I make records. In case it isn't patently clear (thanks Pete) this is the clearinghouse for the Everything About Reid Society. I'd rather make music but everyone wants some info so instead of shooting off my mouth (usually) I just type in into this here digital About Me shrine. Check out the blog for (semi)recent news, or Google or AMG or whatever. I'm also a partner in a publishing and production & development company called EQVmedia, and it looks like there may be a major-distributed label in the near future. Or not. Who the hell knows. It's been busy tho.
I've been fortunate enough to work on many records. Rock, pop, country, r&b, hip-hop, ccm, classical, film score, folk, metal... no polka, though. I've mixed 5 Grammy-winning (and several Grammy-nominated) records (and have 3 of the golden things to prove it), had a Billboard Top 200 #1 record, and many #1's and top 10 mixes on numerous charts. People ask for names so here's a few- India.Arie. Jonny Lang. MercyMe. Death Cab for Cutie. Mat Kearney. Marc Broussard. CeCe Winans. Need to Breathe. Flyleaf. Nick Lachey. Emerson Hart. Clay Aiken. Minus the Bear. Backstreet Boys. Trespassers William. Hilary Duff. Accident Experiment. A*Teens. Mandisa. Kimberly Locke. Relient K. Cliff Richard. John Hiatt. Low Millions. Eric Benet. Temptations. Avalon. Michael W. Smith. Steven Curtis Chapman. Rascal Flatts. Josh Gracin. Newsboys. dc talk. Third Day. Thumpmonks. Superchick. Plumb. Cerys Matthews. Hayden Panettiere. Raven. Jonas Brothers. Brian Littrell. Room for Two. etc. It would be great to hook up on some music. OK, enough of that...
I hate bios. Necessary evil, though, right. OK, here goes-
I love music. I work on records for a living, which is a killer gig, but sometimes I wish I didn't know everything that I know about how they're made, so I could simply enjoy music again like I did when I was in high school and there was nothing better than cranking that new record and driving too fast with the windows down. However, getting paid to listen to music is an enviable job, even though if I could, I would do it for free. Don't tell anyone. Call me about your record though, you never know.
Here's a few people I'd love to work with (in addition to the great talents with which I already do)-Quincy Jones (hello!) Matt Mahaffey (sooper genuis). Jon Brion (for the challenge). Greg Wells (who doesn't need me, but what the hell) DJ Hi-Tek (Black Star- 5 mics for me). Ben Folds (he's fearless in his music). Imogen Heap (I love you for Hide and Seek). Rick Rubin (for the paradigm shift). Barenaked Ladies (becuase they're having fun). John Mayer (he's got long talent). Copeland (the new record is georgeous). Mark Trombino (Bleed American, killer). Tom Petty (simultaneously fresh & classic). Wyclef Jean (the Carnival, again, 5 mics). DJ Shadow (for the tilt). Aqualung (fresh and clean music). Spoon (love the new stuff, teach me things). Mark Batson (for the vocal on Love's Divine alone). Seal (no explanation needed). James Taylor (ditto). Filter (everyone needs more Filter). Mark Trombino (for Bleed American). Eric Valentine (musical and sonic magician). Ben Grosse (for his wall of rock fury). Man, where/how do you stop?
I hate TV, even more so that I sit down and watch it anyway, especially now that we got a DVR. It's like McDonalds, tastes good going down, then you regret it later. Damn you History Channel. Simpsons. PBS. Arrested Development. Seinfeld. Law & Order... the problem is that there's so many channels on, even full of the crap that's out there, there's always somthing semi-interesting on. I'll just turn on the box while I type this...
I love food, but only until I eat mediocre food, then I remember how much I like good food. I wish I had more time to cook, it's a blast, kinda like mixing, but it's time-consuming, like golf, except with less frustration, because anything you screw up you can eat. Anyway, thanks God for Korean, red wine, hummus, single-malt scotch, real Italian, fresh veggies, butter, Dungeness crab, oysters on the half-shell (in australia in particular) and Kraft cheese and macaroni.
Books are a passion, although there's not as much time to read them as I'd like. I'm embarressed that I've only read a minute portion of the Modern Library's Top 100, but I'm working on it. Sidetracked recently by a ton of history stuff, inspired by the Holocaust and genocide exhibits at a museum in London, now I'm desperate to understand how people can possibly be led to do that. It haunts me, so I read about it.
'Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.'
..right-George Santayana
Marriage and children. The best thing ever. My wife is amazing, I love my kids more than life. It's the hardest work ever. Anyone who says that either of these things are easy is either 1) high on crack, 2) full of shit, or 3) making a mess of theirs. The main issue is that infatuation is emotional, and love is a choice (that you make daily.) A wise man named Charlie Peacock taught me that 10 years ago. His website doesn't catch his vibe, so Google him.
This explains it really well too.
C.S. Lewis kicks ass. READ HIM NOW.
Hmm... what else? People who take things seriously rock. One.org. People who don't take things too seriously equally rock. Maddox. Sometimes both at the same time are money. End of World. There's so much more...
Why write all this? Other than the somewhat freeing confessional nature of myspace- I'm all about being upfront and honest, this is how I like to work.
Reach out. Let's make music.
