Having a GAS...

Having a GAS with...Shawn Everett

Aug 22, 2022

In a captivating discussion, Shawn Everett, a six-time Grammy-winning producer known for his work with top artists like Weezer and John Legend, shares his unique journey from Alberta to the vibrant Los Angeles music scene. He delves into the art of capturing distinct sounds and the importance of innovative recording techniques, advocating for emotional connection in music. Shawn also recounts dream collaborations with icons such as Paul Thomas Anderson and reflects on the sonic magic of The Smiths, revealing how geography influences musical production.

01:26:26

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Episode guests

Shawn Everett

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Quick takeaways

Shawn Everett's journey in music engineering began at age 16, emphasizing the vital role of mentors like Tony Berg in fostering his creativity and industry connections.

The influence of groundbreaking artists like Radiohead transformed Everett's perspective on music production, inspiring him to conceive the studio as an artistic instrument for creating immersive soundscapes.

Everett's collaborative approach to mixing highlights the importance of building trust with artists, ensuring their original vision is enhanced while crafting a rich, emotionally resonant sound.

Deep dives

The Journey to Engineering

The speaker describes their early experiences in music engineering, highlighting an apprenticeship-like journey that began at the age of 16. They emphasize the importance of mentorship from influential figures like producer Tony Berg, who opened doors to opportunities and cultivated a strong understanding of sound design. This mentorship provided a platform for creativity and collaboration, enabling the speaker to work alongside various artists in a hands-on environment. Their persistence and dedication to learning the craft laid the foundation for their eventual success in the music industry.

Intro

4min

Surreal Encounters and Reflections on a Musical Life

2min

From Alberta to LA: A Musical Awakening

7min

Dream Collaborations in Music and Film

2min

Crafting Soundscapes: A Producer's Journey

17min

The Art of Unique Sound Capture

11min

The Sonic Tapestry of The Smiths

23min

Navigating the Art of Mixing and Collaboration

21min

Today, I'm having a GAS with Shawn Everett, a six-time Grammy Award-winning producer and mix engineer.

I genuinely believe that Shawn is one of the architects of the sound of pop music between 2010 and 2020. Not that his career ends in 2020, just to say that the huge, deep, wide and saturated sound of that decade is certainly exemplified by his productions.

After graduating high school, Everett was accepted as a Work-Study participant in the Audio program in Music & Sound at The Banff Centre, Alberta. He took the opportunity to immerse himself in unconventional audio practices over the following four years, experimenting in the campus studios and working on sonic installations.

Everett relocated to Los Angeles in 2005 and expanded his industry network through producer Eric Valentine. He began engineering for producer Tony Berg, former A&R executive for Geffen Records and Virgin Music.

Hailed in 2017 by Pitchfork as “indie rock's new go-to sound engineer”, Shawn Everett has infused his creative flair into records by a multitude of renowned artists including Weezer, John Legend, Phantom Planet, Blake Mills, Perfume Genius, Haim, Warpaint, Grizzly Bear, The Killers, and Beck.

Having a GAS™ is the podcast that talks to the great and the good of the creative industries, and in particular finds out what makes great music for film, for TV, for advertising; for dancing to, for cooking to, f*cking to, and more...

GAS™ Music is a music production agency in Manchester, UK. We compose and produce original music, create awe inspiring sound design and have a fully integrated audio post-production studio. We also have a great record collection, and welcome any additions, recommendations or criticisms.

http://www.gasismusic.co.uk