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Wet Leg, Fontaines DC … Kylie? The weird world of post-punk superproducer Dan Carey

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Summary

Dan Carey is a post-punk superproducer who is responsible for producing many successful indie bands including Fontaines DC, Squid, Black Midi, Wet Leg, Goat Girl and Black Country, New Road. He is currently working on a project with Warmduscher's Benjamin Romans-Hopcraft called Miss Tiny. Carey's influence in the south London indie scene has grown significantly since 2012 and his production techniques involve creating tension and a sense of urgency. He has also produced pop hits such as Kylie Minogue's "Slow" and Sia's "Chandelier". His record label Speedy Wunderground has a 10-point doctrine that focuses on quick turnarounds and simple production. The Miss Tiny EP is out now on Speedy Wunderground.

Q&As

What is Dan Carey's role in establishing the south London music culture?
Dan Carey has been the lightning rod for a boom of agitated, prodigious post-punk bands that are bound together not just by time and place, but by an aesthetic that was honed to a significant extent by Carey himself, quietly, behind the production desk.

How does Dan Carey capture a band's sound in the studio?
Carey will force a band to commit to recording three tracks back-to-back, and if any mistakes are made then all three will be wiped from the master tape. He believes it engenders the same tightly focused mindset that bands automatically perform with on stage.

What is the origin of Dan Carey's relationship with the south London scene?
Carey traces the inception of his relationship with the scene as far back as his production on the 2012 debut album by Brighton psych rockers Toy.

What was Dan Carey's experience with Virgin Records at the turn of the millennium?
Carey was signed at the height of the downtempo-producer-as-artist fad that gave us Zero 7 and Moby, and while he enjoyed the lavish provisions on offer, it soon became clear he was too much of an outlier for it to truly work. Also, “it came out on the day that the 9/11 attacks happened,” he says. “Even I didn’t want to talk about my album.” Limited sales meant his label felt largely the same, and he was dropped.

What is Dan Carey's recent project with Benjamin Romans-Hopcraft?
Carey's recent work away from the production desk has included being part of the group Scottibrains and making the music for Kae Tempest’s brilliant run of albums, but he feels something special is happening with Miss Tiny, a duo with Warmduscher’s Benjamin Romans-Hopcraft.

AI Comments

👍 This article provides an in-depth look into the amazing work of Dan Carey, a producer who has been instrumental in establishing London's thriving indie music scene. It's an inspiring read that shines a light on his incredible career journey.

👎 This article paints a too-rosy picture of Dan Carey's career, glossing over some of the failures he has faced along the way. It's important to be honest and not idealize his success.

AI Discussion

Me: It's about Dan Carey, a superproducer who has worked with a lot of post-punk bands from south London, such as Fontaines DC and Black Midi. He talks about his approach to producing music and some of the tricks he uses to get the best results out of bands. He also talks about how he got his start in the music industry and some of the pop artists he has worked with, like Kylie Minogue and Lily Allen. He's also started a record label, Speedy Wunderground, and his own project, Miss Tiny.

Friend: Interesting! It's really cool how he has been able to create this whole music scene in south London. It's also great that he's been able to work with some of the biggest pop stars in the world.

Me: Yeah, it's definitely impressive. It's interesting to hear about how his production techniques have helped shape the sound of the bands he's worked with. It's also inspiring to see how he has been able to create his own niche in the music industry and carve out a successful career for himself.

Action items

Research Dan Carey's production techniques and apply them to your own music.
Attend a show at the Brixton Windmill venue to experience the south London guitar sound.
Follow Speedy Wunderground's Singles Series to stay up to date with new artists and releases.

Technical terms

Wet Leg: Wet Leg is a band that has received the signature Dan Carey production stamp.
Fontaines DC: Fontaines DC is a post-punk band that has received the signature Dan Carey production stamp.
Mercury Prize: The Mercury Prize is an annual music prize awarded for the best album from the United Kingdom and Ireland. Dan Carey has four Mercury Prize nominations to his name.
Speedy Wunderground: Speedy Wunderground is an independent record label run by Dan Carey, Alexis Smith, and Pierre Hall.
Mr Dan: Mr Dan is the moniker Dan Carey used for his ill-fated record deal with Virgin at the turn of the millennium.
Kylie Minogue: Kylie Minogue is a pop singer who Dan Carey produced the sultry, seductive pop classic Slow for.
Sia: Sia is a singer whose track Dan Carey has a credit on.
Lily Allen: Lily Allen is a singer whose track Dan Carey has a credit on.
Will Young: Will Young is a singer whose track Dan Carey has a credit on.
Scottibrains: Scottibrains is a group Dan Carey is part of.
Kae Tempest: Kae Tempest is an artist Dan Carey has made music for.
Childhood: Childhood is a band Dan Carey produced for in 2012.