Production was a skill. It lived in choosing takes that felt good, in capturing performances that moved you. It was about encouraging artists, knowing when a part needed to push, when it had to lay back, and when to let the imperfections carry the emotion. These days, with the tools we have, music often relies on those tools. I’m all for correcting things when needed, especially in the right context. But if the player is there, then use that. Learn the skill to understand feel and groove. That’s what makes music live and breathe. Back then, the entire rock landscape was dominated by the Emo scene, productions that were incredibly slick, heavily edited, stacked with drum samples and pitch correction. This record went against the grain. And to be honest, no one thought it would break through. Yet here we are, 20 years later, with songs like Look After You still connecting with people. Ironically, I now hear people covering these songs with autotuned vocals, gridded drums, and all the polish we deliberately avoided. At the time, this music was a breath of fresh air. Imagine a band like this coming out now, sounding like that. Let’s not lose the art of the performance. Let’s get back to gre
1 month ago | 9
What a great album! Thank you for the impact you made to help it sound THAT good! 🖤
1 month ago | 0
I love this track so much Warren! It will forever remind me of visiting New York City in the winter of 2011 💙
1 month ago
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Hey Warren! I have always loved this album, its songs (Vienna is such an underrated gem) and the sound a lot. So fascinated to learn of your work on it. Much love!
1 month ago (edited)
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Salute Warren, looking forward to checking this out. Congrats on the milestone & good take on the production cuz i definitely miss the performance driven era which always makes the Beatles(60s), 70s, & early 90s rock genres come to mind. Im more a student of the past than the present & better from it(older music is my "new music", not a big fan of today's scene).
1 month ago
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For a great song to be great, one trillion plays will be the next benchmark. That banger will be named “The sound of one trillion mouse clicks.”
1 month ago (edited) | 0
Congrats Warren, not many people can say they have achieved these numbers so give yourself a good pat on the back if you haven’t lately
1 month ago
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Produce Like A Pro
The Fray’s Look After You has just passed 500 million streams, an incredible achievement for a song that was never even released as a single. It’s long been a fan favourite, and while it doesn’t boast the billions of plays that How to Save a Life or Over My Head (Cable Car) have earned, half a billion streams is a true testament to its lasting emotional impact.
Working on this track as part of How to Save a Life, one of the things that stands out about the entire album is its raw, unfiltered honesty. There’s no gridding, no heavy editing, and certainly no autotune. When Mark Endert mixed the single How to Save a Life, he told me he didn’t use any drum samples. What you hear is the real band, recorded in my old studio, Swing House. That room had such a wonderful vibe and it gave the record so much warmth and character.
At its core, Look After You is a heartfelt song about finding deep stability and comfort in another person when life feels chaotic. It’s an urgent plea for enduring connection, a mutual promise to offer unwavering support and acceptance. The lyric paints the partner as a vital “home,” a trusted sanctuary for one’s most vulnerable self. That emotional truth is what keeps listeners coming back, year after year.
open.spotify.com/track/5l6hpyTGBK0LAAxgPnqTQL?si=A…
1 month ago | [YT] | 377