The producer’s perspective
Two years ago I joined the Ginkgo Music team to produce a 14 track CD with different acoustic artists.It took some time to get the Ginkgo vehicle into the right gear but I think we’ve gathered a first class line up.
One of the things I’ve found particularly satisfying on this project is the fact that the music is so performance driven. I remember our first recording session with Kate Walsh. She sat down, played the song four times and that was it: a real rock’n'roll moment dressed in singer/songwriter clothes (if that makes sense to anyone).
And Devon Sproule, who generously came all the way from O2 venue (where she was supporting Lucinda Williams) to record her track. I should mention we later added pedal steel guitar player BJ Cole on Devon’s track who agreed to give his time and playing in support of our cause. He also entertained me with tales from the road and I discovered he worked on some of my favourite David Sylvian records (David Sylvian and I once shared the same hair style).
Dobet Gnahoré and her guitarist/husband Colin came over from Belgium and we worked in more detail on this track adding percussion and even some backing vocals. Being a guitarist myself I couldn’t help noticing Colin didn’t make one mistake the whole day (how does he do it?).
Cibelle is another artist I was really excited to work with. We recorded her track really simple, voice and guitar. I love the recording we’ve done, it sounds really intimate and fresh. Great voice.
Who else can I mention? Martha Tilston, Nathan Ball, Alan Lacroix, Morgan Szymanski, Valentin Gerlier, they’re all great. I’ll write more about them next time. Right now I am looking forward to the session with David McAlmont who is someone I’ve thought very highly of for some time.
Best
Peter Larsen (producer, Tropical Forest Project: Ecuador)