How would you define your main role on most of the projects you work on at the moment?
I am currently finishing my fourth album where I am quartered into the roles of singer, songwriter, composer, and producer 😉 and I am back working for the Almeida Theater (I recently composed the music for Alma Mater https://almeida.co.uk/whats-on/alma-mater/) and that will be in my role of composer.
Please tell us a bit about your background and how you got into the music industry.
I wanted to be on stage and my mother is a theatre actor so I knew of ‘die Bretter die die welt bedeuten’ and found my way onto it. For me, it was singing and writing.
What was your path to becoming a producer/engineer?
I wanted to produce my own debut album but wasn’t trusted with it by my team at the time. The producer who was brought on board luckily was a great guy and became a good friend. I learned a lot watching the production. As I had done before, watching the engineers and producers when I was in the studio.
For my second record decided that I wanted to produce it and hold the reigns. To also be the creative voice behind the sound of my music. It is ultimately a subjective perspective a producer brings on board and those outside voices can be really great and useful for different projects…
but you can also do it yourself if you want. Being decisive, making distinctions and living with the consequences, that’s the job ;). I wanted the job and went for it. It did mean stopping the production of the music I was doing at that time. I heard the songs were not how they sang in my ear and heart so I pulled the breaks – and moved country. A little drastic, but it worked ;).
Engineering was interesting. Also A LOT of watching and also, just as with producing, understanding what I don’t know or can’t do (yet) and what to delegate. I engineer my vocals and piano. And cello. But I limit it there (for now?) and it came from simply having to do it and then realising that I would never not give someone an engineering credit had they helped me with what I had done for myself, so why wouldn’t I claim the credit myself then?
What or who inspired you to follow this path?
Probably my mother telling me that it won’t be enough to have one leg stand solid in the industry but multiple, meaning that with multiple creative footholds I will create a more solid structure for myself. And an engineer who once told me “if you learn Pro-Tools you will save a lot of money in the recording studio.” 😉
What’s your proudest music-based achievement to date?
The Brooklyn Youth Chorus singing my song at the UN was pretty incredible and made me proud…and a Grammy nomination for a record I co-produced.
What one tip can you share with other MPG members that could help their workflow?
No social media!
What one tip would you like an MPG member to share with you?
What a healthy emailing schedule would look like.
