Jack R Hardman on SoundBetter

Published songwriter and producer who's obsessed with rich sounds, catchy hooks, and warm reverbs! I can help bring the best out of your music and really make it shine.

Hey guys! My name's Jack, I'm a published songwriter and producer from London.

What can I say? I love writing songs. My work has been featured everywhere from BBC Radio 1, Radio X, Glastonbury Festival, and on Ads for Coca-Cola across the whole of Asia. I've been compared to the likes of Bon Iver, Fleet Foxes, and Sufjan Stevens in the past, so can blend genre and melody to create catchy and distinctive music.

As a producer, it's my job to bring the very best out of your songs. From delicate counter melodies to huge string arrangements, I'm here to present your work in it's best possible light. I'm a people person, and know that communication is the key to creating great work. No ego, just doing the best for you and your music.

I'm also an extremely experienced singer with an emotive and vulnerable voice. I can improvise harmony and counter melodies with ease, so can deliver whole vocal packages with very little guidance.

What's more, I'm an all rounder who plays guitar, bass, piano, sings, and has a full professional recording setup. This means I can turn rough mobile phone demos into polished productions quickly without having to hire any other musicians. A one stop shop.

Got questions? Drop me a line! I love to chat.

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

Credits

4 Reviews

Endorse Jack R Hardman

by Tamyka S.
Verified
Produced a song for me exactly how I imagined, a super talented and friendly guy. Brilliant service!
by Petar Milanovic
Verified (Client)
Jack was my first client on SoundBetter and everything went smooth . He was precise with informations but he also left me with the space for my own creativity . I will certainly work with him again .
by Mella
Verified (Client)
Jack was great to work with and the song was a fun project! I'm excited to hear the end result and would also love to work with him again in the future. Highly recommend!
by Arron Storey
I've worked with Jack on a number of projects over the years and he always brings the same wonderful energy and musicality, whether the track is his or someone else's. He has a knack of knowing when to take control of a situation, or, like any talented producer, when to bring the best out of the artist's ideas. He thinks outside of the box to effortlessly bring a fresh angle to a tune and I strongly recommend Jack to any artist as a producer or co-writer.

Interview with Jack R Hardman

Q: What are you working on at the moment?
A: I'm producing a young songwriter from London who is very raw but has the most incredible voice ever.
Q: Is there anyone on SoundBetter you know and would recommend to your clients?
A: Arron Storey is a fantastic lyricist and a very clever guy. He speaks fluent French and does a lot of work translating songs for the French music industry.
Q: Analog or digital and why?
A: Both. I can't really have one without the other, and it shouldn't be an 'either / or' scenario.
Q: What's your 'promise' to your clients?
A: You'll the finished work and will like working with me!
Q: What do you like most about your job?
A: I'm obsessed with making music, so being able to watch a rough vocal turn into something that's getting thousands of plays on Spotify is fun.
Q: What questions do customers most commonly ask you? What's your answer?
A: 'Is my performance good enough?' comes up a lot. The answer really depends, but generally nothing beats a great performance. I can spend days trying to make an average performance sound good, but a brilliant starting point makes everything so much easier.
Q: What's the biggest misconception about what you do?
A: That it all comes naturally! Inspiration is important, but hard work is what gets a song over the line.
Q: What questions do you ask prospective clients?
A: What kind of stuff inspires you? What records do you love to listen to? Where do you want to take your music?i
Q: What advice do you have for a customer looking to hire a provider like you?
A: Don't be afraid to push me - I love a challenge.
Q: If you were on a desert island and could take just 5 pieces of gear, what would they be?
A: I'm not sure I need more than 5 bits of gear normally! An electric guitar, a keyboard, my mac, an Aston Origin, and a pair of headphones.
Q: What was your career path? How long have you been doing this?
A: I signed a publishing deal when I was 18 and began making my first record. I then started getting introduced to other artists and began writing and producing with them. This caught the attention of people in advertising, and so they asked me to compose stuff for their briefs. Now I do a mix of everything!
Q: How would you describe your style?
A: Beautiful melodies and arrangements poured through an analog funnel and then washed in Roland Space Echo reverb.
Q: Which artist would you like to work with and why?
A: I'd love to write with FKA Twigs. She is a visionary and has such a unique approach to everything she does.
Q: Can you share one music production tip?
A: Give the vocal space, don't over fill the arrangement. Just because something is a great part individually doesn't mean it'll add anything to a song in the context of a whole mix.
Q: What type of music do you usually work on?
A: I work on a real mix of music, but do a lot of work with alternative songwriters that blend amazing melodies with interesting ambient sounds and synths.
Q: What's your strongest skill?
A: I'm a songwriter first and foremost!
Q: What do you bring to a song?
A: I like to think of myself as an enabler, whether producing or writing. I can see other peoples projects from an outside perspective and know what small changes to make in order to make the music as good as possible. This is especially true with songwriting and co-writing on other peoples work. it's not about transforming someones track into something and alienating the artist, but making it the best possible version of itself without losing the original character and soul.
Q: What's your typical work process?
A: Everything starts with the song. I typically lay out the guide vocal before anything else and build the track from there. This may mean creating a beautiful piano part to compliment the vocal melody, or coming up with a cool drum beat. Whatever the style, the track and vocal comes first.
Q: Tell us about your studio setup.
A: Internally, I have a Mac running Logic X. It's absolutely full of plug-ins and samples, ranging from glossy Native Instruments effects to more vibey and warm SoundToys stuff. Externally, I swear by Aston Microphones and do everything with their mics. I also have Roland drum machines, very retro Yamaha keyboards, and a Kawaii Synth module from 1988! My studio is all about balancing new technology with the charm and character of old gear.
Q: What other musicians or music production professionals inspire you?
A: I'm really inspired by musicians and producers that have a positive attitude. Music can be difficult at times - the hours can be long! It's the people that are still smiling and enthusiastic about a project towards the end of the day that I want around me.
Q: Describe the most common type of work you do for your clients.
A: A lot of artists will bring me their 75% finished demos and I'll help get them up to release standard. This usually involves working together to tweak the arrangements and tighten the structure and then beginning to produce the track when we're all happy. I think being an artist first puts me in a great position to treat other peoples work sympathetically and respect their craft while still getting the best out of their song.