Dan Crook

Producer / Engineer / Mixer

Dan Crook on SoundBetter

Mercury nominated Producer, Mixer and Musician

Even from a young age, Dan had made his way into commercial recording studios, quickly working with acts such as The Who, Cutting Crew and The Pretty Things. In the years since, Dan has gone on to help cement himself within the industry by setting up in a private space hidden deep within the Sussex countryside built by himself and fellow producer, Ben Hillier.

Dan describes himself as a creative engineer and mixer:
"I don't really allow myself to be dictated by what could be considered a 'standard approach' to recording or mixing. I like to focus on how a recording should be framed for the listener to fall into as easily as possible, but by my means. I do this by understanding the eclectic range of gear that I have at my disposal here at the studio and how it can be used and abused."

Click the 'Contact' above to get in touch. Looking forward to hearing from you.

Credits

Discogs verified credits for Daniel Crook
  • Five Kites
  • Glum (5)
  • Creeping Jean
  • John J. Presley
  • Goldie Reed
  • Josh T. Pearson*
  • Nadine Shah
  • Various
  • Five Kites
  • Nadine Shah
  • Kings Of The South Seas
  • Doctor Octave
  • Gang Of Four
  • One True Pairing
  • Nadine Shah
  • Melt Yourself Down
  • Juanita Stein
  • Creeping Jean
  • Nuha Ruby Ra
  • Melt Yourself Down
  • Killing Joke
  • Nuha Ruby Ra
  • John J. Presley
  • Black Grape
  • Nadine Shah
  • My Life Story

Interview with Dan Crook

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

  2. A: A couple of people actually. Alex Newport, who's just built a new studio somewhere in the desert outside of LA. I love his work and what an incredibly enviable career he's had. Also - Josh Tyrell, I've worked on a few projects that he's also worked on and he's a very talented person! Based somewhere in North London Don't hesitate to give either of them a shout

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

  4. A: Lots of Killing Joke remixes, some new Nadine Shah material, recording and mixing some stuff for a new band on One Little Indian called Sunken... busy!

  5. Q: Analog or digital and why?

  6. A: Both

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

  8. A: Don't be afraid to ask questions and just get in touch! It doesn't have to be daunting - we're all nice people who all want to hear about projects that are going on.

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

  10. A: Tricky question, but if I worked on whatever Tom Waits or Alabama Shakes do next then I'd die a happy man

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

  12. A: That song you're working on probably needs way less parts than you've put in!

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

  14. A: I don't really have one. I like to spend the time to get a mix working right early on. But sometimes that just doesn't happen. That's the challenge really with this job, it's about figuring out the puzzle to get something over the finish line!

  15. Q: Tell us about your studio setup.

  16. A: I'm set up in a very unique studio in the South East of the UK. It's made from straw bales which gives it an incredible acoustic response. It's never tiring on your ears in there, so I can work for hours straight. It's full of a wide range of outboard. Lots of compression and crunch boxes like Chandler, Urei, Thermionic and Crange song. I'm just starting what I can tell is going to be a long journey into using tape. So I've collected up a few cheaper tape machines during the covid era and I have those all down now as tone and distortion boxes.

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

  18. A: I absolutely love some of the Shawn Everett stuff. He has such an earthy approach to making a recording sound heavy - whilst I also admire his totally radical sounds and mixes. I'm also very into those golden years of Flood. Again, a very brave style of record making which I saw echoed working with Ben Hillier, but his work is always inviting. Also, a massive shout out to Sylvia Massey. Big fan! Great sounding records, very brave record maker but also a massive champion of fun as a part of the process. It's too rarely considered

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

  20. A: I'm an all-rounder really at this stage. I do a lot of recording sessions, but then the next day I could be mixing, writing or even touring.

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Identify by Starrk

I was the Writer, Producer, Engineer and Mixer in this production

Terms Of Service

I don't limit recalls - it's got to be good, right?

GenresSounds Like
  • Death From Above 1979
  • Tom Waits
  • Depeche Mode
Gear Highlights
  • Studer 089
  • Arp 2600
  • EMS VCS3
  • Shure Level-Locs
  • Various weird tape machines
  • Various weird spring reverbs
  • Chandler Zener Limiter
  • Roland Chorus Echo
  • 1176
  • TLA100
  • Kush Fatso
  • Doepfer Modular System
  • Blacet Modular System
More Photos
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