We’re looking forward to introducing you to Andreas Werner. Check out our conversation below.
Andreas, so good to connect and we’re excited to share your story and insights with our audience. There’s a ton to learn from your story, but let’s start with a warm up before we get into the heart of the interview. What is a normal day like for you right now?
What I like about what I do is that there is no normal day. Each day is different and that’s what keeps me interested and growing. I’m not a fan of monotony and I probably wouldn’t be suited for most jobs or wouldn’t feel fulfilled. Still, there are certain routines that simplify what I do. On a typical day where I’m producing a record I come into the studio prepared with the charts I have written for the session. The charts are the musical roadmap that guides the musicians through the songs we’re recording. After arriving at the studio, my recording engineer and I set up for the session to be ready by the time the musicians arrive. As soon as everyone is there we start recording. We usually record around four tracks in half a day and we can be so efficient because the studio musicians really know how to excel in that environment. We start by playing them a demo of the song or the artist or I sit down with a guitar or piano and run down the song for them. Upon hearing, we start recording and usually after one or two takes we have captured the take that is the final take to be used on the record. We usually work until 5 or 6 PM, when the musicians leave. My engineer and I then prepare the studio for the next day before we leave and go home to eat dinner with our families. A day when I write songs or compose for a movie looks vastly different and none of those days look similar to each other. Every day is a new creative endeavor.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
I’m an independent music producer, songwriter and composer. I produce American roots music recordings for artists ranging from soul to blues to rock & roll and jazz. Some of the recordings are made for a record, others straight for film or TV. Over 100 of my songs have been recorded by a wide array of artists. I also produce multi act live shows for broadcast or festivals and host a podcast called Crazy Chester Radio Hour where I have conversations with my favorite musicians, songwriters and musical people. I was mentored by some of the legendary musicians and songwriters from Muscle Shoals who worked with Aretha Franklin, Bob Dylan, Wilson Pickett and many others. My musical methodology draws upon what I learned from them.
Okay, so here’s a deep one: Who saw you clearly before you could see yourself?
I believe that the musicians who mentored me saw something in me that I likely didn’t see back then or didn’t quite have the skills just yet. I don’t know if it was a lack of confidence, a lack of ability to dream big enough or just that I was still pretty green when I first met them. Back then I thought it was more an act of charity than anything else, that they liked me enough to put up with me, so to speak. However, they had an enormous amount of faith in me that I would be able to step up to the plate and deliver or at least had a sense that I would be willing and eager to learn what it takes to succeed and excel in this crazy world of music. That didn’t become clear to me until much later and I’m proud to say that I feel that over time I earned that trust that they had in me in the beginning.
What have been the defining wounds of your life—and how have you healed them?
Losing important people in my life and battling a brain tumor twice were certainly the most defining wounds of my life. For some reason I’ve always been able to deal with such setbacks reasonably well. While I’m a pretty emotional person, I’m also pretty resilient and strong. I think that a lot of that has to do with how I was brought up and the safe and nurturing environment my parents provided for me. I tend to look ahead and learn from the past. I carry with me what I learned from loved ones I lost and setbacks I have endured. I’m also super grateful for what I have and it’s a healthy way to perceive setbacks in that perspective.
Alright, so if you are open to it, let’s explore some philosophical questions that touch on your values and worldview. What do you believe is true but cannot prove?
Love is the currency that the universe is built upon.
Before we go, we’d love to hear your thoughts on some longer-run, legacy type questions. When do you feel most at peace?
In the arms of my wife Rachel and when I’m creating (writing a song).
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.crazychesterrecords.com
- Instagram: https://instagram.com/crazychesterrecords
- Linkedin: https://linkedin.com/in/andreaswernermusic
- Facebook: https://facebook.com/crazychesterrecords
- Youtube: https://youtube.com/crazychesterrecords
- Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/crazychesterradiohour
Image Credits
Nico Spahni
Hannah Jones
Devona Hawkins
Ronny Light
Andreas Werner
