Deciding on producer/engineer

[stingray5dude]

hey Justin, hope all is well.
I have a question for you that i don't think has been asked yet. What advice/comments do you have for a band trying to find a producer or sound engineer or both, to record an ep or album.
Recording's are so essential on a bands success, yet i feel slightly volatile that an external force out of the band such as a producer can hinder or destory potentially great songs.
What should a band look for in a producer, and if a band already has all the songs worked out down to every last part and arrangement, do we even need a producer, will a sound engineer be sufficient?
Thanks mate

 

[jmjbassplayer]

It has to feel right. You have to have that magic spark, and a mutual passion for the mission at hand. It's almost like falling in love, to be honest. It starts and ends there, everything else is of relatively minimal importance.

Within that magic spark, or "link", other things fall into place and can be worked out with relative ease: working methods, guiding principles, project goals, arrangements, sounds, parts, etc.

Don't work with anyone unless you can look into their eyes and feel "that feeling", just like what you got when you and that certain band member first decided to play together. That very deeply "shared reality" if you will.

Sorry to sound so airy fairy, but I'm telling you, that is the s*#t. I know, seriously.

Does a band need a producer if you have songs worked out to every last part and arrangement? I don't know. Is it good? Can you guys have enough objectivity to REALLY, unequivocally know what's going on with the tunes, the aesthetic direction, the quality of takes during recording, etc. etc.? If so, hells yeah - just get an engineer and go for it. If you really think that you, or some of you in the band, can stand back and make hard, disaffected choices about things then cool. Go for it. If you have a doubt that you can't separate yourself from your vested interests, then I would re-consider.

JMJ