Lucas Norton on SoundBetter

I produce, mix, edit, and master all music genres with a specialty in Americana, I have worked as an A&R Rep and Vice president of A&R for MLR and worked the artist through 2 singles that Rob Mathes (Panic! at the Disco, Sting) produced. Producing artists that have 100,000+ monthly listeners and worked with artists that have 1,000,000+ Listens.

Specializing in mixing and production, I operate out of the best collegiate recording studios from New York to L.A.

I am a producer, composer, songwriter, arranger, mixing, editing, mastering engineer producing artists such as My Dog Junior, Miguel Burney, Rosalind & the Way I have also worked closely with artists such as Haley Sorg, neras, and Oblique. A lot of these artists such as neras, Haley Sorg, and Miguel Burney have very large followings and great success rates after working with me.

My primary genres are Folk, Americana, and Rock, although I can produce and work in any genre with confidence.

I have released a multitude of albums, including award-winning records: "SOCA Best Traditional Folk Recording" 2 years in a row.

I worked for Marble Lounge Records as VP of A&R after signing Rosalind & the Way as an A&R rep. During the time of the contract, I worked with Rob Mathes while he produced 2 singles of theirs.

I offer to do any service you may need in regards to music including but not limited to:
Mixing, Editing, Mastering, Arranging, Composing, Producing, Recording, Promoting, Advising, Session Musician Work, etc...

I specialize in Saxophone, Piano, Guitar, Harmonica, Mixing, producing, and arranging.

My costs are very minimal and I am not interested in competing for the most expensive out there, let's make something happen.

Would love to hear from you. Click the contact button above to get in touch.

Credits

1 Reviews

Endorse Lucas Norton

by Jordan Kortenber
Lucas is great to work with and very knowledgeable. He has a very good ear for what something should sound like, but also listens to the customer and what they want from their recording. He always delivers a quality product that is on time.

Interview with Lucas Norton

Q: Tell us about a project you worked on you are especially proud of and why. What was your role?
A: My Dog Jr.s second album: Runion Phase. it's recorded, mixed, and mastered without compression. It adds a new level of depth to the record and every sound has its own space. It's a very nice record, and it won me SOCA's Best Traditional Folk Record in 2018.
Q: What are you working on at the moment?
A: My original album, My Dog Jr.s third album, all location recorded from DC to LA it's been a treasure to work on.
Q: Is there anyone on SoundBetter you know and would recommend to your clients?
A: Sage Sauder, he produces my personal original music.
Q: Analog or digital and why?
A: hahahaha Both. Hybrid the system. I record on an analog Rupert Neve 5088 into a ProTools HD system. Both worlds have their merit, so why not get the best of both worlds?
Q: What's your 'promise' to your clients?
A: I will complete your project to your satisfaction, and I won't take all of your money doing it.
Q: What do you like most about your job?
A: The passion behind it. I meet so many artists that make music for a purpose and learning that purpose is what changes the game.
Q: What questions do customers most commonly ask you? What's your answer?
A: "What are your rates" haha although true... this industry hurts for everyone trying to get their penny. but it's better to get two nickles in an hour over a single dime in 2 hours. I'd rather work with more music than only get the super rich and famous work.
Q: What's the biggest misconception about what you do?
A: Mixing and editing and the recording engineering world is an art form, not just a math and science logic concept.
Q: What questions do you ask prospective clients?
A: Why do you make music? What's the song about? what do you listen to? Why do you make music?
Q: What advice do you have for a customer looking to hire a provider like you?
A: Look for someone who has the passion that will back you up, don't jump for the gear and eye candy, if someone wants something equally as bad as you do, it will happen and work like magic.
Q: If you were on a desert island and could take just 5 pieces of gear, what would they be?
A: Acoustic guitar, piano, a sm57/cable, interface and my laptop for recording. With that right there, you could still make a Grammy-winning record.
Q: What was your career path? How long have you been doing this?
A: I wanted to be a classical composer, but I was really good at saxophone... Performance degrees and composer degrees are ultra competitive. So I found music technology to be a safe ground to do all the work I wanted to in music: play, compose, perform and produce. I started honestly when I was 10 years young, but I started my business in 2016, so formally for 3 years.
Q: How would you describe your style?
A: Minimalistic. You don't need super fancy production to make it work. I have the super fancy production if that's what someone wants, but it isn't necessary if the vibe is in the music, you can ace the whole process with minimal EQ, compression and post work.
Q: Which artist would you like to work with and why?
A: Kuinka, the Lumineers, Bon Iver. Those artists all have a really cool process for their pop side and their extra weird side of their music. to go from folk, guitar, and vocals, to a full-fledged vocoder and electronic performance it would be a real treat to work with those artists.
Q: Can you share one music production tip?
A: It's all about the vibe, if you can't capture the vibe you won't have a good end product.
Q: What type of music do you usually work on?
A: Americana, Folk, and well. Hip-hop/rap. That's the bulk of my clientele, Rap is an easy start for a lot of young artists, and I give them an avenue.
Q: What's your strongest skill?
A: Mixing. it's the hardest skill for most people, myself included. But it's important. Knowing how to shape and sculpt the sounds of instruments how you want them to enhance the vibe and feel that the artist recorded and the producer intended. It shapes the entire process of music listening.
Q: What do you bring to a song?
A: Space and life, as cliche as that sounds it's what the post-production process is supposed to be, you capture the vibe in the recording and give the space of a song in post. Give life to the song by focusing the drive and feel of a song.
Q: What's your typical work process?
A: Listen! listen to what you love, listen to what you don't love. practice with frequencies to shape your ear and then start with the process. Level balance, EQ and structure the song.
Q: Tell us about your studio setup.
A: I operate out of a state of the art studio in the midwest, we have 3 main functioning studios and multiple mix and edit suites. Studio A has a 32 channel Rupert Neve 5088 with over 32 preamps and a ton of great outboard gear. Studio B is the digital recording studio with an Audix S6 console with another 32 preamps and great outboard gear. Our mastering studio is a state of the art listening space with the best outboard gear you can get.
Q: What other musicians or music production professionals inspire you?
A: Rob Mathes was an inspiration to work with, he explained how much about the production is really just vibe setting and getting the right feel and emotion, the gear comes last.
Q: Describe the most common type of work you do for your clients.
A: Mixing and confidence building. A lot of my clients don't know how great their material is and where it can take them. It's my job to use my skills to show them just how good their actual material is.