Richard Russell

Richard Russell, the influential music producer and owner of XL Recordings, shares insights from his extensive career with artists like Adele and Radiohead. He discusses the nuances of sample clearance for The Prodigy and the evolving landscape of the music industry. The conversation touches on personal anecdotes, including his thoughts on engagement rings and his salad bar strategy. Russell also explores the impact of technology, like ChatGPT, on creativity, and reveals amusing stories, all while navigating the balance of business and artistry in music.

Richard Russell, the head of XL Recordings and mastermind behind Everything Is Recorded, shares insights on his latest album, 'Temporary.' He delves into themes of grief and loss, highlighting how these emotions shape music. The conversation explores the evolution of genres like folk and reggae in response to technology. Russell also discusses the song 'Firelight,' featuring Samantha Morton's narrative on grief, and the creative collaboration on 'Porcupine Tattoo' with Noah Cyrus. The episode beautifully captures the emotional depth of music and its healing powers.

XL Recordings has released music from Adele, Tyler the Creator, MIA, Dizzee Rascal, Radiohead, The White Stripes, King Krule and many other beloved, boundary-pushing artists. Richard Russell has been with the label since its early days and at the helm since '96. He talks with Rick Rubin about the origin of their friendship, which dates back to the earliest days of XL, and how the label grew from a small electronic label into the greatest Indie of all time. Russell also talks about his career as a producer, which includes the last albums of both Gil Scott-Heron and Bobby Womack.Richard Russell has a new album out under his moniker Everything Is Recorded, you can check it out here: https://xlrecordings.com/buy/everythingisrecorded-fridayforeverAnd to get his newly released book with traces the history of XL Recordings head to https://www.hachette.com.au/richard-russell/liberation-through-hearing. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.