Arctic Monkeys producer James Ford is set to move from behind the mixing desk as he puts the finishing touches to the second album of his own project, Simian Mobile Disco (SMD).
Ford is the latest artiste to demonstrate that the producer, once seen as the nerd of the music industry, is now becoming the star, following in the illustrious footsteps of Timbaland, Mark Ronson and Pharrell Williams.
SMD exploded onto the scene in 2006 when their song We Are Your Friends became a worldwide hit after a reworking from then unknown French production duo, Justice.
As the French pair shot to international super-stardom and Grammy success, Ford continued to work behind the scenes producing some of the most successful albums in recent British pop.
Ford engineered Arctic Monkeys’ second album Favourite Worst Nightmare, which had double platinum sales in Britain, Klaxons’ Mercury Prize-winning Myths of the Near Future and pulled the strings on The Last Shadow Puppets’ British number one album, The Age of the Understatement.
Ford explained the previously uncelebrated role of the producer.
“Basically, it's to do whatever it takes to make a good record happen. That can be from writing and doing everything, like Timbaland, or sitting at the back of the room like Rick Rubin,” he said.
“From the technical engineering side to the musical song-writing side to getting people in the right frame of mind to make something. It's all of those things, that's why it is interesting.”
Often overlooked, the extra dimension which technical expertise can bring to music is now becoming more widely appreciated, triggered by the success of hip-hop and electronica.
“It's due to a lot of those hip-hop producers, like Timbaland and Pharrell. Technology is totally part of the creative process and totally defines the music you make.
“A lot of American kids are getting into dance music in quite a ferocious way which is pretty exciting.”
SMD’s debut album Attack Decay Sustain Release was released in 2007. Their yet to be named follow-up will feature cameos from Gossip singer Beth Ditto and Mercury-nominated Gruff Rhys and a possible contribution from Arctic Monkeys frontman Alex Turner.
Ford, who formed SMD with fellow producer James Shaw, told fans what to expect from the new release.
“The last one we went off on a crazy one, and now we're reining in a bit, we've got quite a few pop songs there,” he said.
“Alex is around and up for it but if it happens, it happens, and if it doesn’t, it doesn’t.”
Multi-instrumentalist Ford not only produced Turner’s The Last Shadow Puppets side project, but also drummed for them live and played piano with Arctic Monkeys during the band’s biggest ever gig as headliners at the 2007 Glastonbury Festival.
“It was probably the single most scary thing I’ve ever done,” Ford said of playing in front of an estimated 100,000 people. “I’ve always been a Glastonbury-goer and watched in awe from the crowd.
“To look the other way was totally earth shattering,” he said.
The pianist ruled out any permanent role with The Last Shadow Puppets, but revealed the pair continue to indulge in a slightly less than rock ’n’ roll pastime.
“I really enjoyed playing live, especially with the orchestra and the energy of those two but I wouldn't want to do it full time.
“We do still play tennis together. I’ve got the skills but he’s got the fitness so it’s pretty even.”
Ford is also working on Klaxons’ second album which is in its “final stages” but said there was no official release date as yet.
AFP