Songwriters ask, “How can I find producers near me?”
Finding the right producer can be tricky. Sometimes there are music producers in your area who are a good match. Sometimes, there are not.
Let’s find out what a producer does so that you can make an informed decision about who would be a good partner to produce your songs.
A music producer records your song.
They have the equipment, software, a library of sounds, and relationships with sound engineers and musicians. They record your song and then enhance it through stylistic elements.
But, a music producer doesn’t just record or enhance your song. Through arrangements, effects, instrumentation, pro plug-ins, a library of sounds, mixing and mastering, they transform your song.
As a songwriter, you know in your head the way you want the song to sound. The producer uses their skills and experience to make that song a reality.
A music producer brings everything together (which could include a mixing engineer, recording engineer, musicians, etc.) to transform your song.
Of course, some artists produce their own songs. They have put in the time to develop their technical skills and possess the “musical arrangement’ kind of brain to make it work.
Darius wasn’t a technical person. Put him in front of Garage Band and he felt like an idiot. There’s no way he wanted to invest the time to become an expert in production software.
He’d rather spend his time writing songs, perfecting his craft, and gigging.
If you’re like Darius, you will probably need a professional to record and produce your songs.
You’ve written songs you’re proud of. You want the production to mirror the sentiment of the songs and to reflect your authentic style.
It’s no longer just you and your song. A producer adds another dimension of creativity and vision to the process. That creativity, that secret sauce, is what makes each producer unique.
It could be certain instruments that they play distinctly well or a unique way of using sound or mixing techniques that add a certain feeling to an otherwise bare-bones track.
Through many years of practice, a producer has developed their style, honed their skills, and built up a personal library of sounds and techniques that can be used to enhance an artist’s song.
Two of the most important assets a producer brings to the table are knowledge and experience. They know what works and what doesn’t work because they’ve tried and tested it in countless situations — with different artists, in different genres, and different songs. They have years of practice making creative decisions derived from their own personal tastes in combination with the songwriter’s musical style.
The reason you hire a producer is not only to do the things you can’t do but to make your art the best it can be.
If you’re looking for someone to bounce ideas off of, then ask a creative friend.
If you have a high level of technical skills and are adept at music production software, you can create your song at home.
If you want a professional to take your song to the next level, work with a music producer.
Before you go,
Explore: If you’re unsure how you want your song to sound (e.g. Instrumentation, harmonies, effects) ItyDity’s Song Blueprint™ will help you to understand your musical style and give you clarity on what you want. With The Song Blueprint information in hand, a good producer can guide you and help you to see your options.
Read: Find Producers Near Me
Have some questions about song production? Contact emily@itydity.com.