Patrick (Bischoff) Brown

Last updated

Patrick (Bischoff) Brown (born August 26, 1978, in Phoenix, Arizona) is an American engineer, producer and studio owner. He has been the CEO of several record labels, including Brown Bottle Records and Different Fur Studios. He is the current owner of Different Fur Studios in the Mission district of San Francisco, California.

Contents

Biography

Brown spent his early life in Arizona and later moved to Long Island, New York, where he studied web design. He found out that he had a talent for recording after working on various projects with friends and helping friends' bands record. [1] Because of this talent Brown moved to San Francisco in 1998 where, after getting settled, he attended Ex'pression College for Digital Arts. In 2004, during his final semester at Ex'pression, Brown was hired as an Intern at Different Fur. There he was given his first solo session, Gordon Gano from The Violent Femmes. 2006 marked a turning point for the studio because Brown helped bring in various bands through iTunes' Live Sessions. [2] In 2007 Brown purchased the studio from Jeremy Smith. [3] Most studios are not owned by engineers, but Brown purposefully wanted to create a studio that focused on this aspect of the recording process. As owner, he morphed the business model by bringing in more interns, because Brown believes it takes a community of passionately involved people to really create something worthwhile. [2] Since Brown's purchase of the studio, he has been credited as an owner who has "modernized the studio without losing any of the building's pastoral charm". [4]

Brown's work has been featured on Pitchfork, [5] [6] [7] [8] [9] [10] [11] [12] Stereogum, [13] [14] Urb, [15] Fader, PrefixMag, Imposemagazine, Vice, Noisey, Spinner, Hybebeast, Spin.com, iTunes New & Noteworthy, iTunes Indie Spotlight, WorldStar HipHop, 2dopeboys, [16] The Owl Mag, [17] Live 105, "Chronicle" the movie, a Reese's Peanut Butter Cup commercial, [18] The Bay Bridged, [19] [20] [21] [22] [23] [24] [25] Impose Magazine, [26] The Bold Italic, [27] Playboy, [28] and his work with The Morning Benders was voted iTunes Indie album of the year in 2008. [29]

Recording Technique

As an engineer, Brown is constantly focused on the sound and vibe in the room. He pays attention to who is coming in and out, the reactions of people, and who needs coaxing in one direction or another. [1] He views being an engineer as an art form in and of itself because he has to look at the sound being put to tape on different levels – the musician's, the consumer's, the technical side, and the sonic side – and balance all of these levels at the same time. According to Brown, "it's sort of like a balance between the performance itself and the actual sound, you know, you're deciding which is more important or how to get both. And they're completely different things." [30]

That being said, Brown feels he is an under-producer in that he wants to hear the emotion behind the artist and his/her songs first and foremost. [30] "All in all, I'll do everything I can to make sure things sound the way you expect, and hopefully even better, so that when you leave you are proud of what we've accomplished." [31]

Brown also focuses on trying to get bands to their next place. He constantly thinks about getting artists more attention for their music, which starts with the recording itself, but also includes getting fans out to their shows, telling people about the record, and finding new ways of getting records into the hands of fans. [32]

Brown plans to keep the studio on the creative cutting-edge and in 2011 completed an upgrade accompanied by construction. [2] He is also content to keep the studio focused on local bands and local labels, including Tricycle Records and Omega Records. However, this doesn't prevent the occasional big-name artist from stopping by. And while Brown will focus on getting out the sounds a band wants in their song, he is also going to make sure they're comfortable. Plus, if an artist does something funny, chances are he will tweet about it. [33]

Influences

Growing up, Brown was a fan of artists he first heard through his Mom, including Paul Simon, Billy Joel, and Neil Young. [34] He also listened to a lot of late 1980s and early 1990s pop like Technotronic, Lisa Lisa, MC Hammer, and a lot of Bobby Brown. In fact, Bobby Brown's Don't Be Cruel, which was recorded at Different Fur Studios, is an influential album for Patrick Brown. [35]

Brown is a fan of very few engineers but is constantly evaluating other people's works and learning from them. [32] Engineers that Brown finds influential include Russell Elevado, Tony Maserati, and Tom Dowd. However, he draws more inspiration from producers and musicians like Morris Day, Prince, D'angelo, Biggie, Funkadelic's album Maggot Brain, the first N.E.R.D. record, and the first Kenna record. [32] Overall, Brown is influenced by those people and records that have challenged what has been established. This is what helps him grow the most as an engineer, producer, and studio owner; and it is the type of person Brown aims to be. [32]

Discography

Albums

EP's

Live Session (iTunes exclusive)

Singles

Videos

Related Research Articles

Stephen Brian Street is an English record producer best known for his work with the Smiths, the Cranberries and Blur. Street collaborated with Morrissey on his debut album Viva Hate following the split of the Smiths.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Warner Bros. Animation</span> American animation studio owned by Warner Bros.

Warner Bros. Animation Inc. is an American animation studio which is part of the Warner Bros. Television Studios, a division of Warner Bros., which is a subsidiary of Warner Bros. Discovery and serves as the animation division and label of Warner Bros.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dan Auerbach</span> American singer-songwriter and producer

Daniel Quine Auerbach is an American musician, singer-songwriter, and record producer, best known as the guitarist and vocalist of The Black Keys, a blues rock band from Akron, Ohio. As a member of the group, Auerbach has recorded and co-produced twelve studio albums with his bandmate Patrick Carney. Auerbach has also released two solo albums, Keep It Hid (2009) and Waiting on a Song (2017), and formed a side project, the Arcs, which released the albums Yours, Dreamily, (2015) and Electrophonic Chronic (2023).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chromeo</span> Canadian electro-funk musical duo

Chromeo is a Canadian electro-funk duo from Montreal, formed in 2002 by musicians David "Dave 1" Macklovitch and Patrick "P-Thugg" Gemayel. Their sound draws from soul music, dance music, rock, synth-pop, disco and funk.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Auto-Tune</span> Audio processor that alters pitch

Auto-Tune, or autotune, is an audio processor introduced in 1997 by the American company Antares Audio Technologies. It uses a proprietary device to measure and alter pitch in vocal and instrumental music recording and performances.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wall to Wall (song)</span> 2007 single by Chris Brown

"Wall to Wall" is a song recorded by American singer Chris Brown for his second studio album, Exclusive (2007). The song was produced by Sean Garrett and Walter Scott. Selected as the album's lead single, "Wall to Wall" was first released to urban rhythmic radios on May 29, 2007. It received critical praise from contemporary music critics; many of them called the song a potential hit single and one of the album's best tracks. Even though the song failed to attain chart success on the Billboard Hot 100, peaking at number 79, it did manage to appear on the 2007 compilation album Now That's What I Call Music! 26. It also peaked inside the top thirty in Australia and New Zealand while peaking in the lower end of the charts in European countries. The music video for "Wall to Wall" was inspired by Michael Jackson's "Thriller" and the 1998 film Blade. A remix of the song features American rapper Jadakiss, and was accompanied with another version of the music video.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Leon Thomas III</span> American actor and musician (born 1993)

Leon George Thomas III is an American singer, songwriter, record producer, and actor. After early roles in Broadway and providing the singing voice of Tyrone on the Nick Jr. animated series The Backyardigans (2006–2008), he played Andre Harris on the Nickelodeon series Victorious (2010–2013), for which he received an NAACP Image Award nomination.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Different Fur</span>

Different Fur Studios is a recording studio located in the Mission District area of San Francisco, California, at 3470 19th Street. Since 1968, Different Fur has recorded music from a wide range of artists, including major Grammy and Oscar-winning musicians as well as many important independent musicians.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">With You (Chris Brown song)</span> 2007 single by Chris Brown

"With You" is a song by American singer Chris Brown for his second studio album, Exclusive (2007). The song was written by Johntá Austin, Espionage, and Stargate, the latter of which produced the song. The song was released as the album's third single on December 4, 2007, in the United States. It was later released internationally on March 21, 2008. "With You" is composed as a midtempo R&B ballad that features an acoustic guitar as the base of the arrangement.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pop Etc</span>

Pop Etc, formerly known as The Morning Benders, is an indie rock band. They originally formed in Berkeley, California but moved to Brooklyn, New York later in their career.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Toro y Moi</span> American singer, producer, and graphic designer (born 1986)

Chaz Bear, known professionally as Toro y Moi, is an American singer, songwriter, record producer, and graphic designer. He is often recognized as a spearhead of the chillwave genre in the 2010s, alongside contemporaries Washed Out and Neon Indian, although his music has explored various styles since. His stage name is a multilingual expression consisting of the Spanish words toro and y and the French word moi.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sol (musician)</span> American hip hop artist

Sol Alexander Rosenberg, better known as Sol or Solzilla, is an American hip hop artist. In 2012, he released his second studio album Yours Truly, which received critical acclaim and rose to number one on the iTunes U.S. Hip-Hop Albums Chart while also charting on Billboard's Heatseekers Chart. Sol has collaborated with other artists such as Macklemore, Blue Scholars, Grynch, and The Physics.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tennis (band)</span> American indie pop band

Tennis is an American indie pop band from Denver, Colorado, United States, made up of husband-and-wife duo Alaina Moore and Patrick Riley. The duo formed in 2010, and released their debut album, Cape Dory, in 2011. Their second album, Young & Old, was released the following year. Their third album, Ritual in Repeat (2014), was released on Communion records.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Danny Brown</span> American rapper (born 1981)

Daniel Dewan Sewell, better known as Danny Brown, is an American rapper and singer. He was described by MTV in 2011 as "one of rap's most unique figures in recent memory".

<i>Neon</i> (Jay Sean album) 2013 studio album by Jay Sean

Neon is the fourth studio album by British R&B singer Jay Sean. The album was released in the UK on 26 July 2013 by Cash Money Records and distributed by Republic Records. The album features guest appearances from Busta Rhymes, Ace Hood and Rick Ross.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">La Sera</span>

La Sera is an American indie rock band formed by Katy Goodman, the bassist for Vivian Girls, in 2010. They have released four albums and toured internationally.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Freebandz</span> American record label

Freebandz is an American record label founded by American rapper Future in 2011. The label's releases are distributed through Epic Records. Freebandz has signed artists including Real Boston Richey, Lil Double O, Doe Boy, Young Scooter, and Future's personal mixtape compiler, DJ Esco.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Iamsu!</span> American rapper, singer, songwriter and record producer

Sudan Ameer Williams, better known by his stage name Iamsu!, is an American rapper and record producer from Richmond, California. He is the lead member of the hip hop group the HBK Gang, which was formed in 2008 and joined by fellow Bay Area artists including Kehlani and Sage the Gemini. He is best known for his guest appearances on Sage the Gemini's 2013 single "Gas Pedal" and LoveRance's 2011 single "Up!," both of which peaked within the top 50 of the Billboard Hot 100. He signed with Alternative Distribution Alliance to release his debut studio album Sincerely Yours (2014), which moderately entered the Billboard 200 and received mixed reviews.

<i>Yours Truly</i> (Ariana Grande album) 2013 studio album by Ariana Grande

Yours Truly is the debut studio album by American singer Ariana Grande. It was released on August 30, 2013, by Republic Records. The album's songs were recorded over nearly a three-year period, with Harmony Samuels, Kenneth "Babyface" Edmonds, Patrick "J. Que" Smith and Grande's Victorious co-star Leon Thomas III, as well as others, handling the album's music production. Featured collaborators include Big Sean, Mika, Mac Miller, and The Wanted's Nathan Sykes.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Patrick Wimberly</span> American musician (born 1983)

Jonathan Patrick Wimberly is an American record producer, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, composer and mixing engineer best known as being one-half of the synth-pop duo Chairlift. The band parted ways in 2017 so Wimberly and former bandmate Caroline Polachek could focus on their careers as producers/songwriters.

References

  1. 1 2 Weirdgirl. Behind the Sound: Our Interview with Different Fur's Patrick Brown. Culture Brats, 2011. http://www.culturebrats.com/2011/08/behind-sound-our-interview-with.html
  2. 1 2 3 Putnam, Rob. Engineer Crosstalk: Patrick Brown. Music Connection. Issue 9. September 2011. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2013-09-29. Retrieved 2013-05-13.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  3. Hansen, Nate. From Beats to beats, poetry to iPods . 944 Magazine, 2011
  4. Perkins, Brandon. Welcome to the Flop House. San Francisco's Different Fur Recording creates the right atmosphere for creating. URB Magazine, April 1, 2009
  5. Sun Airway: Oh, Naoko. Tunnelvision. Pitchfork.tv. http://pitchfork.com/tv/tunnelvision/1348-sun-airway/2008-oh-naoko/
  6. B. Bravo & The Starship Connection: The Roll Out. Yours Truly. Pitchfork.tv. http://pitchfork.com/tv/yours-truly/1888-b-bravo-the-starship-connection/3091-the-roll-out/
  7. Dam-Funk & Master Blaster: Songs From Scratch. Yours Truly. Pitchfork.tv. http://pitchfork.com/tv/yours-truly/1890-dam-funk-master-blaster/3093-songs-from-scratch/
  8. Twin Sister: Stop. Yours Truly. Pitchfork.tv. http://pitchfork.com/tv/yours-truly/1879-twin-sister/3055-stop/
  9. Of Montreal: Of Montreal – Dour Percentage. Yours Truly. Pitchfork.tv. http://pitchfork.com/tv/yours-truly/1900-of-montreal/3103-dour-percentage/
  10. Lee Fields & The Expressions: Faithful Man. Yours Truly. Pitchfork.tv. http://pitchfork.com/tv/yours-truly/1898-lee-fields-the-expressions/3101-faithful-man/
  11. Video: The Morning Benders: "Promises." News. Pitchfork. http://pitchfork.com/news/38492-video-the-morning-benders-promises/
  12. Video: The Morning Benders: "All Day Day Light." News. Pitchfork. http://pitchfork.com/news/39925-video-the-morning-benders-all-day-day-light/
  13. Toro y Moi – "You Hid" Live Video. http://stereogum.com/367732/toro-y-moi-you-hid-live-video/video/
  14. New Morning Benders Video – "Boarded Doors." Stereogum. http://stereogum.com/9519/new_morning_benders_video_boarded_doors/video/
  15. The Park – Belle. URB.COM. "The Park – Belle | URB". Archived from the original on 2012-10-20. Retrieved 2012-07-04.
  16. The Park – These Are The Days (video). 2dopeboyz. http://www.2dopeboyz.com/2012/02/06/the-park-these-are-the-days-video/
  17. Trainwreck Riders. The Owl Mag. "Trainwreck Riders | the Owl Mag". Archived from the original on 2012-06-26. Retrieved 2012-07-04.
  18. Reese's Peanut Butter Cups TV Commercial Music. Adtunes. http://adtunes.com/forums/showthread.php?t=100931
  19. Video: B.Bravo and the Starship Connection perform "The Rollout": The Bay Bridged – San Francisco Bay Area Indie Music. http://www.thebaybridged.com/2012/02/14/video-b-bravo-and-the-starship-connection-perform-the-roll-out-in-a-session-with-theneighborhood-tv/
  20. Video: Lilac – "Shame": The Bay Bridged – San Francisco Bay Area Indie Music. http://www.thebaybridged.com/2012/06/07/video-lilac-shame/
  21. Zodiac Death Valley – "La Razon"/"The Room": The Bay Bridged – San Francisco Bay Area Indie Music. http://www.thebaybridged.com/2011/10/20/zodiac-death-valley-la-razon-the-room/
  22. Video: Ash Reiter – "Heatwave": The Bay Bridged – San Francisco Bay Area Indie Music. http://www.thebaybridged.com/2011/12/12/video-ash-reiter-heatwave/
  23. The Buttercream Gang – "Couch Games" October 30, 2012 Written by Jason Shane http://www.thebaybridged.com/2012/10/30/the-buttercream-gang-couch-games/
  24. Song Premiere: Surf Club – "Reverie" http://www.thebaybridged.com/2012/10/23/song-premiere-surf-club-reverie/
  25. TBB Song Premiere: Swiftumz – "Willy" / Chris McVicker talks video for "More Than Sleep" http://www.thebaybridged.com/2012/04/25/tbb-song-premiere-swiftumz-willy-chris-mcvicker-talks-video-for-more-than-sleep/
  26. The Buttercream Gang, "Couch Games" http://www.imposemagazine.com/bytes/the-buttercream-gang-couch-games
  27. Mixtape Mondays: Woof "Mixtape Mondays: Woof - the Bold Italic - San Francisco". Archived from the original on 2012-10-27. Retrieved 2012-11-07.
  28. Morning Benders in PLAYBOY! – Rock The Rabbit. differentfurstudios.com Blog. "Differentfurstudios.com Blog » Morning Benders in PLAYBOY! - Rock the Rabbit". Archived from the original on 2009-03-28. Retrieved 2012-07-04.
  29. The Morning Benders Bring Unique, Attractive Sounds on Big Echo – Yahoo! Voices – voices.yahoo.com http://voices.yahoo.com/the-morning-benders-bring-unique-attractive-sounds-5474595.html%5B%5D
  30. 1 2 Weirdgirl. Behind the Sound: Our Interview with Different Fur’s Patrick Brown. Culture Brats, 2011. http://www.culturebrats.com/2011/08/behind-sound-our-interview-with.html
  31. Chloe. Broke-Ass(ish) Interview: Pat Brown of Different Fur Studios (43rd Anniversary Party Friday @ Cafe Du Nord). Broke-Ass Stuart’s Goddamn Website. August 23, 2011. http://brokeassstuart.com/blog/2011/08/23/broke-assish-interview-pat-brown-of-different-fur-studios-43rd-anniversary-party-this-friday-cafe-du-nord/
  32. 1 2 3 4 Johnston, Zane. Q&A: Patrick Brown, Different Fur Studios. Pulse: Clubs & Music Blog. SF Station. September 30, 2011. http://pulse.sfstation.com/2011/09/30/interview-patrick-brown-owner-operator-of-sf-recording-studio-different-fur/
  33. Port, Ian S. Fresh Times for Mission Recording Studio Different Fur. SF Weekly Music. June 15, 2011. http://www.sfweekly.com/2011-06-15/music/different-fur-recording-studio-yours-truly-morning-benders-a-b-the-sea-patrick-brown/
  34. . On the Record: Patrick Brown talks Paul Simon. Rhapsody TV. October 19, 2011. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BYfucKx3UIk
  35. Producer’s Corner: Patrick Brown. Rhapsody TV. October 19, 2011. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s3MIGVwUYbc