Michael James (producer)

Michael James

Michael James mixing an album at Westlake Audio in 1999.
Background information
Birth name Michael James Marchesano
Also known as Michael James
Born (1962-02-01) February 1, 1962
Long Island, New York, U.S.
Genres rock, pop, punk rock, hard rock, jazz, singer-songwriter
Occupation(s) record producer, mixing engineer
Instruments electric guitar, keyboard
Years active 1981–present
Labels Warner Music Discovery Alternator Records
Associated acts New Radicals, Hole, L7, Far, Robben Ford, Mazzy Star, Edwin McCain, Chicago, A.J. Croce, The Coronas, and Jawbreaker
Website www.michaeljamesproducer.com[1]

[2]Michael James (born Michael James Marchesano; February 1, 1962) is an American record producer, mixing engineer, guitarist, and former A&R executive. James has produced and/or mixed albums for New Radicals, Too Much Joy, Hole, L7, Maia Sharp, and A.J. Croce, among others.[3]

Early life

James was born to Elizabeth (née Powers) and Roy Marchesano and raised in New York City. James' father was first tenor in the famous Doo Wop group the Chaperones, which gave James his first exposure to music. As a young child, his parents divorced and James lived for three years (along with his mother) with the Diablo Motorcycle Club. At age eleven, James' family moved to California to get away from the Diablos, but soon thereafter James' mother became addicted to drugs, and the lack of parental support left him homeless several times during his adolescence. At age nineteen, James was signed to his first record deal with Ear Movie Records, a label owned by Ethan James, but his early career stalled when Michael turned down a major label deal to attend UCLA on a full scholarship. Still, James' first single, "She Said Yes," recorded for $15 in studio time, was released in 1983 as part of the first volume of the Radio Tokyo Tapes. In 1985 James formed the band Waves of Grain with Luke Lohnes from The Last. The group released the critically acclaimed album "The West Was Fun" before dissolving.[4][5] After college, James turned his attention back to music, working as an engineer at Radio Tokyo Studios in the 1980s and becoming the studio's chief engineer by 1990.[6]

Mainstream success

James got his first big break producing Too Much Joy's sophomore album "Son of Sam I Am," the first release on Irving Azoff's newly formed Giant Records.[7] The following year, James produced and engineered L7's second album, "Smell the Magic", released on the Sub Pop label. This led to a relationship with Sub Pop, for whom James would later produce and engineer Hole's second single, "Dicknail" and The Reverend Horton Heat's "Speed Demon."[8] James' successful early production work led to a brief side career as head of A&R for Warner Music Discovery. [9] When Discovery was folded into Warner Music Group, James further diversified his musical endeavors, creating the independent record label Alternator Records.[10] He also continued mixing and producing records, amassing more than 100 credits in the period between 1994 and 1997. In 1998, James engineered and mixed the RIAA platinum certified debut album by New Radicals, "Maybe You've Been Brainwashed Too", on which he also played electric guitar. James' involvement in the industry continued at a fast pace, including production and writing credits on A.J. Croce's 2000 album "Transit" and Maia Sharp's eponymous 2002 album.[11]

Recent work

In 2009, James founded IndieProMix with Rob Chiarelli, which offers mixing services with engineers including James as well as David Kahne (Paul McCartney, Stevie Nicks, The Strokes), Matt Forger (Michael Jackson), Tony Shepperd (Madonna, Whitney Houston, Take 6) and Nick Page (B.B. King, Fuel, Pete Yorn).[12][13] James currently mixes and/or produces more than 250 songs a year, many for independent musicians, including Edwin McCain's "Mercy Bound," and Far's final album before disbanding, "At Night We Live", among others.[14]

Personal life

James' most prominent hobby is bicycle racing, and in 2002, at the age of 40, he was a member of the Mercury Cycling team.[15] James has also been featured as a guest writer for Billboard magazine, writing articles warning of potential changes due to a lack of innovation in A&R and the music industry long before digital downloads and file sharing caused a sharp decline in record sales in the 21st century.[16] In 1991, he married Irina Irvine, a former actress turned microbial ecologist.[17][18] He identifies as Bahá'í.[19]

Selected Discography

References

  1. ↑ {http://michaeljamesproducer.com}
  2. ↑ {http://indiepromix.com}
  3. ↑ ““Michael James - Credits : AllMusic" URL last accessed 2013-04-16
  4. ↑ ““The Record Robot: Nostalgia For An Age Yet To Come” URL last accessed 2013-05-16
  5. ↑ ““Luke's Last History” URL last accessed 2013-05-16
  6. ↑ Young, Clive (1997), "James Generates Alternator", Pro Sound News 19 (11): 25, 42
  7. ↑ ““A Brand New Too Much Joy Song” URL last accessed 2013-04-16
  8. ↑ ““Michael James - Credits : AllMusic" URL last accessed 2013-04-16
  9. ↑ Smith, Roger L. (1998), "Producer/Engineer Spreads His Wings with Alternator Records", No Cover Magazine 1 (12): 21
  10. ↑ ““Michael James - Credits : AllMusic" URL last accessed 2013-05-15
  11. ↑ ““Michael James - Credits : AllMusic" URL last accessed 2013-05-15
  12. ↑ ““IndieProMix - Connecting Pro Mixers & Indie Artists" URL last accessed 2013-05-18
  13. ↑ ““Music Business Registry" URL last accessed 2013-05-18
  14. ↑ ““Far: At Night We Live" URL last accessed 2013-05-18
  15. ↑ ““2002 Mercury Cycling Team" URL last accessed 2013-05-18
  16. ↑ James, Michael (January 10, 1998). "Innovative Acts Crucial to Health of Music Biz". Billboard. pp. 4, 75. Retrieved March 15, 2013.
  17. ↑ ““Irina Irvine - IMDb" URL last accessed 2013-05-17
  18. ↑ ““Irvine IC - PubMed" URL last accessed 2013-05-17
  19. ↑ Young, Clive (1997), "James Generates Alternator", Pro Sound News 19 (11): 25, 42
  20. ↑ {http://indiepromix.com}
  21. ↑ {http://www.alternatorrecords.com/}
  22. ↑ http://www.allmusic.com/artist/michael-james-mn0000395027/credits
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