Djamel Cencio on SoundBetter

A producer, songwriter and mix engineer based in London, Djamel has written and produced records for artists including Culture Club, Boy George, Bigga Ranx, Adam Lambert, Stormzy, Ian McKellen, but also for brands including Lee Cooper. His modern, punchy sound and his musicianship has kept him in demand with numerous clients.

For the last 12 years, Djamel has worked across the music industry, from experimental Electronic Music for indie theatres to radio-ready Pop songs. He’s written, produced and mixed for all sorts of styles and projects and continues to be in demand as a composer or engineer.

For more than 3 years, his full-time work at Powerstudio London as a co-producer with Benny D (who produced artists such as the Killers, Kylie Minogue, Stormzy, Depeche Mode) helped him fine-tune his creative and engineering skills.

In addition to his work for Major Labels, Djamel has always enjoyed working with independent and up-and-coming acts. Most of artists nowadays are songwriters and/or producers. Djamel likes to either work from scratch or jump on in-the-making tracks that needs extra production and a final modern mix.

"My work is always unique to the Artist's vision. I'm helping shape and create the sounds and spaces that the Artist hears, as it's their song and story to tell. I'm here to help them create that".

Contact Djamel for your song and get him to take your songs to the next level.

I'd love to hear about your project. Click the 'Contact' button above to get in touch.

Credits

Discogs verified credits for Djamel Cencio

Boy George
Kyasma
Boy George
Boy George

Languages

English
French
Italian

5 Reviews

Endorse Djamel Cencio

by Damien G.
Verified
It's great to work with Djamel, he responds quickly, take comments into account and bring strong artistic inputs
by Claudia Balla
Djamel is an amazing, versatile musician and it’s always a pleasure to work with him. I am very grateful to have had the opportunity to collaborate with him.
by Vangelis Polydorou
I worked with DJ on my debut album and I was really impressed by his musicality, unique ideas and the skills he brought to the table. He has many great attributes,
one being his patience. We worked on this album with Boy George and it took a long time trying to get everything in place and not once did he act frustrated even though there were multiple changes. Dj is a pleasure to work with and makes you feel very relaxed in the booth which is so important as a singer. I was able to have a laugh with him in and out of the studio and I look forward to writing more music with him.
by Mané
Djamel is an incredible producer. Talented and professional. He listens extremely well to the artist's ideas and understands straight away the kind of sound I want, while always staying updated with the latest pop trend. He has a great work ethic and always pushes the artist to get the best result while recording. Not only is he a great professional, but also a very nice human being. Very high quality tracks and mixing. I will continue to work with him and highly recommend him.
by Broken KA
The greatest. Talented and very skilled, Djamel Cencio is the best in this field. The prices are very low for the exceptional quality of the result. I will continue to work with him without hesitation and highly recommend him. He turns your sound into gold.

Interview with Djamel Cencio

Q: What are you working on at the moment?
A: Writing, producing and mixing for Boy George ,Culture Club and on music for indie theatre projects
Q: Analog or digital and why?
A: Best of both
Q: What do you like most about your job?
A: Creation is an unmatched joy
Q: Which artist would you like to work with and why?
A: Christine and the Queens, because she is an interesting artist who takes artistic risks.
Q: Can you share one music production tip?
A: Songwriting is key, layering sample, less is more because every element can be bigger.
Q: What type of music do you usually work on?
A: Pop, electro
Q: What's your strongest skill?
A: Indie and less indie :) electro pop production and mix
Q: What do you bring to a song?
A: Unique production ideas that fit the artist vision and modern punchy mixes
Q: What's your typical work process?
A: For production, I start by listening to the songwriting a few times. I experiment with synths and different instruments and sound design them until I find a unique sound that match the brief of the artist. For mixing,I start by making sure the drum and bass are as solid and punchy as possible. When needed, I layer samples, or sub basses. Once the foundation is strong, I process the lead vocal until it sits perfectly on the drum and bass bed. I then add backing vocals and pads and automate the spacing so the chorus sounds bigger. I then add plucks, guitar and percussion and create movement by automating track by track to give life and dynamic to the song.
Q: Tell us about your studio setup.
A: ATC monitors, analog synths including Minimoog Voyager XL, Prophet 12, UAD plugins, Plugin Alliance plugins, Fender guitar and bass, Audeze LCD-2 headphones to check final mix
Q: What other musicians or music production professionals inspire you?
A: Ian Kirkpatrick, Alex Da Kid, Serban Ghenea, Luca Pretolesi, Timbaland, Manny Marroquin, Rick Rubin, Paul Epworth, Max Martin, Dr. Luke, Greg Kurstin, Shellback, Jon Hopkins.
Q: Describe the most common type of work you do for your clients.
A: Produce songs already written by the artist and give them a final modern mix or write, produce and mix from scratch