It’s been awhile since I’ve last Tumbled. I should do it more, and I will. Today, however, I wanted to give props to my producer, mentor, and good friend: Mark Williams.
Me and Mark playing at Jammin’ Java in 2009
Mark and I met in 2006, when I was still playing in my high school rock band, and he was producing out of a back room in a suburban house. What I remember most from the first vocal session I had with him was that by the end of the day, I had dubbed him the “Vocal Nazi”. He made me sing seven takes of each verse, and my untrained voice was hoarse and raw when we were done. I got into the car upset and frustrated. However, when I listen to the product of that session, it’s clear that the track is by far the best vocal recording I could ever have gotten at that age.
L to R: Me, Mark, Richard, and John during a 2006 session. Yes, I was really awkward.
After the band broke up, Mark and I remained close, mostly due to our mutual appreciation for The Beatles, Aimee Mann, Adam Schlesinger, and Jon Brion. When I came home for spring break during my second semester of college, I went to Mark’s recently acquired studio, Sucker Punch, to check it out and play him a few songs. It was then that we decided to record an EP together.
Mark is one of the hardest working musicians I’ve ever met, as well as one of the nicest people. He will spend countless hours laboring over the right guitar tone or perfecting the graphic EQ, while still being equally happy to sit around and talk.
So, I just wanted to give the man behind the production of my songs his due. Mark, you are the best!
