First, ask yourself what is a music producer. This question seems simple on the surface and is very simple but you may find it takes you some time to come to an answer. Immediately, you may propose a music producer is someone who writes music, plays an instrument writes songs, or mixes and masters music. However, you will swiftly realise that a producer does much more than just one of these things. For, you wouldn’t necessarily call someone who exclusively writes sheet music for an orchestra a “music producer”. A producer is someone who understands the synergy between conducting the necessary parts and processes in making the music and working with people to craft ideas and consolidate a creative vision into an end reality – a record.
“Like a director is to a film, the music producer is to a song. They have to be able to make split-second decisions and convey their vision of the final song to all those involved. This vision needs to be communicated to everyone (audio engineers, musicians, singers) in a manner that gets the best possible performance.” (2022)
To be excellent in this role there are some key characteristics necessary for your success. The first is creativity. Understanding what a creative process looks like and how this can hugely vary from person to person is extremely important. Creativity isn’t usually around 100% of the time and it is your job to make sure it’s in the room as much as possible. To do this create an active and organic creative environment for the artists. A space where they can be their true selves wholeheartedly. Artists don’t create art in the absence of doubt and insecurity. Most artists are often very insecure so help them turn their brokenness into art. Find what is unique about them and help them bring it out into the music.
Andy McGuiness and Katy Overy write about the effects of music in their shared chapter in the book “Music and consciousness” edited by David Clarke and Eric Clarke et al.(2011, p. 245). Quote: “What music is capable of providing, rather than communication, is communion – an intimately shared experience between listener and listener and between listener and performer”. The role of a producer is to orchestrate said communion.
Clarke, D.I. and Clarke, E.F. (2011) ‘Chapter 14’, in Music and consciousness: Philosophical, psychological, and cultural perspectives. Oxford etc.: Oxford University Press, p. 145.
Music production: What does a music producer do? (2022) Recording Connection. Available at: https://recordingconnection.com/reference-library/what-does-a-music-producer-do/ (Accessed: 07 December 2023).