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Dan Grech-Marguerat

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Daniel James Grech-Marguerat (born 11 July 1981 in Bedford), is an English-Maltese recording engineer, record producer and mixer.

Dan Grech-Marguerat
Born (1981-07-11) 11 July 1981 (age 43)
Bedford, England
NationalityBritish
Occupations
Years active1991-present
Known forAudio mixing (recorded music)
Awards
Websitewww.dangrechmusic.com

Grech has worked with Lana Del Rey,[2] Keane,[3] and Moby.[4]

Biography

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Dan Grech started working at RAK Studios in St John's Wood, London as an assistant recording engineer.[5] He worked with record producer Nigel Godrich for two years,[5] participating in records with Charlotte Gainsbourg, The Divine Comedy, Beck and Radiohead.[6] He won a Grammy Award for his work with Godrich in 2009[1] for his work on Radiohead's 'In Rainbows' which picked up 'Best Alternative Album 2009'.[7]

In 2006 he mixed the Scissor Sisters second album Ta-Dah , including the single I Don't Feel Like Dancin',[8] co-written by Elton John, which went to number one in 8 countries, and top 10 in 20 countries.[9] Later that year, Grech mixed the debut record for the band Dragonette,[10] starting a long-term relationship with the band.

In 2007, Grech produced two tracks for the Radio 1 Established 1967[11] anniversary album, one for The Kooks and one for The Kaiser Chiefs.[12] Following on from this he went on to produce several tracks for The Kooks second album Konk.[13] He also mixed the Moby album 'Last Night [6]

In 2010, Grech produced the debut album for The Vaccines, What Did You Expect from The Vaccines?.[14][15]

In May 2012, Keane released their 4th studio album 'Strangeland', which Grech both produced and mixed.[16]

In 2013, Grech produced Long Way Down, the debut record for Tom Odell, winner of the BRITs Critics Choice Award.[17] In 2013 Grech also produced The Brink, the second album for the Australian band The Jezabels.[18][19]

In 2014, Grech worked with Liverpool-based guitar band Circa Waves. He produced and mixed their debut album which entered the UK charts at number 10 in April 2015.[20] Singles from the album included Fossils and T-Shirt Weather.

In 2015, he produced and mixed the Birdy and Rhodes duet Let It All Go.[21]

At the start of 2016, Grech worked with Mumford & Sons. He recorded the Johannesburg EP in South Africa with the band.[22]

Grech's releases in 2017 included Liam Gallagher's debut solo album As You Were, he produced 8 of the 12 tracks including the single For What It's Worth. On working with Grech, Gallagher said, “I’ll play him a tune very badly and he’ll go, ‘Yeah, I get where you’re coming from’ and get the acoustics down and away we go.”[23] The album was released on October 6.[24]

In 2018, Grech mixed Staying at Tamara's, George Ezra's second album.[25] In the same year, he also mixed releases for Rae Morris, Mikky Ekko, and Tom Grennan.[26]

Grech has additional production and live credits on 2021's Rag'n'Bone man and Pink single Anywhere Away From Here. He contributed additional production and mixing for the radio single and worked with the NHS choir on the live performance at the Brit Awards.[27]

Grech won UK Mixer of the Year 2021[28] at the Music Producers’ Guild Awards.

In 2021, Grech began working with Sam Ryder,[29] mixing Sam's debut EP Sun’s Gonna Rise. Grech mixed and produced the UK Eurovision entry song for 2022, Sam Ryder's There's Nothing but Space, Man!.[30][31]

Notable work

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George Ezra

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Grech opted for a simple, streamlined mixing process when working on George Ezra's Paradise. In the Paradise session, Grech used 73 tracks, containing additional elements such as kick sample tracks and a snare track. Several auxiliary tracks were included, adding delays and reverbs. Grech condensed individual instrument parts such as bass, guitar, synth, and piano into single stereo tracks. The backing vocals initially spread over approximately 20 tracks, were consolidated into six.

Grech divided the lead vocal track into two segments to apply varying treatments to the pre-chorus sections. Despite the simplified layout, the session included hundreds of plug-ins, heavily concentrated on the Akai MPC loop, bass, guitar, and vocal tracks. Grech used colour coding to organise the session.

Grech uses busses sparingly, claiming that the desired sound should be realised with no more than 10 inserts per Pro Tools. At the time, Grech's go-to audio plug-ins were the UAD API compressor and the Waves Audio's RCompressor to achieve specific effects and control frequencies across the tracks. He frequently uses a high pass filter to manage low-end frequencies and prefers plug-ins with graphical interfaces.

Grech has a particular stance on handling vocals, where he usually prefers to remove pre-existing audio plug-ins to shape the vocal sound from scratch, except in instances where a unique effect that adds value to the track is present.[25]

Scissor Sisters

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Grech played a significant role in producing the Scissor Sisters' first album. Trained at RAK studios in London and having worked with renowned producer Nigel Godrich, Grech initially joined the project to assist with recording live instruments but eventually took on a larger role, including mixing.

For the Scissor Sisters' first album, the goal was to build upon the existing electronic essence by integrating a richer depth and warmth by adding live instruments. Grech-Marguerat recommended Sear Sound for recording, citing its quality equipment, including vintage microphones and a desk created by Rupert Neve, which expanded the band's sound.

However, the decision to retain the entire project in Apple's Logic Pro, a software they used for ongoing writing and recording, presented a significant challenge. Grech-Marguerat would have preferred transferring the programming to Pro Tools, a platform he found more user-friendly for mixing and audio editing. Grech circumvented this issue by creating a parallel G5/Logic setup. Although this required the cumbersome process of reinstalling and licensing numerous plugins and virtual instruments.

Despite initial difficulties, the setup eventually proved effective, allowing for a fruitful collaboration with band member Scott Hoffman.

Recording sessions were conducted at Sear Sounds Studio A, with the inputs channelled through two MOTU 24 I/O audio interfaces. To accommodate the recording needs, they expanded the system to have 48 inputs and outputs, facilitating intricate recordings such as dedicating 12 inputs solely for drums.[32]

Discography

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Year Title Artist Credits
2001 Amnesiac Radiohead Engineer
2005 The Roads Don't Love You Gemma Hayes Mixing
2006 Ta-Dah Scissor Sisters Additional Producer, Mixing
2006 Control GoodBooks Producer, Mixing
2007 In Rainbows Radiohead Engineer
2007 Track for 40 years of Radio 1 Kaiser Chiefs Producer, Mixing
2007 Galore Dragonette Mixing
2009 Fixin to Thrill Dragonette Co-Producer, Mixing
2008 Last Night Moby Mixing
2009 Radio Wars Howling Bells Producer
2009 Sam Sparro Sam Sparro Mixing
2009 Slow Attack Brett Anderson Mixing
2009 Konk The Kooks Producer, Mixing
2010 Voyage The Sound of Arrows Additional Producer, Mixing
2010 Penguin Prison Penguin Prison Additional Producer, Mixing
2011 What You Wanted Spector Producer, Mixing
2011 Remixes Hurts Mixing
2011 What Did You Expect from the Vaccines? The Vaccines Producer
2011 Bad Dream Hotline Foe Mixing
2012 Born to Die Lana Del Rey Mixing
2012 Never Live Another Yesterday The Penelopes Mixing
2012 Strangeland Keane Producer, Mixing
2012 Songs from Another Love EP Tom Odell Producer
2012 Long Way Down Tom Odell Producer
2013 Exile Hurts Producer
2013 Track "Bros" Wolf Alice Mixed
2013 Rituals Fenech-Soler Mixed
2014 The Brink The Jezabels Producer
2014 "Real Love" Tom Odell Co Produced and Mixed
2015 Young Chasers Circa Waves Producer
2015 Badlands Halsey Mixing
2015 Josef Salvat Josef Salvat Mixing
2015 "Let It All Go" Birdy & Rhodes Additional Production, Mixing
2015 White Light Shura Mixing
2016 Johannesburg Mumford and Sons Additional Production, Mixing
2016 FMA Grace Additional Production, Mixing
2016 Kindly Now Keaton Henson Production & Mixing
2016 White Tiger Izzy Bizu Producer
2016 Remember Us to Life Regina Spektor Mixing
2017 As You Were Liam Gallagher Produced
2017 About U MUNA Additional Production & Mixing
2017 "Waves" Dean Lewis Additional Production & Mixing
2017 "The Man" The Killers Mixing
2018 Lighting Matches Tom Grennan Mixing
2018 Staying at Tamara's George Ezra Mixing
2018 "There You Are" Zayn Additional Production & Mixing
2018 Only Ticket Home Gavin James Mixing
2018 Someone Out There Rae Morris Mixing
2018 Fame Mikky Ekko Mixing
2019 404 Barns Courtney Additional Production & Mixing
2019 Dedicated Carly Rae Jepsen Mixing
2019 Jade Bird Jade Bird Mixing
2019 You James Arthur Mixing
2019 "Lazy" Kylie & The Vaccines Production & Mixing
2019 Love + Fear Marina Mixing
2019 My Name Is Michael Holbrook Mika Mixing
2019 Saves the World MUNA Mixing
2019 False Alarm Two Door Cinema Club Mixing
2020 Possession Joywave Mixing
2020 "What You Gonna Do???" Bastille Mixing
2020 Rookery Giant Rooks Mixing
2020 Kelsea Kelsea Ballerini Mixing
2020 "Bittersweet" Lianne La Havas Mixing
2020 Nightfall Little Big Town Mixing
2020 Walls Louis Tomlinson Production & Mixing
2020 Cherry Blossom The Vamps Mixing
2020 What A Time To Be Alive Tom Walker Mixing
2020 In A Dream Troye Sivan Mixing
2021 One Foot in Front of the Other Griff Mixing
2021 You Signed Up for This Maisie Peters Mixing
2021 "Anywhere Away from Here" - Radio Mix Rag n Bone Man & Pink Production & Mixing
2021 Evering Road Tom Grennan Production & Mixing
2022 Wonderful Life Two Door Cinema Club Producer
2022 MUNA MUNA Mixing
2022 "People Pleaser" Cat Burns Mixing
2022 Gold Rush Kid George Ezra Mixing
2022 Faith In The Future Louis Tomlinson Mixing
2022 Hold The Girl Rina Sawayama Mixing
2022 There's Nothing but Space, Man! Sam Ryder Production & Mixing
2022 Homesick Sea Girls Mixing
2022 History The Knocks Mixing
2022 Night Call Years & Years Mixing
2023 Live More & Love More Cat Burns Mixing
2023 That! Feels Good! Jessie Ware Mixing
2023 Rolling Up the Welcome Mat Kelsea Ballerini Mixing
2023 What Ifs & Maybes Tom Grennan Mixing[6]

References

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  1. ^ a b "Dan Grech-Marguerat". www.grammy.com. Retrieved 31 May 2023.
  2. ^ "Lana Del Rey – Born To Die". Discogs. 23 January 2012. Archived from the original on 29 November 2016. Retrieved 23 January 2012.
  3. ^ "New Keane album announced, release date revealed". Music Week. 27 February 2012. Archived from the original on 26 October 2014. Retrieved 1 March 2012.
  4. ^ "Moby prepares "dance orientated" new album". Music Radar. Future plc. 21 November 2007. Retrieved 14 September 2023.
  5. ^ a b "Inside Track: George Ezra 'Paradise'". www.soundonsound.com. Retrieved 30 May 2023.
  6. ^ a b c "Dan Grech-Marguerat | Credits". AllMusic. Retrieved 31 May 2023.
  7. ^ "Radiohead In Rainbows Credits". AllMusic. Retrieved 18 September 2023.
  8. ^ Tingen, Paul (1 November 2006). "Scissor Sisters: Recording Ta-Dah". Sound on Sound. Archived from the original on 7 January 2014. Retrieved 1 November 2006.
  9. ^ "i don't feel like dancin' | full Official Chart History | Official Charts Company". www.officialcharts.com. Retrieved 26 May 2023.
  10. ^ W, Will (29 January 2009). "EQ Interview: The Desexualization of Dragonette". EQ Music Blog. Archived from the original on 10 October 2011. Retrieved 29 January 2009.
  11. ^ "Various – Radio 1 Established 1967". Discogs. Retrieved 14 September 2023.
  12. ^ Casci, Mark. "Wood you believe The Chiefs". Telegraph & Argus. Retrieved 14 September 2023.
  13. ^ The Kooks - Konk, retrieved 31 May 2023
  14. ^ "'What Did You Expect From The Vaccines'. Recorded in The Square by Dan Grech-Marguerat". Miloco. 15 March 2011. Retrieved 31 May 2023.
  15. ^ "Interview: The Vaccines". Doubtful Sounds... 16 May 2011. Archived from the original on 3 June 2011. Retrieved 5 January 2012.
  16. ^ Burger, Savid (22 June 2012). "Keane brings its emotive pop sound to Gallivan Center". The Salt Lake Tribune. Archived from the original on 6 October 2023. Retrieved 14 September 2023.
  17. ^ "Brit Awards tip Tom Odell for the top". BBC. 20 December 2012. Archived from the original on 15 February 2019. Retrieved 22 December 2012.
  18. ^ "The Brink – The Jezabels – Songs, Reviews, Credits, Awards – AllMusic". Allmusic. 17 February 2014. Archived from the original on 8 May 2014. Retrieved 28 August 2014.
  19. ^ "Jezebels on the Brink". The Irish Times. Retrieved 31 May 2023.
  20. ^ "Circa Waves on Noel Gallagher, the NME tour and working with the Libertines". Echo Magazine. 2 April 2015. Archived from the original on 29 December 2015. Retrieved 2 April 2015.
  21. ^ "Rhodes and Birdy release new video "Let It All Go"". 19 August 2015. Archived from the original on 16 September 2016. Retrieved 5 September 2016.
  22. ^ Hodgkinson, Will. "'I can't say why we are popular, we've not figured it out' | The Times". The Times. Archived from the original on 11 September 2016. Retrieved 5 September 2016.
  23. ^ "'Liam Gallagher: 'Rock'n'roll saved my life'". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 22 September 2017. Retrieved 6 April 2017.
  24. ^ Lovell, Lucy (23 June 2017). "Liam Gallagher new album release date confirmed - and you can pre-order it now". Manchester Evening News. Retrieved 14 September 2023.
  25. ^ a b "Inside Track: George Ezra 'Paradise'". www.soundonsound.com. Retrieved 31 May 2023.
  26. ^ "Interview : Tom Grennan". 19 February 2018. Archived from the original on 29 April 2018. Retrieved 19 February 2018.
  27. ^ Bryant, Tom (14 May 2021). "NHS Choir taking on the charts with Rag'n'Bone Man and P!nk after BRITs". mirror. Retrieved 31 May 2023.
  28. ^ Craig, Cameron (9 December 2021). "The Music Producers Guild Announces its 2021 Awards Winners". The Music Producers Guild. Retrieved 30 May 2023.
  29. ^ MaltaDaily (8 May 2022). "UK singer and Eurovision 2022 possible winner reveals Malta connection". Malta Daily. Retrieved 30 May 2023.
  30. ^ Clarke, Liv (13 May 2023). "How the UK did in Eurovision 2022 and how many points did they get". Manchester Evening News. Retrieved 26 May 2023.
  31. ^ Clarke, Liv (13 May 2023). "How the UK did in Eurovision 2022 and how many points did they get". Manchester Evening News. Retrieved 18 September 2023.
  32. ^ Tingen, Paul (1 December 2006). "Recording The Scissor Sisters". AudioTechnology. Retrieved 18 September 2023.
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