A Chat With John Alagia
A while back Studio Assistant had the pleasure of talking to John Alagia. John is a multi-instrumentalist, engineer, mixer and singer/songwriter. He established his reputation by recognizing and developing artists from the earliest stage.
A while back Studio Assistant had the pleasure of talking to John Alagia. John is a multi-instrumentalist, engineer, mixer and singer/songwriter. He established his reputation by recognizing and developing artists from the earliest stage. John has a special ear for hearing great talent and stands behind the breakthroughs of artists like John Mayer, Jason Mraz, Dave Matthews. Among the other artists he worked with are names like Paul Simon, Herbie Hancock, Serena Ryder, Brett Dennen, Vertical Horizon, Edwin McCain, Rachael Yamagata and Ben Folds.
Studio Assistant: Hi John, thanks for joining us today!
John Alagia: The pleasure is mine.
Studio Assistant: So tell us, how did you first start producing music?
John Alagia: I actually started producing in my basement, recording my own band - Derryberry and Alagia.
Studio Assistant: What's your favourite stage in the music production process?
John Alagia: That would be all three – production, arrangement and recording.
Studio Assistant: Do you have a favourite piece of gear you have used recently?
John Alagia: All things Universal Audio!!! I love my old LA3.
Studio Assistant: When it comes to making music, is there a piece of gear you no longer have access to and miss?
John Alagia: One thing comes to mind – an Alan Smart Compressor.
Studio Assistant: Name your bucket-list piece of production equipment.
John Alagia: NEVE 1073s, API 512s, TUBE-TECH LCA-2B, VAC-RAC TSL-3, 1176's, U47s, U269, U67s, Kontakt, Battery, NS-10s, and UA Bundle.
Studio Assistant: Let's talk influencers. Are there other producers/ songwriters artists you're inspired by?
John Alagia: McCartney numero uno!
Studio Assistant: Will you share with us what you're working on at the moment?
John Alagia: I’m currently working with Rachel Yamagata – a brilliant singer/ songwriter and pianist.
Studio Assistant: Finish the sentence: If I wasn't producing music, I'd be...
John Alagia: a sailor on the Chesapeake Bay.
More great interviews to come!