Gareth Jones (music producer)
Encyclopedia
Gareth Jones is an English music producer and engineer notable for working with Depeche Mode
, Einstürzende Neubauten
, Wire
and Erasure
.
.
When he was young he played different instruments but became more interested in music technology
. He owned a simple valve tape recorder and began experimenting with tape editing. He later trained at the BBC
and began working in recording studios, such as "Pathway" in the early Eighties. At "Pathway" he recorded and mixed John Foxx
's Metamatic
album in 1980 and the first Madness
single, "The Prince
", in 1979.
While working with a band in Vienna
the band's manager suggested Jones mix the recordings in Germany
. He did the mixing at Hansa
Studio in Berlin
. The studio was the most high tech he had worked in. He decided to live in Berlin and began working with lots of bands at Hansa
. Many English bands began recording in Berlin as the exchange rate made it cheaper. At Hansa
Jones began experimenting with recording atmospheres. Bands would play their instruments through large amplifiers which were then recorded with microphones creating a large arena type sound. This sound would catch the attention of bands like Depeche Mode who used this method on many recordings.
Gareth Jones was a pioneer in the use of digital equipment. He introduced sampling to many bands such as Depeche Mode
and Einstürzende Neubauten
. He began recording with new electronic instruments such as AMS
digital delays and the Synclavier
sampler synthesiser, which was brought in by Daniel Miller of Mute Records
.
In the mid nineties he moved back to London and worked in famous studios such as Abbey Road and The Strongroom in London.
Jones uses mostly software these days which keeps him more mobile for work. He has an outstanding knowledge of "Logic Audio" music production software.
Depeche Mode
Depeche Mode are an English electronic music band formed in 1980 in Basildon, Essex. The group's original line-up consisted of Dave Gahan , Martin Gore , Andy Fletcher and Vince Clarke...
, Einstürzende Neubauten
Einstürzende Neubauten
Einstürzende Neubauten is a German post-industrial band, originally from West Berlin, formed in 1980. The group currently comprises Blixa Bargeld , Alexander Hacke , N.U...
, Wire
Wire (band)
Wire are an English rock band, formed in London in October 1976 by Colin Newman , Graham Lewis , Bruce Gilbert , and Robert Gotobed...
and Erasure
Erasure
Erasure are an English synthpop duo, consisting of songwriter and keyboardist Vince Clarke and singer Andy Bell. Erasure entered the music scene in 1985 with their debut single "Who Needs Love Like That"...
.
Background
Gareth Jones is married and currently living in North LondonNorth London
North London is the northern part of London, England. It is an imprecise description and the area it covers is defined differently for a range of purposes. Common to these definitions is that it includes districts located north of the River Thames and is used in comparison with South...
.
When he was young he played different instruments but became more interested in music technology
Music technology
Music technology is a term that refers to all forms of technology involved with the musical arts, particularly the use of electronic devices and computer software to facilitate playback, recording, composition, storage and performance. This subject is taught at many different educational levels,...
. He owned a simple valve tape recorder and began experimenting with tape editing. He later trained at the BBC
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
and began working in recording studios, such as "Pathway" in the early Eighties. At "Pathway" he recorded and mixed John Foxx
John Foxx
John Foxx is an English singer, artist, photographer and teacher. He was the original lead singer of the band Ultravox before being replaced by Midge Ure, when he left to embark on a solo career in 1979...
's Metamatic
Metamatic
Metamatic is an album by John Foxx, released in 1980. It was his first solo album following his split with Ultravox the previous year. A departure from the textured mix of synthesizers and conventional instruments on Systems of Romance, his last album with the band, Metamatics hard-edged...
album in 1980 and the first Madness
Madness (band)
In 1979, the band recorded the Lee Thompson composition "The Prince". The song, like the band's name, paid homage to their idol, Prince Buster. The song was released through 2 Tone Records, the label of The Specials founder Jerry Dammers. The song was a surprise hit, peaking in the UK music charts...
single, "The Prince
The Prince (song)
"The Prince" is a song by British ska/pop band Madness. It was written by Lee Thompson, and was the band's first single. On 10 August 1979 the single was released through 2 Tone Records and peaked at number 16 in the UK singles chart, spending a total of 11 weeks in the charts."The Prince" is a...
", in 1979.
While working with a band in Vienna
Vienna
Vienna is the capital and largest city of the Republic of Austria and one of the nine states of Austria. Vienna is Austria's primary city, with a population of about 1.723 million , and is by far the largest city in Austria, as well as its cultural, economic, and political centre...
the band's manager suggested Jones mix the recordings in Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
. He did the mixing at Hansa
Hansa Tonstudio
Das Hansa Tonstudio is a recording studio located on Köthener Strasse in the Kreuzberg district of Berlin, Germany. Amongst English-performing musical acts it used to be known as 'Hansa Studio By the Wall', 'Hansa by the Wall', or 'The Great Hall by the Wall' in reference to the fact that it was...
Studio in Berlin
Berlin
Berlin is the capital city of Germany and is one of the 16 states of Germany. With a population of 3.45 million people, Berlin is Germany's largest city. It is the second most populous city proper and the seventh most populous urban area in the European Union...
. The studio was the most high tech he had worked in. He decided to live in Berlin and began working with lots of bands at Hansa
Hansa Tonstudio
Das Hansa Tonstudio is a recording studio located on Köthener Strasse in the Kreuzberg district of Berlin, Germany. Amongst English-performing musical acts it used to be known as 'Hansa Studio By the Wall', 'Hansa by the Wall', or 'The Great Hall by the Wall' in reference to the fact that it was...
. Many English bands began recording in Berlin as the exchange rate made it cheaper. At Hansa
Hansa Tonstudio
Das Hansa Tonstudio is a recording studio located on Köthener Strasse in the Kreuzberg district of Berlin, Germany. Amongst English-performing musical acts it used to be known as 'Hansa Studio By the Wall', 'Hansa by the Wall', or 'The Great Hall by the Wall' in reference to the fact that it was...
Jones began experimenting with recording atmospheres. Bands would play their instruments through large amplifiers which were then recorded with microphones creating a large arena type sound. This sound would catch the attention of bands like Depeche Mode who used this method on many recordings.
Gareth Jones was a pioneer in the use of digital equipment. He introduced sampling to many bands such as Depeche Mode
Depeche Mode
Depeche Mode are an English electronic music band formed in 1980 in Basildon, Essex. The group's original line-up consisted of Dave Gahan , Martin Gore , Andy Fletcher and Vince Clarke...
and Einstürzende Neubauten
Einstürzende Neubauten
Einstürzende Neubauten is a German post-industrial band, originally from West Berlin, formed in 1980. The group currently comprises Blixa Bargeld , Alexander Hacke , N.U...
. He began recording with new electronic instruments such as AMS
AMS (Advanced Music Systems)
AMS were a manufacturer of professional studio equipment. The company later merged with Neve Electronics to form the award winning AMS Neve Ltd company, who received an Emmy in 1992 and a Grammy in 2000.-Background:...
digital delays and the Synclavier
Synclavier
The Synclavier System was an early digital synthesizer, polyphonic digital sampling system, and music workstation, manufactured by New England Digital Corporation, Norwich, VT. The original design and development of the Synclavier prototype occurred at Dartmouth College with the collaboration of...
sampler synthesiser, which was brought in by Daniel Miller of Mute Records
Mute Records
Mute is an independent record label based in the UK. It was founded in 1978 by Daniel Miller and featured several prominent musical acts on its roster such as Goldfrapp, Depeche Mode, Yazoo, Erasure and Fad Gadget.-Beginnings:...
.
In the mid nineties he moved back to London and worked in famous studios such as Abbey Road and The Strongroom in London.
Jones uses mostly software these days which keeps him more mobile for work. He has an outstanding knowledge of "Logic Audio" music production software.
Notable work
|
Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds are an Australian alternative rock band, formed in Melbourne in 1983. The band is fronted by Nick Cave and has featured international personnel throughout their career.-Formation and early releases :... - The Good Son The Good Son (album) The Good Son is the sixth album by Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds, released in 1990 . It was preceded by the release of "The Ship Song/The Train Song" single. "The Weeping Song/Cock's 'n' Asses" was later also released as a single. After an album as dark and intense as Tender Prey, some fans were... (1989) Wild! Wild! is the fourth studio album by British band Erasure. Released in 1989, it was the follow-up album to their 1988 breakthrough The Innocents... (1989) Erasure (album) Erasure was the seventh studio album by Erasure, released in 1995. It was produced by Thomas Fehlmann and Gareth Jones.An overtly experimental and introspective album, Erasure contains eleven, mostly mid-tempo tracks that differed from their past output of shiny, three-minute pop songs... (1995) Cowboy (album) Cowboy is an album recorded by Erasure in 1997 and released by Mute Records in the UK. In the U.S., it was released by Madonna's former label Maverick Records... (1997) Exciter (album) Exciter is Depeche Mode's tenth studio album, which was released on 14 May 2001 in the UK and May 15 in the US. It uses more digital music technology compared to their other albums. It was produced by Mark Bell of Björk and LFO fame... (2001) Other People's Songs Other People's Songs is a cover album by Erasure.The album was originally conceived as a solo project for singer Andy Bell. Once Vince Clarke, the other member of Erasure, became involved, it was released as Erasure's tenth studio album. The tracks were handpicked by Clarke and Bell as ones that... (2003) Mesh (band) -Background:In 1991, Mark Hockings and Richard Silverthorn met at a gig where Silverthorn's band was playing... - We Collide (2006) Light at the End of the World Light at the End of the World is the thirteenth studio album by English synthpop duo Erasure. The album's release was announced on the band's website on 26 January 2007 in a video message from members Vince Clarke and Andy Bell.-Background:... (2007) |
External links
- Official website
- Gareth Jones Mixing Tutorial Bonedo.de (German)