Nicholas Antonucci on SoundBetter

Your track might not need another producer. It might need someone who speaks an entirely different musical language. I am a multi-instrumentalist, co-songwriter, composer and arranger who works with independent artists to take songs somewhere they could not have gone alone.

I work across many different genres. From my own personal project (The Shadow Self) which blends modern hard-rock with industrial and world music elements, to the touring act Paper Foxes which evokes dark emotions with their post-punk and darkwave soundscapes - and a background in hardcore and punk to pop and singer/songwriter genres - we can collaborate and transform your track from something predictable to something unique.

I am a multi-instrumentalist first and foremost. Using guitars, bass, drums, synths and a wide variety of world musical instruments as ways to keep the listener hooked and experience something unique. The hook of your song should rely equally on a sonic landscape as much as it does on a vocal motif.

Send me an email through 'Contact' button above and I'll get back to you asap.

Credits

Languages

English

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Interview with Nicholas Antonucci

Q: Tell us about a project you worked on you are especially proud of and why. What was your role?
A: My project The Shadow Self is my greatest accomplishment and has created the "mantra" I hold today regarding "embracing the weird". With this project, I have felt the creative and emotional release from not holding back and making something predictable.
Q: What do you like most about your job?
A: I enjoy the collaboration. Meeting and communicating with fellow creatives and receiving thoughts and feedback outside of my own opinions. The magic happens with positive energy and willingness to meet in the middle or open our minds to new ideas.
Q: What's the biggest misconception about what you do?
A: The biggest misconception is that I'm trying to make a song sound "pretentious". I never seek that as it is something I do not enjoy, myself. Everything in a song should serve the track - not just for the sake of doing it.
Q: What advice do you have for a customer looking to hire a provider like you?
A: Be willing to embrace the "weird". Some ideas sound crazy at first and maybe even unattainable - but think about how The Beatles embraced the "weird" and wrote tracks that reshaped how contemporary rock and pop is created today.
Q: Can you share one music production tip?
A: Don't get discouraged by one section of a song not meeting your expectations. Fixation is okay in some instances, but it halts the production of the rest of the song. Always be willing to stop and revisit.
Q: What type of music do you usually work on?
A: I mainly work with rock artists. Though I have delved into many other genres, rock acts tend to be who gravitate towards me.
Q: What's your strongest skill?
A: Balancing accessibility with the obscure.
Q: What do you bring to a song?
A: I bring a refreshing creative perspective to those who are willing to think outside the box. I want to take something that may sound "stock" at the first demo into something with depth and intrigue.
Q: What's your typical work process?
A: My work process can vary. Typically, it involves a single idea or hook and building the song around that. Typically these ideas start as something simple and "catchy". The verses and bridges are where I typically would expand on these ideas. Adding layers, multi-faceted hooks and lyrical variation are what keep me attached to a track. Dragging and stagnancy are what I avoid most.
Q: What other musicians or music production professionals inspire you?
A: I am inspired by a wide variety of musicians. I most look up to musicians who are multi-faceted. Individuals who come to mind are Trent Reznor, Jeff Martin (The Tea Party) and producers like Daniel Lanois. These individuals have made careers out of creating memorable tracks that evoke unique experiences while also having a flow that is accessible to the average listener.
Q: Describe the most common type of work you do for your clients.
A: I contribute mainly to arrangements. Whether it be guitar progressions, song structuring, hook writing or creating cinematic atmosphere - I am proficient at creating tracks that keep people guessing as much as they are accessible.