Influx

Although most people under the age of 40 don’t care that Paul McCartney has a new album out. McCartney’s albums post-Beatles have had there fair share of crtitics, but it looks as though this one is getting a big thumbs up. One of the reasons could be McCartney’s choice of producer, Nigel Goodrich, who is best known for his work with the band, Radiohead.

So what is it that makes Nigel Goodrich such a great collaborator? Influx tracked down an old interview with him and pulled out some gems that help us to understand how a co-collaborator, someone who is on the peripheries of the creative process, inspires and collaborates with those who are in the thick of it.

Setting objectives and driving those goals

“Right before I start working with them, I always ask the same two questions: “What do you think I can contribute to you? What do you expect from me?” I remember asking Pavement on the phone: “Do you want me to make you sell a lot of records? Because it doesn’t look like your aim!” And I was surprised to hear them say: “Sure, we wanna sell records.” “Oh good, ‘cos I thought you only want to piss people off by messing up your songs!” Stephen Malkmus is a fabulous songwriter, but until then, I had the impression he was ashamed of this. And now, he wanted to change. But this change could only happen with an outside person.”

The co-collaborator is both a trusted advisor and translator

“Nothing is harder than explaining to someone, with not rushing him, his own abstract ideas. How to explain a sound ? When I hear a sound, I visualize a form or a color. In the first studio I worked in, we produced many radio ads, and the ad-guys said inane stuff like “Not bad, this sound, but could you make it more chocolaty ?” I pitied the poor lad at the mixing console… While bands, they speak my language. And if we don’t understand, I try to fill in the blanks, whether it’s arrangements, effects… The psychological aspect is more important to my work than the technical one. I do everything to gain the bands’ trust. Even if I have to play Scrabble with them all night long. Likewise, I don’t hesitate showing them my own vulnerability. They realize I’m as doubtful as they are, as involved. Because I can’t do this as if it was only some other job.”

Inspiring a creative process clearly demands a unique skill set and one that will become increasingly important as collaboration becomes an essential part of the business world.