Ken Lewis

Today Rapcapital is kicking it with Ken Lewis. He's not your average studio engineer and producer. Having 6 Grammy's and 46 gold and platinum singles under his belt is an achievement most industry people could only dream of. Ken also has his own SSL Mixing Room too add to his resume. Welcome the newest member of "On The Grind", Ken Lewis.

Ken you have a achieved alot at this point.... whats next?

A few years ago,  i made the conscious decision to start dedicating much more time to production and songwriting.  Alot of that work will begin really paying off this year and next.  Last year i scored my first official platinum production with the John Legend single "Another again" from his "Once again" album.   I definitely want and will get more of that. Right now on my plate i'm producing hip hop, pop, pop rock, caribbean pop dancehall,  and R&B.   I've got some rock production stuff beginning to take off as well. I'm versatile.

In a sense mixing a record is almost a production task in itself, which do you enjoy more? Mixing or Producing?

I really enjoy the fact that i get to do different things all the time.    they can both be highly creative,  especially since i produce and mix in several different genre's.   Right now,  I've got rock mixes on the charts,  pop and R&B mixes on the charts.   I produced a pop rock band named "Small Town Sleeper" on Upper 11 / Fontana Records who just went to radio a few weeks ago.  And i've just recently produced a female pop dancehall artist in the Caribbean named KK Alese who's got Bounty Killer on her first single and Beenie Man on her second single.  So,  My range as a producer and a mixer is pretty wide.  thats what i love best.  that might be a cop out answer,  but its the truth.

Lets back track a minute. Where are you from ?

Born and raised in Cincinnati, Ohio.  Moved to NYC when i was 22 years old and have been here ever since.   I'm 37 now and quite happy that i've survived 16 years in the game still making #1 records.  I'm still grinding like i'm starving.

You have a a love of music in general. From doing Hiphop,Pop,Rock and Latin. Which genre's are the most intriguing to you? 

Well,  i grew up listening mostly to rock.  My brother is ten years older than me, so i would steal his records like The Beatles, Pink Floyd, Elton John, and Neil Young.  the 1st record i ever bought was ACDC Back In Black.   So thats a real part of me,   but since being in NYC for 15 years,  and learning urban music from guys like Just Blaze, Kanye West, Puffy, Malik Lendleton,  and so many more amazing producers and artists,  I think i've become quite well rounded. 

As far as the most intriguing genre right now,  probably pop,  because it can go so many different ways and incorporate so many different influences.  I'm a sucker for a good pop song.

Do you work with only big label artists or would you work with MC Joe Smoe?

I work with everybody who is serious about what they do.  I still do alot of work with independent artists thru my website, www.protoolsmixing.com and of course major labels all the time.   The great thing for me about working with indie's is that it keeps my skills and my ear razor sharp,  so when the majors do call,  its a walk thru the park.   So, i take every mix i do very seriously.   this industry is small and word travels fast.  i get alot of work from clients who used some other "big" engineer who hacked their mix.  Those people usually become my best repeat clients. 

What type of music services do you offer the public?

Mostly mixing.  I'm kind of expensive as a producer for independents.  I do it, but production takes a long time to do it right and the producer rate reflects that.  Mixing,  I'm not cheap for indie's but i am affordable.

Can you let us know some of the Major artists you have worked with at this point?

The short list would include....  Kanye West, Jay Z, Mariah Carey, Usher, Danity Kane, Beastie Boys,  Aretha Franklin, Mary J Blige, Lenny Kravitz,  Pete Rock, CeCe Winans,  John Legend, Public Enemy, the Game,  Janet Jackson, and many many more.

Out of all the big names you have worked with which 3 artists were the most memorable?   

 Probably Mary J Blige,  because i spent alot of time with her on alot of songs both recording and mixing.   that girl just drips soul every time she sings.    A long time ago,  I did a mix of  a cover song called "Black Butterfly" that featured Mary J Blige, Terrel Hicks, and Kelly Price.  WOW!!!  It also had full orchestra, full choir, and live band!   It was AMAZING!!!   Unfortunately,  it was for a movie soundtrack put out by another record company and they didnt clear the rights to Mary's performance, so it never came out.   I still have the final mix.  Maybe i should play it for her current record company and see if they can get it cleared for her next album.  Its pretty special.

My time spent working with and for Kanye West has always been special.  He's such a character.  Obviously, by his own admission,  his ego is huge,  but its almost never pointed at me,  which is nice. He is beyond talented.  In addition to all of the music I've played for his albums and productions over the years,  I also co-wrote "Last Call" on the College Dropout,  as well as writing,  scoring and performing an orchestral interlude for his live 2005 Grammy Awards performance.  The piece between "Jesus Walks" and the gospel song was all me,  being pumped out live to a couple hundred million people and i was sitting in the audience taking it all in.

Just Blaze isnt an "artist" in the tradition sense, but i think he brings so much art into production.  I've made alot of records with him and he's so incredible at what he does.   He would be my third pick (in no particular order) for most memorable.

I understand you can play multiple instruments. So, what are your methods of mayhem when producing?

I listen to a song and see what it needs.   I try not to think in formula terms,  except that a song needs a great arrangement, and often formula arranging works really well.      If i'm producing a live band,  i'll get everyone in a rehearsal room for a few days to a week and really flesh out arrangements before hitting the studio.   I'm hell on drummers.  I cant play a steady beat behind a kit, but i can tell a drummer exactly what to play down to minor stick strokes and offest 16th notes.  I'm really good at hearing that stuff in my head and conveying my ideas.  Same with guitar and bass lines.   vocals i focus more on in the studio. Vocals are always the most important part of any production.

If its more of an urban thing,  man i just go where the music takes me.  i've got a retarded sound library and instrument collection,  so i really just vibe with where the song is going and create from there.

When recording Digital Performer or Pro Tools?

Actually Logic Audio for creating and mixing.  I'll use Pro Tools for label stuff when its brought to me in Pro Tools.  most often i use Logic.  But i've been seriously thinking about switching back to Pro Tools full time for mixing and keeping Logic just for creating.  Pro Tools seems alot more stable on HD than Logic does which has been frustrating.

Whats your favorite Keyboard out there?

I mostly use Soft synths really,  and sample libraries. Some of my favorite soft synths would be the whole Native Instruments Komplete 5 collection,  its crazy.  Drumagog is pretty nuts.    I use Stylus RMX alot for secondary things. the G Force Mtron is really cool.   I've got a TON of soft synths, and i use almost all of them.

Have you ever done any mastering before?

You know,  most self respecting mix engineers stay away from calling themselves mastering engineers.  its two totally different things requiring two totally different sets of gear and listening environments.   Having said that,  my mixes can sound pretty damn close to mastered when they leave my hands.  Many a mastering engineer has thanked me for a very easy day.

Are there any new projects coming that you want to let us know?

I'm currently mixing Lee Carr for Jive Records.  That guy is AMAZING!   I'm about to mix Joe Budden's new album.  I think he's one of the best lyricists on the planet and i love working with him.   we go back to his first album.   I've got some more Bad boy work coming up.  I've spent so much time with them this year it almost feels like family. And mixing back to back #1 albums with Danity Kane and Day 26 was a highly of my career.  I mixed both first singles as well as 5 songs on each album.

Thanks again for sharing your industry experience with us. Where can the rapcapital viewers check you on the web?

My website is www.protoolsmixing.com,   though i know i know,  i mostly use Logic and mix on an SSL,  but marketing is half the battle right?  i know what the buzz words are.   I'm good about answering email too but my spam filters are tight, so if i dont answer, dont assume i am ignoring you.  i probably answer 20 emails a day.

Thanks for having me!  Its been a pleasure.
-Ken Lewis