EP20 - Jim Lowe - "Number 1 singles and a lost Grammy"
Jim Lowe is a Grammy award winning engineer, musician, producer and mixer most famous for his work as the long time right hand man to Welsh Rock Band Stereophonics. Starting out as an Engineer at Nomis Studios in London, he made the step from the engineering chair to the production chair when Kelly Jones, the band's lead singer, reached out to him to engineer demo sessions for their fourth record. The two immediately struck up a fruitful working relationship and by the time the band came to record what would become their 5th album, Language. Sex violence other Jim had transitioned to producing the album. It was a move that would prove fateful for both band and producer as the debut single from that album "Dakota", driven by Jim’s programmed synths and more electronic influences, rocketed to number one, giving the band their first chart topper, and a place on numerous end of year lists. Jim has continued his relationship with the band through another 5 albums, as well as helming work by The Charlatans, and Ex Sex Pistol Glen Matlock. He’s also continued building up his stellar mixing CV that includes the Dandy Warhols, Taylor Swift and Amy McDonald. In this interview we get the story of what it’s like producing a No.1 song like Dakota, the grammy Jim didn’t even know he’d won, and the beauty of Room 1 at Abbey Road when the sound is right and the band is cooking. But we start by hearing about the space Jim works in in his home outside London - a space he built just before lockdown and which he’s given thanks for many times since - and why when he’s mixing he doesn’t always crank the volume knob to 11. The Process of Production is presented by Lawrence Diamond and Bob Matthews. Lawrence cut his teeth playing and writing in Indie bands before finding international success and touring the world with his band CITIZENS! During that time he worked with a host of revered producers including Liam Howe, Mark Ralph and Alex Kapranos. Since the band ended in 2016 he’s been using that experience to help other artists develop their careers as a writer and producer while continuing to release his own music under various different guises. Bob learned his trade as the producer and multi-instrumentalist in Electronic Pop duo Alpines, whose career spans 3 albums, releases on major and indie record labels, shows with Florence + The Machine, The xx, Emeli Sandé, and a top 20 hit 'Tidal Wave' in collaboration with Sub Focus. In recent years he has turned his focus to producing other acts and has a studio in Chiswick in West London. If you have any feedback or questions, please email us: processofproductionpodcast@gmail.com Follow The Process of Production on Instagram @processofproduction If you like the podcast, please consider giving us a review on your podcast provider of choice! Thank you