WELCOME!
You've found the Lorne Entress website.  Below are questions that I'm most commonly asked about music production.  Regardless of what stage you're at planning your record, feel free to contact me to chat about what I do and how I may be able to help.  I can be reached at (860) 983-3190.  Or email me at lentress@cox.net      

WHAT LABELS HAVE YOU PRODUCED CDS FOR?
Warner Bros, JVC, Signature Sounds, Stony Plain, Compass Records, Kingswood Records.  I've also produced many self-released CDs.  

WHAT TYPE OF MUSIC DO YOU USUALLY PRODUCE?
I don't limit myself to one genre, but many of my productions have been of the singer/songwriter variety, from roots/acoustic to more modern folk/pop and rock.  I’ve also produced jazz and blues records.  I love American roots music and traditional instrumentation, but I equally love modern, out-of-the-box touches.  I don’t approach arranging with a dogmatic list of what to use and what not to use, or what a particular genre should or shouldn't be.  I love collecting instruments old and new and I experiment and listen for what best illumines the song and supports the voice.  

WHAT CD’S HAVE YOU PRODUCED?
 Most notably would be:
 Bittertown -- Lori McKenna
 Long Night Moon -- Catie Curtis
 Stretch Limousine On Fire -- Catie Curtis
 Hope Radio -- Ronnie Earl & the Broadcasters
 Good -- Hayley Reardon
 Where the Artists Go -- Hayley Reardon
 Sugar Shack -- The Boxcar Lilies
 Knockout Rose --The Boxcar Lilies
 Give It Up To Love -- Mighty Sam McLain
 Mark Erelli -- Mark Erelli
 Hillbilly Pilgrim -- Mark Erelli
 The Memorial Hall Recordings -- Mark Erelli
 Compass and Companion -- Mark Erelli
 Hope and other Casualties -- Mark Erelli
 Gin and Rosewater -- Chuck McDermott
 Jay Psaros -- Jay Psaros
 One Time -- Amy Black
 A Life I Never Had -- Alastair Moock
 Haunted Heart -- Susan Cattaneo 
 Jasmine Parade -- Jenna Lindbo
The Hoosac Line -- Abe Loomis
The Good Silver -- John Kehe

 
WHAT DO YOU AS A PRODUCER ACTUALLY DO?
Just about anything that needs doing to create a great record.  I relieve the chore aspect of recording from the artist so that their focus can be on writing and performance.  By that I mean, coming up with a budget, booking sessions, hiring musicians, setting up rehearsals, writing chord charts, renting recording gear, etc.  It can be intimidating for an artist to deal with engineers, hired musicians, and the technical side of recording because it’s not something they do everyday.  As producer I become the artist’s point person and confidante throughout the process.  I do a good degree of the engineering, most of the editing, and mix depending on the project.  It’s my job to oversee the recording at all levels, from pre-production through mastering, and I do this in cooperation with the artist.  I love the breadth of production and being a part of every single detail--the macro and the micro so to speak.  But the most meaningful part of the process for me is arranging the music and working with musicians to get great performances.  

ARE YOU AN ENGINEER?
Yes.  Having engineering skills helps me get deep into the sound and process of a recording, and helps keep budget costs down too.  

DO YOU PLAY AN INSTRUMENT?
I play many instruments, but the one I’m most schooled at is drums.  I often play drums on my productions, but I enjoy using other drummers too and have hired the likes of Marco Giovino (Buddy Miller, Robert Plant), Jay Bellerose (Ray LaMontagne) and John Sands (Aimee Mann).  Sometimes artists mistakenly think that because I play the drums I will insist that drums be a part of their CD, but that's not the case.  I let the songs lead the way, and if that means no drums I'm more than fine with that.  On my productions I’ve also played piano, Hammond organ, synths, reed organ, accordion, Wurlitzer piano, celestaphone, mandolin, uke, bass, acoustic and elec. guitars, orchestra bells, vibraphone, and others I’m probably forgetting.  I sometimes add vocal harmonies too if my voice is a good match for the project.   

WHO DO YOU HIRE AS STUDIO MUSICIANS?
I’m fortunate to have working relationships with many great musicians.  Here’s a short list of some that I’ve hired for productions:  Kevin Barry (Rosanne Cash, Ray Lamontagne), Sam Kassirer (Josh Ritter), Kenny White (Peter Wolf), Glenn Patscha (Ollabelle, Sheryl Crow, Ryan Adams), Stuart Duncan (almost everybody), Jay Bellerose (T-Bone Burnett, Gregg Allman), Duke Levine (Mary Chapin Carpenter, Lucy Kaplansky, Slaid Cleaves), Richard Gates (Patty Larkin, Suzzane Vega), Duke Levine, Jesse Williams, Dave Limina, Mark Erelli and many others.  I find it does not pay to skimp on using the best players possible.  If an artist’s instrumentalist or band is an integral part of their sound I’m open to including them.  I always work closely with the artist when choosing musicians for a project, and it’s important that there’s an agreed upon consensus.

WHO MAKES THE FINAL DECISIONS, THE ARTIST OR THE PRODUCER?
It’s vitally important for each to listen to the other, to hear the other’s point of view and be open to trying new things.  As producer I run the sessions so to speak, but always with an eye on the artist to make sure they’re fully engaged and inspired.  Some artists are heavily involved in the details, others prefer to be free of them.  I’m comfortable working with those differing dynamics.  When it comes to creative decisions I feel that the artist and producer should always work towards a consensus -- I want the artist to love EVERYTHING about the record.  

WHAT ABOUT BUDGET?
I charge a standard all-inclusive flat fee, and the final recording budget is determined by the length and the scope of the project.  Once the musical goal comes into focus, the artist and I come up with a working budget.  I prefer working for a flat fee because there are no budget surprises, and I can be as patient as I need to be.  

WHERE DO YOU USUALLY RECORD?
I do a lot of producing and mixing at my studio Harmony St.  (see the Studio tab above)  and at other top-notch studios in the Northeast.  But I'm open to traveling elsewhere and have also recorded in NYC, Nashville, and Los Angeles.  

DO YOU ONLY PRODUCE FULL LENGTH CDS?  
No.  I often produce EPs and single tracks too.  
 
DO YOU SIGN A CONTRACT WITH THE ARTIST?
I have a Producer Agreement that I use that can be amended or altered to fit the particular production.  I’ve found that putting things to paper defines the business relationship, eliminates misunderstandings, and allows the artist and myself to focus on the music.  

DO YOU STILL DRUM FOR OTHER ARTISTS OR ARE YOU SOLELY A PRODUCER NOW?
Production and mixing are my primary focus these days, but I'll always love drumming and continue to do that too.  I've had the privilege of drumming for Big Al Anderson, Dave Carter and Tracy Grammer, Susan Tedeschi, The Shinolas, Vance Gilbert, Dennis Brennan, Ollabelle, Freedy Johnston, Erin McKeown, Junior Wells and many others.  For a fairly incomplete list of Lorne Entress album credits click HERE.