Exclusive Interview
Jul 8, 2020
Produced by: Rudy Manager & Eethan Bello
Dave Cerminara: “I'm excited to hear what artists and songwriters produce once people get in rooms together again.”
When you’re recording artists, what do you do to get the best performance out of them? Do you have any tricks for that?
There's not one end-all trick because artists are so different. It's more about flexibility, adapting what you do or how you do it to accommodate them and make them comfortable. That'll go a long way.
What is your favourite project that you worked on and why?
That's tough, maybe unfair to pick one. I love working with Josh Tillman (Father John Misty), we have a great rapport at this point and I admire his songwriting so much, it's always a lot of fun. Working with HEALTH is the same, they're great friends. It's pretty intense music, so you really have to push from a production/mixing perspective to make it as heavy as it needs to be. I like that challenge.
What do you enjoy most from being a music producer and mixing/recording engineer?
There's a certain camaraderie that comes with working on records when you're part of a team working toward an end that I've always loved. I think since I started, going back to being in bands, that feeling of making something with friends is extremely rewarding to me. Also, starting work at 10:30 or 11:00 am is pretty undeniable, I don't think I'm wired for a regular job with normal hours.
What advice would you give to upcoming engineers and music producers and what do you think are the most important skills to have when working in a recording studio?
When you're starting out say 'yes' to as many gigs as possible. The music world, at least in my experience, is just randomness and chaos, things lead to other things in completely unpredictable ways. So you just never know, a seemingly whatever session might lead to a mix project, so on and so forth. You just have to say 'yes' and stay persistent.
There are some real unsatisfactory bits early on – nowadays being an assistant also includes running errands, placing food orders, and tasks that used to belong to interns. It is not rad and gets mentally tiresome. BUT, it is a necessary weeding-out process. If you're talented and, maybe more importantly, if you're a good hang, you'll make it through.
Has the current coronavirus crisis affected your work and what consequences do you think it would have on music creatives?
Absolutely, things slowed down for a couple of months but they're starting to bounce back again. I did some remote production and mixing during the break, but not at all what I'm used to in terms of schedule. That said, I can't complain at all with everything going on at the moment. Comparatively, I'm fine.
It's so tough to predict. On one hand, I'm excited to hear what artists and songwriters produce once people get together in rooms again. I think we'll see a high musical output. On the darker side, when is touring going to come back? Are album budgets going shrink yet again? I don't know, the best you can do is stay optimistic.
Are you currently working on some projects?
I am, some projects that started before the pandemic and others I'm just starting now. Out of respect for the artists I never want to preemptively announce a record, that's not my place. But definitely a few I'm excited about. Some remote production work that's a bit out of my comfort zone, that's a good spot to find yourself in.
Follow Dave Cerminara on Instagram: @davecerminara
More Blog Posts
See our latest blogs