Glenn Swan
Established Music Business Veteran with an extensive demonstrated history of success. Skilled in Major Label Music Production, and Administration. Established history of Music, Film, & Television business relationships. Well earned client list of celebrity elite. New Orleans Center for Creative Arts & Berklee College of Music Alumni.
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Interview with Glenn Swan
Q: Tell us about a project you worked on you are especially proud of and why. What was your role?
A: "Dedicated" for Tsebiyah, an amazing singer. It's a classic R&B throwback that I wrote & produced. It pays homage to one of my favorite music producers Leon Sylvers III. Everything about the record came out perfect. I wrote a great lyric, and a stellar melody against the chord changes. I arranged a 4 part harmony Acapella Intro for her that we recorded like a Gospel Choir. It came out FANTASTIC. I used old analog synths from the 70's & 80's, and also an Electric Rhodes Piano from the 70's. I used modern Hip Hop Drum Samples and did the rhythms polyrhythmic, which u never really hear in Pop music, but I made it work in a Pop music sense, where I combined rhythm instruments in triplets and straight. I used cool dreamy sound FX. The best part of it all was the great vocal harmony arrangement I did, which I LOVE to do.
Q: What are you working on at the moment?
A: A Music Video for the Lavendiah's next release "MAKE ME FEEL"
Q: Is there anyone on SoundBetter you know and would recommend to your clients?
A: Yaevin
Q: Analog or digital and why?
A: Both. Analog Mic Pre's & Compressors for all the recording bc the sound is unmistakably better. Digital bc of the technological conveniences. In terms of Synthesizers both are great.
Q: What's your 'promise' to your clients?
A: That I can't promise them success bc in the "business of music", you can be the greatest talent on earth and NEVER make it.
Q: What do you like most about your job?
A: Making Music, arranging harmonies, and hearing the finished product after a lot of hard work.
Q: What questions do customers most commonly ask you? What's your answer?
A: Who have you worked with.?? Google Me !!!
Q: What's the biggest misconception about what you do?
A: That I make a record in a day. In my experience,, it takes about an average 40 working hours to make a great record from start to finish. More or less depending of the size of the arrangement.
Q: What questions do you ask prospective clients?
A: What sound & style they're wanting to achieve
Q: What advice do you have for a customer looking to hire a provider like you?
A: Skill & craftsmanship have value. Don't contact a Maserati dealer, expecting to get one for the cost of a Nissan Sentra.
Q: If you were on a desert island and could take just 5 pieces of gear, what would they be?
A: A Grand Piano that never goes out of tune. An Acoustic Guitar & a 12 String that never go out of tune. Guitar Pick, and Insect Repellant.
Q: What was your career path? How long have you been doing this?
A: 30 Years. New Orleans Jazz Education. Berklee Music Production & Engineering of Music, raced off to NYC to try and become famous like everyone else. Got an Internship in Unique Recording. Worked with tons of superstars. Signed a deal with Warner Elektra as an Artist. No album ever released. Stuck in that deal for years. Went back to working in studios, took on a major music business administrative job and accomplished a lot in that department and continued Producing Music.
Q: How would you describe your style?
A: Educated Musician meets Master of Technology
Q: Which artist would you like to work with and why?
A: Taylor Swift. She's a great songwriter, and she does records that are a combination of all styles into one, Pop R&B Hiphop & Country . The best part for me, would be to arrange some amazing vocal harmony choirs for her backgrounds. Hardly anyone does today, except on an amateur level. Oh and Denise Tillman, a real deal modern day Whitney Houston, that kind of generational talent.
Q: Can you share one music production tip?
A: The majority of today's "Famous Producers" are "Masters of the Technology" and are "Know Nothings" when it comes to Music. I'm speaking from a musically educated standpoint. Think of how lethal you could be if you were both.
Q: What type of music do you usually work on?
A: R&B Pop
Q: What's your strongest skill?
A: Working with difficult people.
Q: What do you bring to a song?
A: Strong Production Knowledge & Experience, Real Music & Harmony.
Q: What's your typical work process?
A: Meticulous, I will either make the highest quality that can be achieved, or I will pass on it .....
Q: Tell us about your studio setup.
A: Mac Studio with Protools and a Gazillion Plugins, Virtual Instruments, and Pro Audio software. LG Ultrawide 34" Monitor Various High End Vintage Mics Neve 1073 API 550's Teletronix LA2A Tubetech CL1B UA 1176 Apogee Symphony MKII Yamaha NS10's Genelec 1032's Augsperger Mains with Subs
Q: What other musicians or music production professionals inspire you?
A: Charles Stepney, Norman Whitfield, George Martin, Quincy Jones, Rod Temperton, Henley & Frey, David Paich, Arif Mardin, Leon Sylvers III, Mutt Lange, Keith Diamond, DeVante Swing
Q: Describe the most common type of work you do for your clients.
A: Complete Music Production...... Write the music & the song, co write, or simply take the existing Artists song and bring it into a full record. Modify the key to achieve the sweet spot of the Artist's vocal range. Strengthen the melody by formulating the best harmonic support structure aka the Chord changes and vice versa. Arrange all the music. Orchestrate awesome Vocal Harmonies based on the harmonic structure of the song. Track up their vocals and help give direction both, on the Leads, and the Vocal Harmonies, which are orchestrated, NOT fake harmonies made up standing at the mIc. Oversee and manage the entire process from start top finish, aka mixing, mastering, copyright, and distribution.
