We had the good fortune of connecting with Larry Mitchell and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Larry, we’d love to hear more about how you thought about starting your own business?
It was out of Necessity. I had been signed to 5 record labels before in the ’90s and it was not fun. I nightmare actually. I got some recording gear after a friend offered me his place to use to make a record back in the 90’s you could not simply make a record with a laptop and a microphone like today.

It was an eye opening and empowering to me to that I would be able to make and then release music on my own.

I got some gear after making that record at a friends house and I moved to San Diego CA where I met a lot of singer songwriters that where impressed that I have a home studio (Again this was in the 90’s not very common like today)

They asked me to help them make a single. I stopped working on my music for a minute and helped them. then a year later 3 of them came back and and told me they liked what I had done better than what they had been getting at big commercial studios in town and wanted me to help them do a full record

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
As a guitarist I have toured playing with Folk Pop artist Tracy Chapman, Pop Rock Singer Ric Ocasek from the Cars, Native American Flutest singer Robert Mirabal, United States Poet Laureate Joy Harjo, Native American Cellist Dawn Avery, Latin Pop Star Migue Bose and many others. all varied in styles

As a producer I have produced some of the World  Music and Native American artists above as well as many Singer songwriters like Jeannie Caryn, Katie Martin, Kathleen Sabo. Randi Driscoll Shelly Morningsong and many others. Winning 26 awards for Production and Engineering in Country, Rock, Adult Contemporary, World Music and Native American music .

Playing on a record for the Dali Lama is pretty cool as well

Passion is king in the world of ART

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
ha. I’m not a go out kind of guy. I’m in my studio all the time if I’m home and not touring. I have know idea really. I Iive in a small town in Alabama now and I can show you just about everything downtown in 15 minutes. I don’t drink so I’m not hanging out in the bar unless some one I know is playing a show.

If there is an art gallery showing then great. or a Sci-fi convention ( not happening where I live). 🙂

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I learned a lot about recording and production from my friend Jeff Coplan. HE’s a number one songwriter and great Producer living in Nashville TN. We met when we lived in NYC and he encouraged and helped me get the sounds in my head out in the air. Another Friend in Sant are New Mexico that I get to meet and pick his brain a lot is John Kurzweg. He produced and engineered the 3 big Creed records and Puddle of Mudd’s big record amongst many other rock records. the two of them I get to talk with and ask questions. in the beginning I got to talk with mega producer Nile Rogers (Chic, Madonna, David Bowie and so so many more). I am a fan of Nile as a guitar player growing up. then He produced a record I played on “Fireball Zone” by Ric Ocasek the singer from the band the Cars. Nile was a big help and inspiration as well. A really big inspiration Whom I have not had the pleasure of meet is Travor Horn. Producer of Seal and the Art of Noise. So many cool studio production ideas I have ripped from him.

Website: www.larrymitchell.com

Instagram: larrymitchellsphotos

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/c/LarryMitchellmusic

Other: twitch.tv/mrlarrymitchell I do a live stream show twice a week. 9pm EST on my Twitch channel. Youtube and sometimes Facebook but Facebook sometimes blocks it

Image Credits
Board Pic. Wade Allen Other pics John Francis

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