How to work with Daniel Lanois?

[juicylime]

If I had a project that I think would suit him (I know, I know. It's a big if!), how would I go about getting Daniel Lanois to produce it?

[Jules]

Big old bag of cash?

Where is he with his solo career?

Does he have an album out?

Is he touring?

Just producing?

He seems to be the 'try something different now' 10th album specialist for artists with long and established careers.. He could have a very long line of recording legends waiting to work with him..You might not be allowed a place in the line...

Good luck though.... I hope you can hire him.

[chymer]

Im guessing $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$, and some $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ and maybe some $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$.
Unless your project is killer and he cant turn it down with some $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ thrown in.
Chymer

[juicylime]

I kind of guessed that the $$$ would be a pretty important factor alright. I'm sure he has no shortage of offers from artists, some of them probably freinds. He also works alot with U2 right beside where I live, so it's not like he'd be getting to try out a new place/vibe/adventure. But then again, that could also make it easier.

I'm working on pre-production and while considering local producers I've realised that it could be great to work with someone from somewhere else and that a good name would do no harm either. Maybe I'll save Daniel for a little further down the road! Where there's a wil there's a way!!

[burst]

You could start with the contact info on his site.

I'd try his attorney first (as opposed to his publisher).

[zakco]

FWIW I met Daniel (very briefly at a local music store while he was on tour) and my impression is that he is a very warm, approachable guy. Mind you I wasn't coming with a business proposition....but still if you really feel that your project is right for him what do you have to lose by a simple inquiry. I agree that his lawyer is probably a good place to start.

good luck,

-Z-

[gear head]

daniel is extremely busy right now, there's a guy from my small town here that works with him, i have tried to contact him but it's pretty much impossible, he has a long list of famous producers that want to work with him

[C/G]

What about his old protege Malcolm Burn? A Lanois vibe for half the price perhaps. I realize it is kind of a Neve clone suggestion here but it is simply a suggestion.

[Santiago]

Apparently he works by invitation. If he likes the music enough he might do it, though he does seem to be concentrating on his solo career lately.

I would also recommend Mark Howard, another ex-Lanois protege who's a wonderful producer (check Lucinda William's World without tears or the mix of Tom Waits' Real Gone)

Santiago

[Jeroleen]

I think the people suggesting using a protege' have a good point. If they know how to get the sound you want and your material is on the money, you should end up in good shape. Then, when you have a major hit on our hands, lots of money, and everyone wants to produce you, you could probably get him.

[RusRant]

I'm a huge fan of Lanois's recording work. One of the things that makes him so great is that he surrounds himself with great engineers that are like minded to him. A "protege might be a great way to go.

[Jamz]

I believe Red Dirt Girl (Emmylou Harris) was produced by Malcolm Burn. I love that album. When I first heard it I swore it was produced by Lanois. Gotta go with Colin on this. If I couldn't hire Mr. Lanois I might reach out to Malcolm Burn.

[Ruudman]

Originally Posted by Jamz

I believe Red Dirt Girl (Emmylou Harris) was produced by Malcolm Burn. I love that album. When I first heard it I swore it was produced by Lanois. Gotta go with Colin on this. If I couldn't hire Mr. Lanois I might reach out to Malcolm Burn.

Old thread, I know.. But I was listening to Red Dirt Girl the other night.
What's going on with track #1?
It's seriously distorted!

[joelpatterson]

Maybe they're trying to weed out only the people who really want to listen to the album???

[travisbrown]

Friend of mine interviewed Lanois for a national Canadian magazine. That was right about the time Mick Jagger phoned Lanois to produce his new album only to have Lanois say, "Uh, I'm too busy with my own stuff right now." I'm guessing this is the album Kravitz ended up producing.

Things I've heard from Lanois mouth -

1. Only works by invitation
2. Only works on music that moves him
3. Charges $5000/hr

I'm sure the last item is variable and he was being cheeky- I'm assuming he's getting points on U2, etc. I'm sure it's also just a way for him to outprice himself from the riff-raff. No way some of the artists he works with pay that.

[travisbrown]

Originally Posted by RusRant

I'm a huge fan of Lanois's recording work. One of the things that makes him so great is that he surrounds himself with great engineers that are like minded to him. A "protege might be a great way to go.

And Pierre Marchand - another protege, most famously of Sarah McLachlan's albums.

[miqer]

Tell him you play better organ then Garth Hudson, and you sing just like Mavis Staple...

[StarfishMusic]

I would suppose be famous enough or up and coming enough for him to call you. I read a U2 Book and i'm pretty sure I remember how U2 ended up using him. Lanois was Brian Eno's helper on Unforgettable Fire. Eno was good but a bit to much of an experimentalist for U2. The Album was decent but everyone admits that album is quite dreamy and short on singles. Lanois and U2 hit it off during that time however, and may have led to them talking on the same level.

Relationships and opportunities are from being both good of course... but also being around. Lanois was great but he met U2 because he was around. That's the trick. Work with lots of people, work at other studios, write songs with people, hob knob because i stongly believe: Being around in any circle progresses to being around in progressively smaller and smaller but more professional and exclusive ones, until your helping out U2's producer but they like you more.

I'm still waiting for my call too lol

Adam

[elambo]

Originally Posted by juicylime

If I had a project that I think would suit him (I know, I know. It's a big if!), how would I go about getting Daniel Lanois to produce it?

Wait for the Lanois add-on pack for the Producer Plugin. Otherwise, I wouldn't hold your breath.

That reminds me - 20 or so years ago I actually contacted a Mozart organization of some sort in Austria to inquire about getting a hold of an original page from one of Mozart's composition. I just wanted one - seemed reasonable - and I had my checkbook out. They were incredibly polite when informing me that there's no way in hell that I'd ever even touch one, but that a few museums could offer me a view. I'd never before or since been so naive.

I feel that I have a better chance of one day owning a page from a Mozart composition than I do of getting Lanois to produce my next album. I have a very strong will for both, but I'm much more realistic now.

[Santiago]

Some other great engineers who have worked with Lanois are Mark Howard and Adam Samuels (probably not available yet as he is Lanois' current engineer).

Plus, another route to working with Lanois is to know him socially!

Apparently he has produced some if not all of "Mercy" the forthcoming album from Rocco Deluca. From what I gather they met through friends in LA and Lanois became interested in his music.

Santiago

[bcgood]

Originally Posted by travisbrown

And Pierre Marchand - another protege, most famously of Sarah McLachlan's albums.

Surfacing sounds awesome.

[travisbrown]

Originally Posted by bcgood

Surfacing sounds awesome.

Indeed it does. Pierre is an excellent producer producing an excellent talent.

[MickeySmid]

He says in his film: "I'll work with Sinead O'Connor any old time."

Who in this pickture is Lanois, one guess:

http://www.sineadoconnor.com/images/water_crew.jpg

[kooz]

Originally Posted by miqer

Tell him you play better organ then Garth Hudson, and you sing just like Mavis Staple...

Yeah, and have a sexy vintage mic and outboard collection connected to your Neve Console..."wanna come over for a beer and to listen to some stuff, Dan? maybe you can help me with your opinion on how to make it better...sure, bring your guitar if you want, but I have plenty around..."

[travisbrown]

Originally Posted by MickeySmid

He says in his film: "I'll work with Sinead O'Connor any old time."

Who in this pickture is Lanois, one guess:

http://www.sineadoconnor.com/images/water_crew.jpg

So there's your answer. Disguise yourself as Sinéad.

[rectifried]

I worked with Malcom Burn...you might as well produce it yourself

[MickeySmid]

Originally Posted by travisbrown

So there's your answer. Disguise yourself as Sinéad.

Hahahahahahaha... Lanois does stick out on the foto... he looks great...

[badger17]

A bit off topic...

I watched the Lanois DVD last night, and noticed that in several parts his guitar seems to be tuned a whole tone flat. For example in one scene he was clearly fingering an open G chord, but the tune was in F.

Anyone know what he's up to?

[recall]

Originally Posted by rectifried

I worked with Malcom Burn...you might as well produce it yourself

do tell

[atiller]

Originally Posted by badger17

A bit off topic...

I watched the Lanois DVD last night, and noticed that in several parts his guitar seems to be tuned a whole tone flat. For example in one scene he was clearly fingering an open G chord, but the tune was in F.

Anyone know what he's up to?

He's probably got his axe tuned down a step. It's really not all that groundbreaking!