The Concept of The Mastering Songwriter

  • Thread starter Thread starter J.C. Scott
  • Start date Start date
J.C. Scott said:
I'd like to present the concept of the "mastering songwriter."
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As I see it - what you describe is the qualities of a very good producer. This is just down a good producers line.
A great producer can turn a scetchy (but catchy/good etc) songwriters scetch - and work it into wonders.
Aka. Seal´s "Crazy" to mention just one.
 
Emusic said:
As I see it - what you describe is the qualities of a very good producer. This is just down a good producers line.
A great producer can turn a scetchy (but catchy/good etc) songwriters scetch - and work it into wonders.
Aka. Seal´s "Crazy" to mention just one.
Click to expand...

If the producer hasn't been exposed to the material until it's in decent demo form perchance, it may be somewhat comparable, in my opinion. However, one of the biggest reasons I consider a mastering songwriter a separate commodity is that most producers hear a song at a fairly early stage in the recording process and continue to work with it from there, exposing themselves repeatedly and as a result, sacrifice objectivity.

The point of a mastering songwriter would be to offer an extra set of objective, highly trained songwriting ears. Like the mastering engineer, this person would not be employed until after the song has reached a fairly polished stage of completion (which often happens with the assistance of a good producer) and only then would they offer their objective value judgement. It's a songwriting failsafe mechanism of sorts which I consider analogous in many respects to that of a mastering engineer. No, it won't guarantee success, but neither will contracting a great mastering engineer. I envisage it would generally be a better idea than not, though.
 
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Top producers are hired in when the demos are done and the papers signed (often). Top producers walk from arrangement to arrangement and arent too involved at demo stage at all.
I just dont see this as a potential own profession. Its allready there - covered by the very good producers role.
The production needs someone to tell how the songs will be at its best. But if that person telling them is such a genious, he also have to be the one to bring it there. Hence the producers role.
Well nuf said.
Keep on making music.
 
Thinking about it:
Bringing your songs to a top level songwriter before you actually record a real demo could be fruitful, to get inputs at an early stage. But at this level a great songwriter might suggest rewrites of parts of the song and suggesting arrangements that might bring him in as a cowriter of the song, with forthcoming royalties.
There are several companies offering consultant services for songwriters these days, but I have a feeling many of them are there just to earn money from listening to songs and give more or less meaningful feedbacks.

All the great songwriters I can think of in mainstream pop these days are busy making their own music. I guess they are listening to and giving feedback to others, but not on a very broad basis. Probably to their network writers, managers and friends.

My ending point is this: If there were a great need for such a craftsman/woman in the business, it would have existed.

My 40 cents :)
 
And one more thing :)

Your productions sounds great. So does your voice. Just listened to the Missing you cover.

Geez - 3 posts in a row. I´m talking to myself here :eek:
 
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