John Williams Syndicate

Oct 3, 2023 | Interviews

Words by Glenn Sargeant

Photo Credit: Rossis Social Media

Music producer and songwriter John Williams has worked with the likes of Petula Clark, Paul Heaton and more and has released a new album. He chatted to JLTT all about the record:

Your latest album ‘Into The Light’ is out now. How did you want to approach the making of this record?

‘Into The Light’, the follow up to “Out of Darkness”, was made through the second half of 2022, (both titles inspired by the motto of my home town Wolverhampton) and is another collection of my songs sung by some of my favourite guest performers and by me. The idea was that the ten songs would play like a half hour radio show- each song having its own unique musical chassis, and everyone a surprise! So, there are different styles, tempos, keys- I wanted the record to sound both contemporary and nostalgic – rooted in a sixty’s sensibility moulded with 21st century recording techniques- with the song as the centre point -with a principal tenet that screams life is beautiful, live each day as if it your last- because one day it will be. Make the most of everything- and if you can’t be with the one you love, love the one you’re with! Sounds simple eh? I very much adopt a glass is half full position, and that love is the key and healer of all our problems. It’s an album of love songs.

There are some familiar names, some up and coming ones, and a couple of debuts. I usually write the song and make a crude demo trying out ideas and possibilities, and then see who is best to perform it. So, there are returns by Petula Clark and Claudia Brucken, and additions by renowned vocalist Nicki Leighton-Thomas, and John Moore (ex-Black Box Recorder)- who incidentally I signed to Polydor when I was head of A&R there in the late 90’s. All the songs were recorded and mixed in the shed studio at the bottom of my London W10 garden. I don’t have much of a commute!

Could you please tell me the story/inspiration behind the track ‘In The Morning Sun’?

This song is a clarion call to love and beauty, and is one of two songs that I wrote with guitar supremo Ben Walker. Total guitar called him the best guitarist in the world, and he is a genius acoustic stylist, but also has the electric chops too. The song is quite literal, breathing in the morning air as the sun comes up -spilling energy and light and reminding one of the simple pleasures in life, and how to find beauty from within. It’s sung by Nicki Leighton Thomas. It’s that old Wordsworthian gag from The Daffodils – about seeing freshness and beauty in everyday things we take for granted.

Do you have any favoured instruments/musical equipment when it comes to recording?

I have a very simple recording set up. I run Logic Pro x, audio goes through a 4 channel Audient iD44 and a TLA 5051 mono valve processor. Vocals have a specific chain- Neuman 87 microphone through a Neve preamp, API eq, and Shadow Hills compressor- all housed lunch box style. Focal twins for monitoring with Neumann headphones, and all driven by the Mac Studio computer. I have an array of Fender guitars- Mustang, Telecaster, Strat, precision bass, banjo, a Rickenbacker 360, and several acoustic guitars both 6 and 12 including a handmade guitar that was made for Steve Howe, that ended up being given to me by Japanese painter Hide Hyashi- that’s my favourite. Looks like one of those small Martins.

The legendary vocalist Petula Clark features on the song ‘Luminescent’. How did you both meet and had you worked together before?

In the 90’s I was working at Sanctuary Records in the old Nomis building on Sinclair Road- we owned the Pye recordings catalogue, and the catalogue team of Roger Semon and John Reed wanted to release another Petula best of. I was invited to lunch with Petula and her husband Claude to discuss the project. I got on well with Petula and became her A&R man. She confessed to me that she was more interested in recording new material than raking over the old hits once again, and I made it my mission to enable that. It took a few years to accomplish though- eventually I co-wrote with Sarah Nagshineh and Paul Visser the wonderful “Cut Copy Me” -which I produced in my newly built studio- and it got put on a French album with Sony. Sony UK heard the song and approached me about doing a new album- covers and new material. Petula and I recorded two albums together, the glorious “Lost In You” and “From Now On”. Of course, there is also “New Flag” where we sing together on “Out Of Darkness’, and now the marvellous “Luminescent”- another co-write with Black Orchid Empire frontman Paul Visser.

Who designed the album cover?

It was designed by Philip Marshall who also designed sleeves for “Out of Darkness” and the last xPropaganda album, “The Heart is Strange”. However, the painting of the turquoise Stratocaster is by childhood school chum and fellow Wulfrunian, Tim Hobart, he also provides the paintings in the 32 page CD booklet.

What two pieces of advice do you have for any novice music producers?

Firstly, there is an observation made to me by legendary producer Mickie Most- who I was signed to RAK Records in 1979 with my East Side Band project- he said” we only hear one thing at a time, the snare, the string riff, the vocal, the guitar motif, so let them all have their space, be bold and only feature one of them at a time. Secondly, it’s all about the vocal performance – push the vocals so you can hear every word and nuance. When a mix doesn’t sound right it is generally because the vocal is buried.

“My Love Is” has a real Celtic feel. What was the thought process behind that song?

The song revolves around a mantra like 12 string guitar sequence that is enhanced by some beautiful violin from Jane Burgess. The lyric is repeated and only has four lines. My love is like the stars that light the southern sky, they shine so bright for you and I “. Its hypnotic and beguiling, and sounds huge!

Do you have any plans to support the album with any live shows? No! But never say never!

What makes John Williams happy and what makes you unhappy? Happy- hearing a record I have produced on the radio for the first time, making people smile, being kind and joyous with the lives we are given. Unhappy- that there are no more questions!!