Mixing / Production

Paul Ward plays a key role in the thriving Surreal To Real record company, is about to release his second solo album — and still holds down a day job. Paul White caught up with him backstage, after his impressive live performance at the EMMA festival, to find out how he does it.

In the UK exclusive on the 10th anniversary of Trevor Horn's ZTT label, Richard Buskin talks to this renowned producer, whose Midas touch has transformed artists as varied as Frankie Goes To Hollywood, ABC, Yes, the Pet Shop Boys, and most recently Seal.

With a track record that includes hit albums for the Smiths and current chart success with both Blur and the Cranberries, producer Stephen Street is making himself quite a name for his honest and straightforward production approach.

Take some Cajun banjo, an Italian opera singer, and a dash of Robert Fripp. Mix these diverse elements liberally with electronic dance music, and serve as the third album from the Grid, Evolver. Nigel Humberstone talks to the hi-tech duo on the making of this album, and their forthcoming classical project.

Andre Jacquemin is best known for his production work on all the Monty Python albums, but he is also a rock music producer, a composer and an expert at putting sound to picture. Here he reflects on the advances of technology which have allowed him to streamline his working environment, and the support that is necessary to maintain it.

It's a well worn record company adage that the music known as New Age doesn't sell, yet the little-known artist Clifford White has enjoyed such enormous success with this kind of music that he has set up his own booming record company. Paul White (no relation) finds out how.

Despite having spent more than 15 years in the public eye, David Sylvian remains an enigmatic figure who has reinvented his own musical style constantly, both within his solo work and in his collaborations with musicians as diverse as Holger Czukay and Robert Fripp. Paul Tingen charts the history of the thinking musician's thinking musician.

London Records have just given Scottish band Finitribe £75,000 to record their next album. By the terms of their mould-breaking new record deal, even if London don't like the next album, the Finis keep the money. Wilf Smarties finds out how they wangled it.

Composing for film is an ambition shared by innumerable musicians, only a tiny percentage of whom will ever land a soundtrack job. But it can be done. Nigel Humberstone recounts his own experience of scoring a low-budget independent Hollywood movie and talks to Barry Adamson, one of a new breed of soundtrack composers, about his career to date.

Despite looking back fondly on his days as a pioneering member of groundbreaking electronic group Tangerine Dream, Chris Franke has been a solo artist for over half a decade, and has made a name for himself both in the world of film scoores and as a businessman. Ashok Prema talks to the man they call " the sequencer king".

Jane Siberry's unique-sounding music has attracted collaboration from musicians such as Brian Eno and fellow Canadian Michael Brook. But she's still in control, as Mark J. Prendergast discovers...

A surprise hit with the independent release of 'Chime' led to a record contract, numerous singles, two successful LPs and worldwide touring for brothers Phil and Paul Hartnoll. Nigel Humberstone catches up with them to talk about good gear, punk ethics and the importance of being spontaneous...

According to producer Pascal Gabriel, product support in the UK can be patchy and often non-existent. However, there are ways in which a producer can help himself — here he explains how...

Does a band need a record producer? And can the producer also be part of the band? Mike Pickering — one third of M People, the deConstruction act that really came into its own in 1993 — is both a producer and an artist. He sees no conflict in his dual role, but he does feel that the role of producer is changing — here he explains how...

Considered by some to be a guru of the new dance, mixing driving beats with ecletic found sounds, Cabaret Voltaire's Richard H. Kirk remains an influential voice. Mark J. Prendergast tracks him down.

Wilf Smarties gets the word on remixing from DMC's illustrious Brothers in Rhythm team: Dave Seaman and Steve Anderson.

Mark Tinley tells Nigel Humberstone how he landed the gig as Duran Duran's programmer and what the job entails.

Beyond Records is a true example of an independent label, set up by Mike Barnett, an enthusiast keen to get ambient music out to the masses and with a roster of promising electronic acts, including the up and coming Higher Intelligency Agency. Nigel Humberstone talks to Mike about setting up the label and HIA about producing the music.

With the recent re-release of Loops & Reels, plus a new live album, Peter Hammill found time to talk to Paul Tingen about obscurity, crudeness, ADATs, and their place in his music today.

Recording music can, and should be, serious fun, according to producer Tony Visconti.

Paul White looks at achieving a good balance in your mixes.