IMB: On Female Producers: They are generally not taken serious by their male counterparts and there certainly are not a lot of them in the music industry…what was your experience like working with a female producer?

Anthony: This was my first time working with a female producer. I honestly don’t see gender or race when working with a particular producer. I only hear the music and the music sounded great! So my first experience with a female producer was great! (laughs) But I have heard stories about female producers and musicians having an overpowering, “I have something to prove” attitude that makes it a little difficult to work with them, which I could understand. I didn’t feel this with Tina. It was just her doing what she loves to do and she’s good at it.

IMB: Would you do it again?

Anthony: Yes, I would because at the end of the day, good music is good music. It doesn’t matter if a male or a female produced it.

IMB: Did you initially have any doubts or hesitations about getting involved on this project because she is female?

Anthony: No, I didn’t have any doubts or hesitations because of her being a female. It honestly didn’t really cross my mind. I think one of the first things that crossed my mind was what will the track sound like and will I be able to deliver what she is asking for.

IMB: She said that there was a certain percussion sound that she was hearing in the beginning of the track and that you were the only one that was able to duplicate it…how did you know what it was and how were you able to duplicate it? What was your process/method?

Anthony: This is actually the sound that I heard right before she called and told me about it. Now, the process started out quite humorous. (laughs) She calls and tells me, and I’m paraphrasing, “Ok, this is the sound I’m hearing and I’m going to try and make it with my mouth…it kind of sounds like when you’re scratching your throat”….right then I’m thinking “whaaaat?!” LOL.. So I try and scratch my throat too! (laughs) She then tells me my version sounds more like a pig. (laughs) That’s when I remembered the sound I heard, but realized that guitars make this sound when a guitarist plucks the strings a certain way and runs down the neck of the guitar. I gave it another try using my voice this time and she said “Yeah! That’s it, but it’s more of a woody sound.” I began going through my library of sounds from different programs I use trying to find a sample of the sound, but I couldn’t find exactly what I was looking for. That’s when my creativity kicked in. I said “I’ll just make the sound myself!” …Yes, I talk to myself a lot while working in the studio LOL…so I found a couple of wood instruments and played them with two keys on the keyboard as fast as I could, used pan/volume automation to create the illusion of the real thing, added a little reverb and delay, and there you go! Using your own creativity to produce your own sounds makes the process even more enjoyable.”

IMB: Tina writes a lot in her head first and has the uncanny ability to hear a melody and complete the track, all parts, all instruments before ever recording it…how did she communicate her vision for “Pearl” to you? For example, the guitar sound, the call and response, etc?

Anthony: I can relate to that. With her being a musician, she was able to play some things she was hearing and articulate them a little bit better than those who are not musicians. She actually played the theme melody for the piano part which helped out a lot because I could go back and listen to it as many times as I needed to get it down. As far as the guitar sound, she mentioned the type of sound she wanted and referred me to some of George Benson’s music. That gave me a good example of what to look for when choosing a guitar. The call and response was pretty straight forward. She just told me near the end of the song she wanted the piano to play something and the guitar to repeat what the piano played.

IMB: Will you be on the other tracks as well?

Anthony: Yes, I will! She was so excited about what I did with “Pearl” that she invited me on more tracks for the project, which I am really excited about.

IMB: It’s been said that she is the ultimate business woman who makes sure that all contracts are signed  before starting  and people are paid and treated right…would you agree with that/what are your thoughts on that?

Anthony: I would definitely agree! She is very professional and business-like and I respect that because a lot of people in the industry aren’t like that. Some people don’t know how to respond to professionalism and become a little nervous or skeptical when they see a contract! If you read the contracts carefully, they are not only protecting her from being screwed, but they are also protecting YOU from being screwed! It’s just a better and right way to do business. If there is money involved or some type of exchange for your services use a contract. But yeah, Tina will make sure you are treated right and fairly. She is about her business.

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