MBW’s World’s Greatest Producers series sees us interview and celebrate some of the greatest talents working in studios across the decades. Carter Lang, a Grammy nominated American producer who has worked alongside some of the most prominent artists in today’s music industry, including Doja Cat, Lil Nas X, SZA and Lil Nas X. World’s Greatest Producers is sponsored by Hipgnosis Songs Fund.
This year, producer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Carter Lang has received four Grammy nominations for his work on songs performed by the likes of SZA, Doja Cat and Lil Nas X.
Langs’ recognition marks a significant moment in his career. Langs has built a solid work ethic and relationships with artists with whom he feels a connection.
SZA is one of those artists, whose debut album was released in 2005. CtrlLang co-produced the majority of the song, which reached No.3 on Billboard. [836 articles]” href=”https://www.musicbusinessworldwide.com/companies/billboard/”>Billboard 200 chart in 2017.
Lang joined Lang’s live band at Lollapalooza as a bass player, and the two became friends before becoming collaborators.
Lang says she really got to know Lang by adventuring, going off-the-beaten path, and going on crazy bicycle rides. I didn’t realize what kind of force she and I would create together musically, but my friendship led me to see that.
Langs 2022 Grammy nominations for Song of the Year nominee Kiss Me MoreDoja Cat f/SZA: Two Album of the Year nominations for his work with Doja Cats Planet HerLil Nax Xs Montero, and SZAs Good DaysThe winner of Best R&B Song is…
He has also worked as a producer and songwriter with other acts, including Post Malone (for their 13x Platinum single). Sunflower), Jhene Aiko (for her Lee collaborationIn The Dark), Camilla Cabello, Five Seconds of Summer and Chance the Rapper.
Lang hails from Chicago and started his musical journey with piano lessons after school at age seven. He was one of those children who performed recitals in a bow tie early on, sharpening his performance skills.
Lang grew up and gave up the bow tie and piano to become a bass guitarist. This opened Lang’s eyes and allowed him to work with others. Lang began to make beats with various musical groups (including The OMys which landed a few SXSW showcases), before he became a producer.
After partying his way through New Orleans’ music industry studies program, he returned home to Chicago and reconnected to the local music scene. He experimented with different instruments and sounds, expanding his production horizons.
I felt like I had broken the Matrix somehow.
His first big break came when he played organ and synth bass for Rihanna. ConsiderationThe track was co-written and featured on by SZA. Lang remembers that it was an amazing moment. I felt like I had broken the Matrix somehow.
The song was released halfway through the making ofCtrlThe radio single was spawned by the song. Love GaloreTravis Scott [131 articles]” href=”https://www.musicbusinessworldwide.com/artists/travis-scott/”>Travis Scott (produced by Lang), offering another turning point.
Lang recalls that although I had some wins in Chicago, with a few placements here and there with artists such as A$AP Rocky or Lil Wayne, it took a while. I returned from school in 2013, but didn’t really find what I was looking at until 2016/2017.
Warner Chappell Music has signed Lang [531 articles]” href=”https://www.musicbusinessworldwide.com/companies/access-industries/warner-music-group/warner-chappell-music/”>Warner Chappell Music through a joint venture with Electric Feel Entertainment. He has been in the studio recently with Lil Nas X and Omar Apollo, Teezo Touchdown. Miguel, FKA Twigs. Big Sean and Thundercat.
Here we talk to him about his role in producing, what it takes to make a studio session a success, and the lessons he has learned throughout his career.
What does the producer’s role mean to you?
Being a good producer is having the ability to adapt to the environment or the people that you’re with. Having a few skills that you’re really good at is important, but being able to work in an environment where your skill might be overlapped by someone else’s and learning how to contribute or to be hands off in that situation is crucial.
“being able to work in an environment where your skill might be overlapped by someone else’s and learning how to contribute or to be hands off in that situation is crucial.”
Establishing your influences and then understanding other people’s nostalgic influences by going back and listening to music that’s completely different to what you’re used to, and listening to the music thats being released now, is also super important.
You should also be open to spontaneity. This can lead to new relationships and experiences that you never expected. I don’t even go by a schedule most of the time; for the most part, Im just happy to be able to have an environment where some of these spontaneous sessions happen.
What was your most difficult production job or session? What did you learn from it?
I found a piece of music during a session that made the artist smile and begin writing very fast. The two of them wrote the entire verse in just two minutes. They then got into the booth, and the engineer was not equipped for their speed and precision when writing and recording. The artist left the studio, but they did re-record the song two years later.
I’m not downplaying the engineers but that taught me the importance of being prepared; had I gone to the session knowing who the engineer was, which was someone we didnt know, I might have tried to find somebody else to make sure the flow was levelled out. Engineers can’t be stuck in the mud. They have to adapt.
“The engineer cant be a stick in the mud, no matter what, they have to adapt.Having a great engineer or helmsman changes the course of your session so drastically.”
A great engineer or captain can make a huge difference in the flow of your session. I feel like I’m wondering where in the world my helmsman is because I’m the person who has to steer the rowboat. While I enjoy it, I know that the studio will grow over time. It will be crucial to have a great engineer running the sessions.
How about the best advice you’ve been given in your career?
People have always told me, Dont overwork yourself.’ So I’ve been trying to do a little bit better by taking breaks to enjoy other activities that I used to do when I was less of a reclusive producer. Whether it’s skateboarding, snowboarding or biking, and finding people to do that stuff with I think it’s really important to mix up the bag.
Then, invest your money, but most importantly, invest into your friendships. It is possible to reach everyone quickly so everyone relies on each other more now to get things done. You want friends who are not only hardworking, but also funny and who will grow with you and be there for your every need.
Don’t lose touch with your older friends or with people who do things that are not related to production. That’s the advice that Ive been given.
What would you like to see changed in the modern music industry?
It doesn’t feel like there’s a very equal playing field for making money from music. Depending on whether you have to make music that’s going to get played on the radio, which is not a terrible place, but you want to find ways to be able to make a living off music while not having to try and please the same artists. It’s a small circle.
I’m wondering if there’s going to be different rates or formats that are going to allow music to get heard a certain way. But I also know there’s a formula for stuff that has a certain sound to it and theres so much music being released. I feel like we can get lost with trying to keep up with everything that’s out and forget about the things that have passed that are so beautiful and genuine.
“In the future, I hope there’s a way for people to create something out of nothing and really draw attention to those who are doing stuff outside of the norm.”
In the future of all this digitization and the crypto world, I hope there’s a way for people to create something out of nothing and really draw attention to those who are doing stuff outside of the norm.
It is where my heart lies sonically.
What advice would your advise to someone who is just starting out in production?
Going to school for music isn’t a prerequisite but having experiences from going to college, or from doing jobs that are outside of music, is so important to how you’re going to be able to work and your expectations and understanding of life moving forward. Don’t just go straight into it where you’re not opening yourself up to those opportunities because they help in the process of making music and working together with people in a beneficial way.
It’s important to learn how to play a few instruments. Then, being able to adapt to your environment and let loose whatever you’ve learned in order to help progress the group scenario, or if you’re faced with a certain problem in the song or certain area that you need to help, do the research in order to figure that stuff out.
“Even if [your team] starts with one person, if that person is really a great person, they’re going to lead you to other great people.”
The most important thing aside from that is having a great team around. Even if it starts with one person, if that person is really a great person, they’re going to lead you to other great people and your team will start to form. I didn’t really have a team until afterCtrlI was released, and I met David, my manager. [Waltzer].
He introduced me my legal representative. [team]I now have a great team of accountants and a great publicist. Have these different people to help balance your ship when you’re moving forward and trying to make decisions that are business based, but also emotional, because a lot of the business is with friends and you want to feel fluid but also calculated in what you’re doing.
MBW’s World’s Greatest Producers series is supported by Hipgnosis Songs Fund [201 articles]” href=”https://www.musicbusinessworldwide.com/companies/hipgnosis-songs-fund/”>Hipgnosis Songs Fund. Hipgnosis, which is listed on the London Stock Exchange was created to maximize the value of music and to prove its value to institutional investors.Music Business Worldwide