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I remember an interview where people that worked with him (I think Jay-Z?) described him as a "reducer" more than a "producer" which makes sense to me. I've he

I remember an interview where people that worked with him (I think Jay-Z?) described him as a "reducer" more than a "producer" which makes sense to me. I've heard stories of artists with projects deep into scope creep calling Rick Rubin in to help cut through all the chaff. It would make sense that he doesn't have a particular sound if his goal is to help the artist make the best possible art they can.

brandall10 3y ago
He stated as much in his recent Lex interview - paraphrasing "I get paid for my taste... and besides just saying what I like or pointing out what doesn't work, I'm aggressive at removing what isn't necessary to get the point across".
danielvaughn 3y ago
If there were a product manager version of Rick Rubin, I think they'd be worth their weight in gold.
- skyyler 3y ago
  This is an interesting thought. It seems like in many cultures, bringing someone in to cancel unnecessary features would be admitting defeat. At least, to the PM. I wonder why it's okay to do that with a song but not software. Weird cultural stuff...
  - danielvaughn 3y ago
    Reduction is almost magical. Last year, I was working as a founding engineer for an early stage startup. We were working on a pitch deck, and I was trying to make it really well designed and professional. I'm a former artist so even though I'm not strictly speaking a designer, I have enough visual chops to make it look pretty. So anyways, I put hours and hours of effort into this pitch deck. When we presented it to our advisors, they tore it apart - not because of the visual aesthetics but more so because the content itself wasn't good enough. I was pretty upset that I had spent all this time making it "look nice" and now have to go back and redo a lot of the content, so I told myself "just get rid of everything that isn't 'design'". That way I could just focus on the content itself without having to waste time on the visuals. What happened is that the end result of this process genuinely looked way better than before. When I stripped the design out, the design came to life.
- joegahona 3y ago
  For killing scope creep, yes. But Rubin works off instinct and his own tastes and is forthright about having no clue or interest on what listeners want. Those aren’t traits that really make a good PM, but thank goodness music isn’t product management. PM’d music is Maroon5. They are a product, not art.
psychomugs 3y ago
“Perfection is achieved, not when there is nothing more to add, but when there is nothing left to take away.”
crtified 3y ago
Somewhat analogous to the function of editors, with regard to published books.
joegahona 3y ago
I don’t get the criticism that Rubin doesn’t have “a particular sound.” Music should have the musicians’ sound, not the producer’s. The producer should be invisible and bring out the best in the musicians, the way an editor in writing is.
- sam_bristow 3y ago
  It never occured to me that it could be criticism. I thought the lack of a "Rick Rubin sound" was more more of an observation.
- solumunus 3y ago
  It’s not supposed to be a criticism. Not having “a sound” means you’re versatile and dynamic.

brandall10 3y ago

He stated as much in his recent Lex interview - paraphrasing "I get paid for my taste... and besides just saying what I like or pointing out what doesn't work, I'm aggressive at removing what isn't necessary to get the point across".

danielvaughn 3y ago

If there were a product manager version of Rick Rubin, I think they'd be worth their weight in gold.

skyyler 3y ago
This is an interesting thought. It seems like in many cultures, bringing someone in to cancel unnecessary features would be admitting defeat. At least, to the PM. I wonder why it's okay to do that with a song but not software. Weird cultural stuff...
- danielvaughn 3y ago
  Reduction is almost magical. Last year, I was working as a founding engineer for an early stage startup. We were working on a pitch deck, and I was trying to make it really well designed and professional. I'm a former artist so even though I'm not strictly speaking a designer, I have enough visual chops to make it look pretty. So anyways, I put hours and hours of effort into this pitch deck. When we presented it to our advisors, they tore it apart - not because of the visual aesthetics but more so because the content itself wasn't good enough. I was pretty upset that I had spent all this time making it "look nice" and now have to go back and redo a lot of the content, so I told myself "just get rid of everything that isn't 'design'". That way I could just focus on the content itself without having to waste time on the visuals. What happened is that the end result of this process genuinely looked way better than before. When I stripped the design out, the design came to life.
joegahona 3y ago
For killing scope creep, yes. But Rubin works off instinct and his own tastes and is forthright about having no clue or interest on what listeners want. Those aren’t traits that really make a good PM, but thank goodness music isn’t product management. PM’d music is Maroon5. They are a product, not art.

psychomugs 3y ago

“Perfection is achieved, not when there is nothing more to add, but when there is nothing left to take away.”

crtified 3y ago

Somewhat analogous to the function of editors, with regard to published books.

joegahona 3y ago

I don’t get the criticism that Rubin doesn’t have “a particular sound.” Music should have the musicians’ sound, not the producer’s. The producer should be invisible and bring out the best in the musicians, the way an editor in writing is.

sam_bristow 3y ago
It never occured to me that it could be criticism. I thought the lack of a "Rick Rubin sound" was more more of an observation.
solumunus 3y ago
It’s not supposed to be a criticism. Not having “a sound” means you’re versatile and dynamic.