Carmen Rizzo (Seal, Coldplay, Niyaz)

Two-time Grammy-nominated producer and writer, Carmen Rizzo has worked with artists of the calibre of Seal, Coldplay, Paul Oakenfold, Ryuichi Sakamoto, Pete Townshend, and Niyaz. In addition, he composed music for Oscar-winning directors Michael Apted and Stanley Brooks and runs his own label, Electrofone Music. Rizzo was previously the Senior Artist Relations Manager at Native Instruments.

Tell us about your current studio setup.

I use Pro Tools as my main DAW and also use Ableton for other creative tasks. My monitors are Barefoot Footprint 01. I have migrated to mostly in the box, but besides analog instruments, I love my DBX 164 A compressors and Altec & Urie EQ.

Having mixed and produced so many songs over the past few years, how do you stay fresh and excited about making music every day?

I always try to challenge myself. Part of this method is getting out of my comfort zone, putting myself in an uncomfortable situation, and rising to the occasion. A lot of what we all do is unseeing the same gear, templates, and so on.

I travel a lot and bring a small backpack rig with me without my main tools. I enjoy the process of doing things differently. Usually, great things come from it.

How do you typically approach the production of a song?

It usually starts with the rhythm or the basic approach of understanding what the song sounds like stripped down. Too much production can often ruin a song. Saying it does not need much is a good reminder.

What advice do you have for aspiring producers and mixers looking for their big break?

It is not about money, it’s always about the credit and the music. Too many people turn down good opportunities because the money is low. Some of my best work and credits are the lowest paying. Never let money dictate your creative path.