Leslie Lewis, is a volcano of musical talent who has enchanted music lovers of timeless music with some of the most iconic creations of our times. In this revealing conversation he offers some poignant insights about music production and the role of a music producer in giving the song its vibrant lasting colors.
Could you throw some light on role of the music producer in the present context?
Traditionally speaking, the music composer composes the melody keeping the singer in mind or by focusing purely on composing the melody. More often than not the composer used the piano for his composing. The job of writing all the pieces for the various instruments like the violins, violas, cellos, trumpets playing in the song called for the person who was well-versed with sheet music notations . This was the orchestrator who we identify as the arranger. The Arrangers job was to bring out the bigger musical feel and write the pieces for 40 or more instruments in the song. This was mainly because there was no amplification technology available in the time. Accompaniment to a song was through a whole orchestra. With amplification sound could be projected with fewer instruments unlike earlier. This resulted in the big orchestra evolving into a much smaller unit we call the band.
The modern music producer in my mind should be an arranger too. He or she may not be able to write music, but certainly should have a feel for music and the various instruments. He is the one who decides and tells the artist what suits him/her best or tailors it to the strengths of the artist.
What do you have to say about the deluge of music composers turning music producers today?
There is a new approach these days that involves the producer doubling up as the composer. Like Rod Temperton composed Thriller and Quincy Jones choose Michael Jackson as the artist. These are all separate roles calling for different skill sets. Eventually it is the listener who decides the life and popularity of a song. Music producers should know that the current era is about independent musicians and not film music. Film music needed the singer to sound like the actor on screen but independent musicians want to have their own identity. The music producer must understand the identity the artist wants to carve for themselves.
What is your advice to young music composers?
Young music composers must understand the artist, music arrangement and the desired impact of the song. Many of the modern day “composers” cannot think beyond 30 seconds which is the length of a jingle and not a full song. Anyone who has access to a computer and software thinks that they are a music composer. There’s no mukhda, no antara, no connecting music. Many composers leave a blank space in their computers to work on the connecting piece between the antara and mukhada at a convenient later time. Remember that, even those connecting pieces, in the earlier days, were good compositions and replicated as independent songs in the future.
What does the independent artist today need to keep in mind about choosing the right producer for his music rather than just releasing it as a composition in the manner he created it?
Unfortunately, there is no benchmark for music production. A song with just one guitar and a keyboard is a music production and the one with a hundred violins and a huge brass section is also a music production. As an independent composer/ artist, the onus of imagining the finished product you created lies on you. You could go ahead and decide that your production is good enough to be released or choose an appropriate producer for your composition. Independent artists have the liberty to go ahead with their gut feel as in their case there is no A & R Manager from a music label looking over their shoulder to convince them.
How can an independent music professional turn a music producer? Is there a proper path to follow?
There are several music schools which are training young aspirants to become music producers. These give you the exact road map, but eventually it is about you as an artist. Are you ready to give it your soul? Your days and nights? You could start of even with the tutorial from YouTube and then go to college, but then if you are in it only to make the money and become a famous brand there is little you can do. Many independent artists often compose a funky melody but remain short of giving it the peach finish. Here is where the independent artist must be able to reach out to the right music producer. He or she should find the comfort level and take his work to the charts. Albeit, a famous music producer is no guarantee for a hit. The song has to be great to begin with. In case the artist is convinced about the quality of his work he should ignore the naysayers.
What is your take on remixes?
The point is anybody who does remix of popular songs must also know composition. Every creator comes with their magic. The heart or the thought behind the original composition has to be adhered to. For eg “Bheegi Bheegi Raaton Mein” is a romantic song and that is the reason for its success. Now if I change it to some different mood like anger or make it aggressive it will lose its essence and its acceptance. When I Did “Rahul and I” (A remix of R.D.Burman hits with Asha Bhonsle) I always retained the original creator R.D. Burman’s idea behind the composition.
How does one handle creative differences like between the producer and artist or the composer and artist?
The point is to have conviction and self-belief in your work. By which I mean that if there is someone out there trying to tell you how to do your job then it is an ordeal to be going through the motions. I have, throughout my career, been very clear about what I want. Artists, I believe, have to have that ability to walk away from such situations. I am not saying they should be stubborn and unrelenting but should be able to retain the stamp of individuality on their work. To preserve yourself as a creator you should be ready to give up the project if there is too much friction. An artist must look to satisfy his/her inner craving. The world may say you’ve arrived but you’ve to keep exploring a different part of you every time.
