SPEAKING VOLUMES
“No talk, more playing and less fucking around.” Lauded record producer Nick Launay is laughing while describing the rules he and Bristol punk act Idles adhered to on the band’s much anticipated new record Ultra Mono. It’s a maxim almost as succinct as the process itself. But it speaks volumes about his methodology, and could be applied to any number of hit records Nick has worked on over the past 30 years or more
Energy, vibe and volume. All are part of the winning formula the London-born producer has used across a discography that features powerful moments from some of the most daring artists in contemporary music. From early skirmishes with Public Image Ltd and John Lydon to a multi-record relationship with Nick Cave via tracks and albums with Arcade Fire and Silverchair, Nick’s catalogue bristles with an unrivalled artistic potency. He is as famous for enabling our most unique artists to express themselves as he is for prioritising raw edges over sonic perfection – and he seems noticeably drawn to the wilder ones.
“The music I make and work on is full of rebellion, passion and attitude,” he says from his home north of Los Angeles. “It’s always fascinating to experiment with sounds but, as the producer, you need to pay attention to the people in a room. Understanding the technical side is great but you need to know how to use it to bring out the right mood and attitude. My job as the producer is to capture that as best I can.”
CUTTING TEETH
Nick’s musical obsession began at a tender age, a habit fed by
