Grammy award-winning producer Craig Silvey hosts ICMP masterclass

ICMP was delighted to welcome Grammy award-winning producer and mixer Craig Silvey for an exclusive masterclass with our students.

American-born, UK-based record producer and mixer Craig Silvey has worked on a number of multi-million-selling records for artists including R.E.M., Portishead, Florence + The Machine and Arctic Monkeys. 

He's been the recipient of various awards, including two Grammys for Arcade Fire and a Producers Guild Award for Goldfrapp's 'Tales Of Us'. 

As part of his class, Craig broke down a session and talked through his creative process in the studio.

Commenting on his route into music production, Craig said: 

I was the weird kid who knew I wanted to get into music and production from a teenager. I worked my way up through studios, cleaning toilets, taking out the trash."

"I was lucky enough to work with some great engineers, George Massenburg, as well as at Lucas Film for Skywalker Sound."

Craig launched a studio called Toast in San Francisco before heading to the UK where he was initially based at Konk Studios, then The Garden. 

On his essential advice for producers, Craig said: "When I first approach a mix, my most important thing is the emotional response to the song - not whether the kick drum is fat or punchy - or the vocal bright and clear."

Ask yourself what the production needs to convey to get the message of the song across. Try and understand what they want to get across emotionally."

Thanks to Craig for sharing his knowledge and expertise.

Visit craig-silvey.com for more information on Craig and his projects. 

Watch the full interview below: