Take one peek at Carmen Rizzo's website news page (www.carmenrizzo.com), and you'll get a glimpse of just how busy this talented artist actually is. Rizzo is a two-time Grammy nominated recording artist whose multi-faceted career includes producing, mixing, remixing, programming and co-writing with/for influential artists such as Seal, Coldplay, Alanis Morissette, Paul Oakenfold, BT, Ryuichi Sakamoto, Cirque de Soleil and Pete Townsend. Carmen has also co-produced projects with such notable producers as Trevor Horn, Marius, David Foster, Rob Cavillo and Don Was. His current solo album The Lost Art of the Idle Moment, is a lush beat-driven disc that features vocal collaboration with Esthero, Jem, Kate Havnevik, Ladybug Mecca and Grant Lee Phillips. He co-founded Niyaz (Six Degrees), a world-beat and electric fusion musical project, with Azam Alit and Loga Ramin Trorkina. Other recent projects include collaborating with Eurythmics' Dave Stewart on a world-beat song for Greenpeace, a documentary-style music show for HBO, putting finishing touches on a solo album (with guest vocalists including Jem), a new album with Niyaz slated for an April 2008 release on Six Degrees Records, a lecture tour for M-Audio/Digidesign, Avid & Microsoft (at colleges and venues in Boston, New York and San Francisco), scoring the new Michael Apted film, The Power of the Game, and miscellaneous musical work with Al Gore's Current TV network - to name but a few.
We caught up with Carmen in between his myriad projects and dizzying schedule.
How did you break into the business? Was there a pivotal point in your career where you took it to the next level, in terms being a professional?
I was in bands as a kid, but when I found out I couldn't be a pro baseball player, I went back to music! I moved to Los Angeles in 1984 from the California Bay Area. I was 19 years old and had $1,000 in my pocket. Through friends of friends, I just started at the bottom. I worked in recording studios as a runner and a go-fer, and worked my way up to an assistant engineer. I was fortunate to produce a record early in my career, in my twenties, with Kristen Vigard, that was her critically acclaimed debut with lots of guest stars from Fishbone to the Red Hot Chili Peppers to N'Dea Davenport (Brand New Heavies) to Amp Fiddler - a lot of people that were super credible in that scene. I can't really say what was a pivotal part of my career... but I think I was fortunate to have a lot of really wonderful relationships, and when I got put in a situation where I could shine, I shined. I can't really say that it was really one moment, but if there was, it would be working with Seal [as co-writer, programmer/engineer/mixer on Seal, 1994] because I was lucky to be brought into the Seal/Trevor Horn camp early on. Having that attached to my name gave me instant credibility.
You are a man of many hats... Of all the projects you're involved with - as producer, artist and educator - how do you juggle all your responsibilities? And of all that you do, where do your passions lie?
It's blessing and a curse but I can't complain! It's very difficult because I have a very good work ethic and I'm very disciplined but I also have a family. During the week, I'm extremely disciplined and I work long days and long nights. You've got to multi-task in this business to survive.
What prompted you to work with HowAudio.com?
I met the guys and fell in love with what they were doing and wanted to help them with their cause. So far, I've done instructional titles on M-Audio's Torq DJ software and Essential Gear for Mobile Recording. I'm famous for recording on the road; I travel a lot, making records in hotel rooms, and that title tells you what gear you need to do it yourself. I'm also working on a title on essential studio tips and tricks that we hope to complete soon.
I really love what Howaudio is doing. Whether you're a novice, a bedroom producer, or musician living in middle of nowhere, you can go to their site and have access to professionals who can offer valuable information and insight on topic you're interested in. Or, you might be someone like me, a professional, who might be embarrassed to say, "I don't know how to do that. I want to learn more."
These days, there are no mentoring opportunities for folks to learn from the pros. This is a great way for people to gain access to the pros. It's like mentoring in your own home. It's a wonderful way to learn. I support what they do and they have a very high standard and I know that whatever they do, it's going to be done very well.
You're a very big proponent of education. What are your goals and what you hope to impart with these instructional titles?
My goal is to reach out to individuals. These DVDs offer something you wouldn't read in a manual or won't see in an interview. Also, if you're a fan of someone's work, it's a great way to get an inside view and to see them work. As far as gear reviews in magazines, they rarely dog a piece of gear. I'm not suggesting that we rip a piece of a gear, but what these DVDs do is that they spotlight features and benefits and what nuances you should pay attention to, and why this piece of gear is worth using. It gives you an objective view that you might not get from a manufacturer. Plus, it puts software and gear into context with how you're using it.
I'm grateful to be a part of the family and it's a long-term relationship. I want to help spread valuable information to other colleagues. I really do believe in the educational process and I do a lot of that for other organizations.
Any parting tips for an aspiring producer/artist/engineer?
Be a good listener and have humility a lot of people. A lot of people come into a situation and have a bit of a chip on their shoulder. Over the years, I've had many interns and assistants, and the ones that have shined have been ones that have been good listeners. They actually want to learn.
Also, too, it's important to master your craft first. In this climate with way technology is changing, anyone can walk into Guitar Center, buy a Portastudio or Pro Tools and a computer and think they can make records. Just because you know how to use Garageband or Pro Tools doesn't mean you're a record producer.
There has to be something said about that. Master your craft before you just jump in.
Click here to see a list of titles by Carmen Rizzo.
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