Grammy-nominated producer and engineer Joel Hamilton, who visited Berklee this fall, communicates most effectively in extravagant metaphors:
See if you can get 15 percent dumber on the next take.
I need it with fire.
Float this last chorus, whatever that means to you.
We need to step down into the verse.
Don't do what everybody does and sound like you were pushed off the Brooklyn Bridge.
Throughout his open studio session in Berklee's Shames Family Recording Stage, it was clear that the visiting producer was in pursuit of a vision, one that was often more easily understood in figurative terms rather than literal ones. Hamilton was laser-focused on working with the band to achieve the clearest, most focused version of their composition possible. Often, this required describing what a part should feel like, or sound like, rather than precisely how it should be performed.
Hamilton's intuition for developing focused musical gestures might explain his impressive and diverse discography. His production and engineering credits range from projects with rock n roll stalwarts Iggy Pop, Elvis Costello, and Tom Waits; to reggae/hip-hop crossover act Matisyahu; to bedroom indie icon Sparklehorse; to Latin Grammy nominees Bomba Est ro, and many others. His weeklong visit to Berklee's Music Production and Engineering Department was the semesters first in a series of visits by prominent producers and engineers that will continue throughout the year.
The week culminated in an all-day studio session with resident alumni rock n roll shape-shifters the Cotones. The band was previously recruited for a raw and heavy studio session with legendary punk producer Steve Albini, but to this session they brought a more eclectic and intricate tune, one well-suited to Hamilton's critical ear and his more active role as a producer.
Listen to the Cotones dissect their Steve Albini-produced track, The Final Cut, on Sounds of Berklee:
Working with Joel was an amazing experience for the band, said Cotones lead guitarist and backing vocalist Ryan Bale B.M. '19. He dove headfirst into the song and really helped us tighten up the arrangement and overall flow so that the song lying underneath the arrangement could shine.
Lead singer and pianist Luke Frees expanded on Bale's take:[Hamiltons] outside perspective made us focus on the song as it will appear to the listener, rather than the musicians playing it. And his feedback isn't going to be limited to this song only-I know well take the points he gave us and think about them as we arrange other songs in the future.
The band weren't the only ones who benefitted from Hamilton's insight, though. The studio control room was packed with MP&E students observing and assisting the producer throughout the day, and regularly interjecting with questions about his process and techniques.
Want to Learn How to Make a Record?
Berklees Music Production and Engineering program has the expertise, facilities, and industry connections you need to start a career in the recording studio.
Hamiltons studio tips ranged from highly concrete and specific (how does he mic the guitar amp?-with one Shure SM-7) to broad and philosophical. Perhaps the most memorable lesson of the day came in response to a question about the ambient room microphones Hamilton had set up around the room. His response had to do with a core tenet of his production approach: that a song ultimately gets shaped into its final form in the studio, and that it's good to have the options and flexibility afforded by using more microphones than you might actually keep in the final mix. The room microphones could give the drums a sense of space, and of heft, which he might want for a certain part of the song. But of course, it was by way of another metaphor that he explained all this: If I'm going to have a school bus jump the canyon, I'm going to film it with twenty cameras, and then decide later.
Related categories:
News
Related Reading
Nirvana Producer Steve Albini Recorded this Berklee Band's Raw New Track The legendary In Utero producer engineered the Cotones's The Final Cut and dropped priceless wisdom in Berklee's Studio 2. Listen to the track premiere on Sounds of Berklee.
Alex Lacamoire Wins Trailblazing Kennedy Center Honor Alex Lacamoire B.M. 95 received a special award at the 2018 Kennedy Center Honors, alongside three other creators of Hamilton.
Missy Elliott, Alex Lacamoire, Justin Timberlake to Receive Honorary Doctorates at Commencement Berklees commencement ceremony takes place on Saturday, May 11, at the Agganis Arena at Boston University.
More from Berklee Now
Most Popular
What Is Contemporary Music? Its practically Berklees middle name-but what are we talking about when we say contemporary music?
Latest
I Need It with Fire': A Day in the Studio with Joel Hamilton The Grammy-nominated engineers intuitive production style inspired a knockout studio session from an alumni band during his weeklong Berklee visit.
Dessas Tips for Affordable, Sustainable Success The hip-hop artist and author writes her own headlines, keeps up with her mailing list, and grows at her own pace.
Multiplatinum Artist Mary Lambert Chooses Balance over Superstardom The Same Love singer-songwriter, speaking to Berklee students during Mental Health Awareness Week, explained her decision to leave her major label, and the relationship between joy and darkness.
Read All
Subscribe The latest sounds, stories, and ideas, sent to your inbox weekly.
Berklee Blogs
Facebook
Twitter
YouTube
Instagram
Snapchat
Soundcloud
Spotify
Most recent headlines
05/01/2027
Worlds first 802.15.4ab-UWB chip verified by Calterah and Rohde & Schwarz to be ...
04/08/2026
Dalet, a leading technology and service provider for media-rich organizations, t...
04/07/2026
April 7 2026, 19:00 (PDT) Detective Conan: Fallen Angel of the Highway Opens in...
01/06/2026
January 6 2026, 05:30 (PST) Dolby Sets the New Standard for Premium Entertainment at CES 2026
Throughout the week, Dolby brings to life the latest innovatio...
06/05/2026
Gravity Media Chief RF Communications Engineer Glenn Willems uses Wisycom RF over Fiber and wireless solutions across major cycling events and international mar...
06/05/2026
A Sennheiser Spectera module is now available in Bitfocus Companion and Buttons, enabling direct integration of Spectera with the two software platforms. The mo...
06/05/2026
Ted Turner, the visionary media entrepreneur whose appetite for disruption helpe...
06/05/2026
Peacock is going all-in on the beautiful game - streaming all 104 FIFA World Cup...
06/05/2026
New pricing tiers for vocal/dialogue restoration tool
NoiseWorks Audio's AI-powered vocal and dialogue processing plug-in is now available in three diff...
06/05/2026
Popular mixing & routing software overhauled
Following a recent public beta test, RME have launched the final release version of the powerful mixing and rou...
06/05/2026
New SOS Video Feature
Focusrites ISA C8X is a milestone product that brings together the companys analogue heritage and their expertise in digital audio. Yo...
06/05/2026
Polands Miecznik-class frigates are part of the largest contract in Polish shipbuilding history. (Image Credit: PGZ Stocznia Wojenna)...
06/05/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
06/05/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
06/05/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
06/05/2026
Riedel Communications today announced the expansion of its leadership structure as part of a strategic initiative to strengthen both its operational management ...
06/05/2026
For nearly three decades, Veteran Production Sound Mixer and Five-time Emmy Award Winner Dirk Sciarrotta has helped define the sonic identity of the long-runnin...
06/05/2026
ZEISS CinCraft LensCore: Cinema Lens Looks for Compositing
Brie Clayton May 6, 2026
0 Comments
ZEISS announces the launch of CinCraft LensCore, a nove...
06/05/2026
Wisycom Solves Extreme RF Challenges Across Miles of Live Action for Gravity Med...
06/05/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
06/05/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
06/05/2026
Narrative Entertainment has partnered with Encompass to deliver high-quality subtitling of its Great! network content using the Altitude Intelligence AI assiste...
06/05/2026
SipRadius, widely recognized for making content processing and connectivity secure and seamless, is proud to launch a dramatic new approach to AI content creati...
06/05/2026
When the broadband and media industry gathers at ANGA COM in Cologne from May 19 to 21, Big Blue Marble will be at the forefront. The international broadcast an...
06/05/2026
Cinegy GmbH, a leading developer of software-defined television technology, is proud to exhibit at MPTS for the first time. Visitors to the stand will discover ...
06/05/2026
Val Jeanty Receives 2026 Doris Duke Artist Award Jeanty, a composer, percussionist, and turntablist, is the fourth Berklee recipient of the prestigious award ...
06/05/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
06/05/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
06/05/2026
When live cycling races and international marathons stretch for miles across cities and countryside, there is no margin for RF failure in live broadcast. As Chi...
06/05/2026
Oberkochen/Germany, May 5, 2026
ZEISS announces the launch of CinCraft LensCore, a novel solution for creating physically based cinematic lens looks for visual...
06/05/2026
06 May 2026
VEON's Kyivstar Authorized to Resell Starlink for Businesses & ...
06/05/2026
UKTV has secured the exclusive rights to the early back catalogue of iconic Australian drama series Neighbours, following a landmark content deal with Fremantle...
06/05/2026
Wednesday 6 May 2026
Sky commissions feature documentary to mark 10th anniversa...
06/05/2026
Wednesday 6 May 2026
Sky and Formula 1 agree long-term partnership across UK, Ireland and Italy
Sky in the UK & Ireland to remain the home of Formula 1 until ...
06/05/2026
Sky Zero Footprint Fund-backed TV campaign launches nationwide, supported by new...
06/05/2026
Wuppertal May 6, 2026
Riedel Expands Leadership Structure, Appoints Marc Engro...
06/05/2026
SAN JOSE, Calif. - May 6, 2026 - Harmonic (NASDAQ: HLIT) today announced its latest broadband innovations for ANGA COM 2026, highlighting its vision for a new e...
06/05/2026
Statement from Rupert Murdoch, Chairman Emeritus, Fox Corporation on Ted Turner&...
06/05/2026
Friday 8 May on RT One and RT Player
Meet the NSPCA team caring for and protecting animals in need in this six-part series
Fly on the wall, six-part series...
06/05/2026
The race to build the world's most powerful AI factories demands networking ...
06/05/2026
How changes to proteins can alter drug interactions for new precision therapies Scripps Research team maps how chemical modifications to proteins affect drug bi...
05/05/2026
Experts from the world of academia, tech, business, politics and media convened for a Thomson Talks at the Cambridge Disinformation Summit in April. It's th...
05/05/2026
Three phones were hardwired for power and transmission to the truck; camera feat...
05/05/2026
The creative studio behind campaigns for the NBA, Fanatics Sportsbook & Casino, ...
05/05/2026
Nielsen has announced results from a co-viewing pilot program covering February&...
05/05/2026
viztrick AiDi, an on-device AI solution developed by Nippon TV, delivered global...
05/05/2026
ARRI has announced Omnibar, a battery-powered, IP65-rated multi-color LED linear...
05/05/2026
Imagine Communications has announced that France T l visions is the first broadc...
05/05/2026
The Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA) and Bell Media today announced a multiyear agreement to broadcast and stream WNBA games in Canada beginni...
Grammy-nominated producer and engineer Joel Hamilton, who visited Berklee this fall, communicates most effectively in extravagant metaphors: 
