CreaTeME is pleased to present a four-part video series featuring Joel Hamilton – multi-platinum-selling, multi-Grammy-nominated record producer, mixer, recording engineer, and songwriter whose credits include Paul McCartney, Rick Rubin, Highly Suspect, The Black Keys, Pretty Lights, Norah Jones, Danny Elfman, Sparklehorse, and more. Joel lives in New York City, where he is a partner at Studio G, Brooklyn.
The videos were filmed during Creative Synergies in February 2025, hosted by CreaTeME and the Department of Popular Music at the University of Agder, where Hamilton served as a visiting artist. During his residency, he gave the opening keynote lecture, held masterclasses for songwriting students and participated in roundtable discussions.
Four Key Insights on Record Production
In these four videos, Hamilton shares reflections on artistic intention, technology and the creative ecosystem of record production:
1. Technology changes, but the goal remains the same
On how the fundamental aims of record production endure despite shifting tools and formats.
2. The laptop as the folk instrument of our era
On the democratization of music-making and the importance of bringing personal imagination beyond presets.
3. From tape tricks to autotune
On how recording technology has shaped our ideas of pitch, perfection and expressive imperfection.
4. Working with new vs established artists
On discovering artistic identity in the studio and how every production choice can illuminate a song’s intention.
The videos are also available in CreaTeME’s video library.
Beyond the Videos
Hamilton’s collaboration with the University of Agder has also resulted in the forthcoming book chapter “Finding the ‘Better’ in Music Production” co-authored with CreaTeME researcher Ingvild Koksvik and Professor Eirik Askerøi. The chapter will appear in Music Production Pedagogy: Perspectives on Innovation in Music Production Education (Routledge), to be published in December 2025.
Video Credits:
Producer and Creative Director: Ingvild Koksvik
Filming and Editing: Anja Kathrine L. Gyberg