For a young band about to make a record, make sure you get the vocals right.

Some artists want a producer to be a kind of svengali - someone who actually creates a sound for them.

I think that technology has both introduced new sounds but also allowed an increasingly painterly approach to recording music as you can now paint over what you've done and more and more refine an existing performance.

It's really exciting working with a new band when you feel like you hit something that's great, and you helped them bring something out.

What's nice about being a producer is you get to roll the dice more often, and you get to be involved with lots of different kinds of music.

I had previously been in the band the Modern Lovers with Jonathan Richman.

But when you're beginning, you should try to focus on something you love and your own way of doing things.