Nicholas Gunn

Music Producer and Composer

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6 Reviews
Nicholas Gunn on SoundBetter

Royal Academy of Music trained multiplatinum producer and composer with over 250 produced and published works with a 55 consecutive week run on the Billboard charts. Currently producing and composing for multiple successful brands within the dance, dance/pop and instrumental music genres.

I create exceptional hit driven music from concept to completion. Whether I am working with the vocal parts alone, creating the parts you need, helping you with top line melody or just the lyric construction, you will receive the very best commercial version of your track, designed for success. I understand the trends of the music business and have created, distributed and sold millions of units as a producer and artist. I have owned and operated an internationally distributed label with over 75 artists and over 500 titles and I am currently a long time voting member of NARAS (The Grammy's) Chicago chapter. Let's go!

Tell me about your project and how I can help, through the 'Contact' button above.

Credits

AllMusic verified credits for Nicholas Gunn
  • Armin van Buuren
  • Armin van Buuren
  • (We Are) Nexus
  • Johannes Linstead
  • Johannes Linstead
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  • (We Are) Nexus

6 Reviews

Endorse Nicholas Gunn
  1. Review by Jon
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    by Jon

    Hopefully these guys can help make my music heard.

  2. Review by David Little
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    I have worked with Nicholas on numerous projects over the years and his level of talent and musicianship is something that he impresses me with on each and every track. His production and songwriting is very deep and melodic, but just as impressive is the actual sonics of the recordings. Extremely professional and an all around nice guy!

  3. Review by Chris Fossek
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    by Chris Fossek

    Nick knows exactly what to do to take any track and make it sound its absolute best. He utilizes a balance of deep music production knowledge, from years of being in the industry, and strong musical intuition. He's great guy and a ton of fun to work with. I will always look forward to Nick's contributions on future projects. Five Stars for Nick!

  4. Review by Dana
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    by Dana

    I've worked with Nick on several song writing collaborations. He creates amazing lead lines and knows exactly how every word needs to sound and be said to fit it like a glove. He approaches vocals like they are an instrument, highlighting them with complex countermelodies compositionally and amazing tonalities through his production. Def recommend!

  5. Review by Jarod
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    by Jarod

    Nick knows exactly what he is doing. He has well rounded experience on all sides of the industry. He will transform your music into an incredible piece of art. You will not just be receiving an amazing track, but a piece of art that will be ready for mainstream consumption. Nick puts his time and passion into your work, and it clearly shows.

  6. Review by Brett V.
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    Nicholas is an extremely talented and professional producer/creator/writer! He lives and breathes music. He brings his passion, talent, and professionalism to each and every project! I highly recommend working with Nicholas to help bring your project to the next level!

Interview with Nicholas Gunn

  1. Q: What do you bring to a song?

  2. A: I would say years of experience producing hundreds of tracks across multiple genres. I have learned the importance of market relevance, sonic excellence and superior song construction. Lasting, reoccurring, memorable melody is one of the main keys to commercial success and outstanding content....

  3. Q: What was your career path? How long have you been doing this?

  4. A: 24 years now. I was fortunate to be signed as an artist to a label in 1993 and went on to self produce over 17 instrumental albums selling millions of units worldwide. I owned and operated a label with 75 artists and several hundred titles from 2001 through 2009 and am now producing for multiple acts and brands within the dance and dance / pop industry that has resulted in multiple iTunes top 100 dance tracks, Billboard top dance singles and Billboard top club singles, as well as numerous other accolades. My productions and music have been licensed by many companies such as Bose, Mercedes Benz, Discovery Channel, Today Show, and Wynn Resorts to name a few...You can also reference my Wikipedia at: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nicholas_Gunn

  5. Q: What questions do customers most commonly ask you? What's your answer?

  6. A: If I can create a commercial sounding recording for them that is representative of my most successful works. My answer usually depends on whether or not the client is willing to listen and understand the process of creating a commercial track. It's sometimes not as straight forward as some would think. I try to be honest with singers that need more work. I try to be transparent with singers and performers that need to be properly directed in the studio to capture the right performance. I believe honesty is really my best answer....

  7. Q: Analog or digital and why?

  8. A: Digital in the box for editing, effects and VST. Analog tube pre's for mic inputs. I once owned an analog 24 track tape deck along with a 96 input analog console. I am now creating mixes and productions that exceed the sonic capabilities of using, alone, this kind of analog equipment. It's also a huge relief to not have the maintenance issues surrounding so much analog equipment. In addition, there are also some exceptional in the box tape saturation simulators that I use that help provide an analog sound on some tracks...

  9. Q: What are you working on at the moment?

  10. A: I am wrapping a production for a client this week who's track we matched to a young developing artist: Kazzi Jo. The client came to me as a writer who wanted to fully develop her music and find the appropriate vocalist. I rearranged the song and lyric to be more commercially viable and then built an entire track around Kazzi Jo's vocal creating the clients first commercial track in the market place....

  11. Q: Is there anyone on SoundBetter you know and would recommend to your clients?

  12. A: I have not had the opportunity to spend enough time with the current roster to make a recommendation....

  13. Q: Tell us about a project you worked on you are especially proud of and why. What was your role?

  14. A: Great question! I always say my most recent is my best work! I feel very passionate about everything I work on. I am especially proud of Those Summer Days (feat Jaik Willis). You can listen to this track as it's one of my audio samples on this page. I am the producer, composer, lyricist and engineer on this track...

  15. Q: How would you describe your style?

  16. A: Melodically driven and accessible. Deep enough without drowning and shallow enough where you can still bathe in the sun :-)

  17. Q: What's your 'promise' to your clients?

  18. A: That we will create the best version of your work.

  19. Q: What do you like most about your job?

  20. A: This is in no way a job. This is an absolute passion....

  21. Q: What's the biggest misconception about what you do?

  22. A: It's a long process of detailed editing and mixing. The choices that are made that go into a successful sounding mix and production are often long and extremely tedious....

  23. Q: What questions do you ask prospective clients?

  24. A: What is the ultimate goal? I like to hear previous works, if any. This can often determine the clients sound and direction. Other initial questions might be: Do you have the vocal parts to your song completed or are you looking to create the vocal parts? Do you have any idea of supporting instrumentation or direction for your work?

  25. Q: What advice do you have for a customer looking to hire a provider like you?

  26. A: Listen carefully to the work the producer has done. Does their work stand up against your favorite artists in the market place that are commercially successful? This is now about YOUR music. Your objectivity and the understanding of what musical excellence is molds your ability to make the right choice....

  27. Q: If you were on a desert island and could take just 5 pieces of gear, what would they be?

  28. A: A great mic and tube pre (that's two). Computer loaded with all my go to plugins (that's one). My favorite pair of near field monitors and a really comfortable chair!

  29. Q: Which artist would you like to work with and why?

  30. A: Bruno Mars. An amazing songwriter who understands his own authentic sound and has bridged that sound to commercial success effectively...

  31. Q: Can you share one music production tip?

  32. A: Listen, listen, listen! Listen objectively to what the other top artists and producers are doing in your field. learning to effectively bridge your own sound to market relevance is a unique gift and one of the keys to commercial success...

  33. Q: What type of music do you usually work on?

  34. A: Dance, Dance / Pop, Pop, Score and Sound Design...

  35. Q: What's your strongest skill?

  36. A: Market relevance through superior song construction and production...

  37. Q: What's your typical work process?

  38. A: Depending on the clients requirements, I find myself building and creating entire tracks from concept to completion in my studio over a week period. I try to work on one project at a time keeping complete focus on the intended goal of the project. My client pool has consisted mostly of top line artists and vocalists who need relevant and commercial tracks built around their ideas. In some instances the vocal parts may already be complete and these files are shared with me across the miles. In other cases I work closely with the artist to construct the very best vocal performances in the studio. We keep working until we get it right and the goal is met...

  39. Q: What other musicians or music production professionals inspire you?

  40. A: There's many I respect over multiple genres. I have much respect for the work of Max Martin in pop, DeadMua5 in dance, Vangelis in instrumental, Hans Zimmer in score. These producers are not only great sound engineers but are also prolific writers and producers of their own content....Producers in today's market place, in my opinion, need to wear several hats. Having a complete understanding of song construction, writing as well as market relevance are prerequisites.

  41. Q: Tell us about your studio setup.

  42. A: Located in downtown Chicago my studio consists of all the necessary tools I need to produce music efficiently and thoroughly. My room is extremely creative, spacious and comfortable and has a really laid back spiritual vibe. I often bring in my dog Na'la (a Boston Terrier) who ads the necessary animal energy vibe to the environment. I work mostly in the box using the most powerful tools and plugins available in the industry: Apple hardware, DP DAW, SSL, Spectrasonics, Kontakt, Massive, Melodyne, Lexicon along with an array of necessary mics and tube pre's to capture the perfect performances. I use Mackie HR824 near field monitors and a QSC system for mains. The room is extremely balanced and trapped out for accurate mixing and recording. The location is a beautiful full service building with a restaurant, bar as well as many other great creative services.

  43. Q: Describe the most common type of work you do for your clients.

  44. A: The most common work I find myself producing these days is Dance and Dance / Pop. I have a had long successful history in producing world and instrumental music and then partnered with (We Are) Nexus in 2012 which put me on the radar as a dance and pop producer with the 2012 Billboard charting dance single It Feels So Good.

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Those Summer Days (feat. Jaik Willis)

I was the Producer, Engineer, Composer and Lyricist in this production

Terms Of Service

Artists need flexible financial arrangements. Please feel free to discuss with me your your financial requirements.

Gear Highlights
  • Apple Hardware. MOTU DAW. Plugins: SSL / Renaissance / Lexicon / Melodyne / McDSP /
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