Producer/drummer Ethan Johns was an integral player in the alt-country rags to riches success story of Ray LaMontagne: the pair met while recording a publishing deal demo for Chrysalis, which spawned a major label bidding war over LaMontagne’s first album. Now Johns, who is best known for producing Ryan Adams’ Heartbreaker and Gold, the first three Kings of Leon albums, and part of Rufus Wainwright’s Poses, will not be producing LaMontagne’s next album.
Instead, Ray has apparently gained enough confidence over the past couple years to produce the record himself. Here’s what he told Express Night Out on his choice to part with his longtime collaborator for his next solo effort:
It’s complicated; it’s hard to explain. Just to put it very simply, there’s lots of concessions you have to make, the more cooks you have in the kitchen. At a certain point, I just feel like, I guess, it’s just time for change.
Let’s hope Johns stops by the studio for a couple drum tracks at least. He may be a brilliant engineer/producer and the son of a music legend, but he’s also one of the best studio drummers alive, in my book.