and I've only recently felt confident enough about it to feel comfortable producing other artists. The first album I made that was not one of mine was released February 3rd, 2009 in Austin, TX. It's Raina Rose's 3rd album, it's called "End of Endless False Starts," & she thinks it's her best. CHECK IT OUT HERE.
I'm currently producing Anthony da Costa's next album with him. Just finished #2. First draft is in the mail to him & I have done plenty of listening. So if I can walk the walk, I don't get to hear it again until May 26th. That seems too long, but we'll see.
posted by John Elliott at
9:14 AM
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