Some artists want a producer to be a kind of svengali - someone who actually creates a sound for them.
I think being eclectic is bad when you're just starting out.
Brian Eno taught us how to use the Recording Studio as an instrument.
I've become increasingly confidant in following intuitions ahead of thoughts as I produce more records.
The vocals are what immediately draw people in and sell the song.
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.