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Make art that moves hearts​

Contemporary Music Production for
folk/roots/americana
artists

Hear my production work
Commission a song

Portfolio

Lindsay Foote

Producer, guitars, mandolin, resonator, banjo

  • NYC 00:00
  • Won't Do Me Any Good 00:00
  • Resting Place 00:00

Dione Taylor

Producer, Co-Writer, guitars, mandolin, resonator, banjo

  • How Many times 00:00
  • Running Down The Line 00:00
  • One More Shot 00:00

Aviva Chernick

Co-producer, guitars, mandolin, resonator, banjo

  • Min Hameitzar 00:00
  • Esta Montanya 00:00
  • La Serena 00:00

Jadea Kelly

Producer, guitars, mandolin, resonator, banjo

  • Any Old Boat 00:00
  • 10 Roses 00:00

Testimonials

“Working beside and creating music with Joel is an incredible experience. His perseverance with and dedication to bringing your musical vision into reality is what every artist dreams of in a producer. Joel’s energy and vibe creates a safe and open space for imagination, artistry… and wicked fun! I’m excited and extremely proud of the ‘sound’ that we created on my upcoming album.”
 
Dione Taylor
Recording Artist
 

“Joel is a one-of-a-kind musician, and he takes great care in his ability to create. His warm, unique approach to music is unmatched. He’s able to fill the space and add layers effortlessly.”

Jessica Mitchell
Singer/songwriter

“Joel produced my EP, and he helped me take the project to an entirely new level.

He has amazing musical instincts, and all of his playing, production, and arrangement ideas were perfect. On top of his musicality, he truly listened to me and took to heart what I wanted to do with the project. I felt comfortable sharing my ideas and concerns with him, and because of this the end product felt like a true collaboration.

Joel brings out the best in whoever he works with, and I can’t imagine having a better experience with a producer. On top of everything, the whole process was so much fun!! And I’m truly proud of the work we did together.”

Lindsay Foote
Singer-Songwriter

“Having toured, performed and recorded with Joel, I can sincerely attest to his professionalism, open heart and emotional musical ear. He sits, listens and encourages authenticity always. It has always been a great pleasure working with him, as a producer and a good friend.”

Jadea Kelly
Singer/Songwriter

“Joel has a phenomenal ear which, married with his imagination, and skill as a musician and producer, brings songs into their full beauty. He helps the songs be realized exactly the way they were meant to be heard all along.”
 
Aviva Chernick
Recording Artist
 
“I have had the pleasure of working with Joel in a wide range of musical settings. His depth as a musician, combined with his artistic vision, make him a very unique and effective producer. Whether it is helping an artist realize an arrangement, playing guitar parts to augment a recording or helping to manage timelines/budgets, Joel has a comprehensive range of skills that are mandatory for modern music production. I cannot recommend working with Joel enough. From writing and arranging, to playing and tracking, Joel truly has it all.”
 
Justin Gray
Producer/Mastering Engineer
“Joel brings bullseye instincts, huge ears and exacting standards to every project he’s involved in…every note is there for a reason, every sound makes perfect sense and everyone is happy at the end of the session. Work with him and you’ll see what I mean.”
 
Andrea Koziol
Singer/songwriter

Before and After Player

Toggle to hear the transformation from demo to finished production.

Song 1
Demo Production
Song 2
Demo Production
Song 3
Demo Production

How it Works

Step 1

GET IN TOUCH!

*  Clarify your goals and vision.
*  Determine your budget
*  Make a plan with specific objectives and milestones

Step 2

PRE-PRODUCTION

*  Choose the songs to record.
*  Refine the arrangements.
* Record scratch tracks

Step 3

PRODUCTION

*  Fill out your songs with awesome instrumentation
*  Experiment with sounds
*  Record final vocals

Step 4

POST-PRODUCTION

*  Mix and master to your song
* Release!

Beyond production, I act as a sounding board and accountability partner for your project. I offer expert guidance and feedback at every step of the way. It’s no secret that there are challenges to creating and releasing a record. I don’t promise easy answers, but I commit to being with you on the journey if you decide to go for it.

For a free consultation call on your project, click below.

Book a free 30min call

Awards for productions

BLUES ALBUM OF THE YEAR
(NOMINEE 2021 JUNO AWARDS)

ALBUM OF THE YEAR WINNER
(2020 BLUES AND ROOTS RADIO)

NEW ARTIST OF THE YEAR
(NOMINEE 2020 MAPLE BLUES AWARDS

SONGWRITER OF THE YEAR 

(NOMINEE 2020 MAPLE BLUES AWARDS)

FEMALE VOCALIST OF THE YEAR 
(NOMINEE 2020 MAPLE BLUES AWARDs)

WORLD ALBUM OF THE YEAR 
(NOMINEE 2020 Canadian Folk Music Awards)

TOP 25 JAZZ ALBUMS OF 2020
(JazzFM)

Bio

Joel Schwartz is a seasoned guitarist, multi-instrumentalist, and award winning producer.

With 20 years of experience as a professional musician, he produces recordings for contemporary folk, Americana, roots, blues, and indie-rock musicians.

Joel has toured and/or recorded with: Birds of Chicago, Amelia Curran, Matthew and Jill Barber, Great Lake Swimmers, Royal Wood, Jessica Mitchell, Aviva Chernick, Andrea Koziol, Dione Taylor, Lydia Persaud, Jadea Kelly and many others.

The recordings he’s played on and produced have won, or been nominated for numerous awards including the Junos, Canadian Folk Music Awards, Western Canadian Folk Music Awards, Ontario Folk Music Awards, Maple Blues Awards, and Blues and Roots Radio Awards.

Joel proudly endorses K&K pickups and Neunaber pedals.

Contact me

Blog

Junos 2021

Dione Taylor’s Spirits in the Water has been nominated for Blues Album of Year at the 2021 Juno Awards.  I was honored to produce and…

Home Recording Checklist

The ability to record yourself is fast becoming a requirement for musicians. Most singer-songwriters have at least a basic recording set up. Understanding how to…

1 Hour Song Challenge

Yesterday, I gave myself exactly one hour to write, record, edit (there is no editing), mix, and film a little musical snippet. I didn’t count…
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If you have any questions about working with me, I’d love to hear from you.

SONG MAIL

Here's how it works: send me whatever song you are currently working on. I will give you my feedback on the song and some ideas for production. FREE! Sound good?

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