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LOBH EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW WITH MIKE ELIZONDO |
Switchfoot's new CD, "Hello Hurricane", is being hailed as their most surprising release to date. It's a whole new side of Switchfoot... a side that hip-hop producer Mike Elizondo helped to bring out. With the release of the album just months away, I thought an interview with Mike Elizondo was definitely in order. I knew you guys had lots of questions about Hello Hurricane and the recording process, so I solicited questions from YOU, our site visitors. Thanks to everyone who submitted a questions - even if we didn't use your question, we appreciate the fact that you took the time to submit one - and please enjoy this EXCLUSIVE interview with producer extraordinaire, Mike Elizondo.
LOBH: Mike, thanks so much for your time. Most of the questions I'm going to ask you today were submitted by our site visitors, and they're very eager to hear your thoughts on the new album. First question comes from our friend Clifton: "How aware were you of Switchfoot's music before you helped with the new record, and thus what led to you being a part of it?"
MIKE ELIZONDO: I had been a fan of the band from pretty early on. I was always inspired by their sound as well as the lyrics. To me, Switchfoot is the complete package of great musicians, a great singer and great songs. As for getting to be a part of the record, I met Jon through Sean Watkins (Fiction Family) and his sister Sara. We all played together at a show in LA. After the show Jon and I hung out for a bit. Sometime after that I was approached by their manager to meet with Jon. After a few phone conversations with Jon, we got together and wrote "Your Love Is A Song". Needless to say it was a great first meeting. The next day Tim and Chad came over to hang. Soon after I was asked if I would help them finish the record. I went through 60 songs and picked what I felt made the strongest statement for the band. Then we all narrowed it down to what has become "Hello Hurricane". I made some production comments on some of the songs the band had produced themselves. We worked on the songs "Mess Of Me", "Your Love Is A Song", "The Sound" and "Bullet Soul" from scratch.
LOBH: From Jesse: "How has your association with the hip-hop genre affected the production of Hello Hurricane?"
MIKE ELIZONDO: Once I started working with Dr. Dre, I really watched how he would put songs together. He would only use parts and sounds that enhanced the song. He would also try to keep things sparse so the music would have room to breathe. Those concepts have stuck with me and I feel have played a part in the way "Hello Hurricane" comes across.
LOBH: I'd agree with that. Here is one from Stephen: "Were you brought on board specifically for "Hello Hurricane" or did you work on Vice Verses/others? If yes, was it difficult to stay focused on the theme/direction of "Hello Hurricane"?"
MIKE ELIZONDO: We only worked on songs for the record "Hello Hurricane". Once the songs were mutually selected by me and the band, the direction became very clear. There was no problem staying focused. Because there were too many great songs to fit on one album the band decided to put them aside for "Vice Versus". I really hope I get to be a part of that as well.
LOBH: From x2wolf: "Mike, what personal impression did you get about the members of Switchfoot?"
MIKE ELIZONDO: They are all the most genuine group of guys I've ever had the pleasure of working with. They care so much about what Switchfoot represents. It goes beyond just the music. I respect each one of them very much.
LOBH: From Job: ""Was there any difference in the way Switchfoot handled themselves in the studio as an independent band, as opposed to other artists you've worked with who are under a major label contract?"
MIKE ELIZONDO: It was great to not have a major label adding any additional pressure while we made the record. I think it allowed the band to make the record they wanted to make. It was truly a dream situation for me. I got to work on an album with amazing songs, talented musicians and great people. It doesn't get any better than that for me.
LOBH: It does sound ideal... speaking of the album making process, we got this question from onesandzeros: "Were there any crazy or funny studio moments?"
MIKE ELIZONDO: It's hard to pinpoint a few moments. The whole record was such a blast. It shouldn't be legal to have as much fun as we did.
LOBH: Tim and I had a conversation about your work with this new record, and he shared that you really helped them find their direction - they had a bunch of different versions of the songs, and you really helped them narrow their focus and choose the right one. What was your vision for the album? Was it difficult to choose "the best" version of the song and decide which one should make the album?
MIKE ELIZONDO: I really wanted to help them make a record that was true to what Switchfoot is, but also had a new feel and sound. The songs that had been written were already heading down that path. The band really wanted to break some new ground so I was excited to go on that journey with them. Once the songs were picked, it really went pretty quickly. I think the fans will be very surprised by what they here. It's some of the heaviest music I've heard in a long time.
LOBH: From Maci: "What song do you think is the strongest track on this record?"
MIKE ELIZONDO: I have so many favorites for different reasons. "Mess Of Me" will blow people away. "Bullet Soul" is Switchfoot unlike you've ever heard them before. My personal favorite I think is "Sing It Out".
LOBH: From Gibby: "What song was the most challenging for you to blend; Ii other words, which song took a great deal of time to get the lyrics, bass, drums, and guitars to all sound harmonized and not all over the place?"
MIKE ELIZONDO: All of the songs were mixed pretty easily. I think the song "Yet" may have been the hardest because it is very sparse. Sometimes the songs that sound the simplest are the hardest to get across.
LOBH: Are you satisfied with the end result of the album?
MIKE ELIZONDO: I am very proud of the record. We spent a lot of time and care on each song. The album was mixed by an engineer I work with a lot. His name is Adam Hawkins. I believe every mix we did will be on the album except possibly one song. Chris Lord-Alge did a great mix of the first single "Mess Of Me".
LOBH: Now, I'd like to ask you some questions about your work/job... first up, this question from x2wolf: "How did you get into the music industry?"
MIKE ELIZONDO: I grew up in LA playing in a lot of bands. Eventually I started doing session work as a Bass player and that led me to working with Dr. Dre. I started getting songwriting and production credits on Hip Hop records through Dre. Because of those credits I was able to work with other artists like Fiona Apple, Maroon 5 and Rilo Kiley. That's the very short version of how it all happened.
LOBH: From Lezzy: "What is the best thing about producing?"
MIKE ELIZONDO: Getting to work with all kinds of different people with different backgrounds. I learn so much from each artist/band I work with. Plus you can't beat getting to spend all day in a studio making music!
LOBH: Ah so true. Dream job. Here's a question from Alexander: "Mr. Elizondo, do you ever have a sense of despair or frustration when you're working on a music project that's not going where
you want it to go? If yes, where do you go with that? And if no, how do you stay afloat?"
MIKE ELIZONDO: There are always bumps in road when you're making a record. Sometimes the artist changes their mind about the direction. Or the label doesn't see eye to eye with the artist. Let's just say I've learned to go with flow very well. It's a balancing act and you get better at it the more experience you gain. If there are disagreements it's my job to help find a quick solution and make sure we don't get off track. I try to keep the recording process as fun as possible while working hard.
LOBH: If you could pick one band to work with, who would it be?
MIKE ELIZONDO: I would give up a limb to work with Radiohead.
LOBH: I hear ya. Where do you go for inspiration for your work?
MIKE ELIZONDO: My wife and kids provide me with all of the inspiration I need.
LOBH: Another question from x2wolf: "Have you ever let yourself down as a producer?"
MIKE ELIZONDO: "I wouldn't say I've let myself down. Once the record is done, I never look back to see if I would've done something different."
LOBH: What is something about the music industry/your job that might surprise people?
MIKE ELIZONDO: The hours can be VERY long.
LOBH: From Natasha: "If you could give 'the story of your life' a title, what would it be?"
MIKE ELIZONDO: "How I Survived Without Getting A Desk Job"
LOBH: CATCHY! Lastly, we have 3 questions that we ask to everyone that we interview:
1. What's the best advice you've ever been given/heard?
MIKE ELIZONDO: Eat food in moderate portions
LOBH: 2. What's one question you've never been asked (and the answer)?
MIKE ELIZONDO: What brand of underwear do I wear? Calvin Kline
LOBH: 3. What's one song you wish you had written?
MIKE ELIZONDO: "In My Life" (Lennon/McCartney)
LOBH: Mr. Elizondo, thank you so much for your time!
MIKE ELIZONDO: Thanks for the great questions.
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