The Fallout

I just finished a mix for Fallout Boy. Turns out that Fallout Boy struck a deal with Kanye West, if Kanye remixed a song of theirs for their album, (the song i just mixed), they would remix a song of his for his album "Graduation", which will be Kanye's 3rd album due out at Christmas. And if the few roughs of songs i've heard from it so far are any indication, "Graduation" will be an all time classic hip hop album. I'm calling it now, though i'd expect nothing less of Kanye, nor would he deliver anything less. But back to Fallout Boy. I'm a fan. Actually though i'd never tell him personally, and i doubt he'll ever read my blog, i'm a big fan of Kanye's music as well, but i try to keep things on a peer level with my clients. Actually i've been extremely fortunate throughout my career to work with so many people who's work and music i truly admire. I'm lucky. Fallout Boy's last album, as well as both Kanye albums are a staple in my ipod, and I cant wait to hear Fallout Boy's new album coming out in a couple weeks. Their first single is currently #1. Not too bad!

Anyway, I kind of feel like i've been working toward this mix for 15 years now. (fusing hip hop and rock together) My entire career has been spent traveling down unrelated paths. Alot of people look at my credits and say "oh, he's an urban mix engineer", and I am. thanks for noticing, except that there are so many more sides. Currently, I just completed production and mixing on a pop rock album (Small Town Sleeper, signed to Upper 11 Records and also signed to my production company). I am in the middle of producing two different indie label rock bands. I also recently produced a Carribean Dance Hall Riddim that is about to blow through the islands like a hurricane (featuring such artists as Sizzla and Delly Ranx, and Beenie Man might jump on it as well). I'm currently mixing a song for Armageddon of Terror Squad, mixing an R&B album for "Paul G" that could really shake things up, I'm mixing an album for Carribean R&B soulstress "KK", who's album will feature Beenie Man and Sizzla on separate tracks, producing a song for Icelandic hit pop artist "Snooze!", i'm also doing a sample recreation for Common's new album and recently did a bunhc of work on Ghostface Killa's new album. And i'm mixing indie projects in about every genre imaginable. And thats just what i'm CURRENTLY or recently doing. you get the picture, I'm pretty darn versatile.

Alot of people are "Hip Hop" producers or "rock producers", or "pop mixers". I am a "music producer" and i am a "music mixer", and i am a musician and songwriter across many genre's. I listen to the music, whatever genre it may be, and figure out what it needs. Anyway, i think a Fallout Boy credit on my resume will definitely help people identify me in rock, and when they hear the albums i'm producing for Small Town Sleeper, Man On Earth, Skidmore Fountain, all very different artists, i think ears and eyes will start opening up more. It seems basic human nature to want to categorize someone, define them a specific way. Some people strive to be defined like that, and that is absolutely great if thats what you want. I want people to describe me with words like "musical" & "versatile". I want people when they think about me to say "there's not a record that this guy cant make well". And if you listen to my work and look at my credits, I hope you agree too. I love making records. Todays record was definitely a special one.
-Ken Lewis