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 co-write most of the songs on the album. Creating this piece was an incredible journey. To hear a bit of background on the how it was made, check out the […]
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 use all the tech can be overwhelming and it’s easy to get stuck. Use this checklist to make sure you’re not overlooking any important stuff on your next recording. […]
From idea to award winning album
Singer-songwriter Dione Taylor and Producer Joel Schwartz discuss the creative process in making Dione’s Juno nominated Spirits in the Water. Hosted by Arianne Robinson.
How to Name Your Name Audio Files
Is file naming the most boring, uncreative topic? Possibly… But based on my experience there is a need for this post. Some thoughtfulness and organization goes a long way when it comes to sharing audio files. As a music producer and session guitarist, it’s all too common that I will receive tracks from an artist […]
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 the time rendering, uploading, writing this status. Why did I do this? I’m trying to get used to things not having to be super polished or perfect. I wanted to […]
Does remote recording stand up to working together in studio?
Singer-songwriter Lindsay Foote and Producer Joel Schwartz discuss the creative process of remote collaboration and the production of Foote’s new single, Guarded Heart. Hosted by Arianne Robinson https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mGWQxBqFEu4
5 TIPS ON HOW TO LISTEN TO YOUR PRODUCTION MIX
Listening to your own music may seem intuitive and self-explanatory, but getting the most out of your listening experience and communicating well with your producer will only help your studio project. 1. Production Mix vs Final Mix As an artist, understanding the distinction between production and post-production will help you get better results from this […]
WORKING REMOTELY: A guide for clear and successful online music collaboration
My name is Joel Schwartz. I’m a session guitarist and producer living in Toronto. I’ve worked with singer/songwriters and composers for many years, and for the last several years, more and more of that work has been conducted remotely. In this article, I’m going to outline my workflow, share some experience, and offer some tips […]
Remote Collaboration Seminar for SCGC
Guitarist and multi-instrumentalist Joel Schwartz will share his process of working remotely, explaining how he records fretted instruments (guitars, mandolin, resonators, banjo) for film/tv composers and other artists. Format will be seminar with Q&A. This workshop is only open to members of the Screen Composers Guild of Canada. Details here
Streaming Concerts in Toronto
Hey friends, this is an unprecedented time for us all. Our gigs and concerts have been cancelled and we don’t know what the future holds. I have decided to open up my studio for streaming concerts. Streaming concerts are a great way to continue momentum in your career during this uncertain period. The problem with […]
Folk Music Ontario
Looking forward to attending the 2019 Folk Music Ontario Conference. I’ll be playing with singer/songwriters Desiree Dorion and Rob Teehan as well as checking out Gathering Sparks whose EP I produced in 2018. Oct 1 update: got a nice review from rootsmusic.ca : “Shout out to Joel Schwartz too for the freaking gorgeous guitar accompaniment.” […]
Anne with an E (Season 3)
Season 3 of Anne with an E is out on CBC and soon to be on Netflix. I played guitars, mandolins, resonators, and banjos on this season as well as seasons 1 and 2. Composers Ari Posner and Amin Bhatia have done a wonderful job with the score and it’s a thrill to be a […]
Aviva – La Serena Album Release
Excited to announce the release of Aviva Chernick’s recording La Serena. We spent many months working to write, arrange and produce this recording. “This collection is primarily of tunes from the Jews of Spain and the Balkans, traditional and original melodies with rich poetry in Judeo‑Spanish (also known as Ladino). This album expands on the […]
Dione Taylor – Album
After a stint playing in Dione Taylor’s live outfit “The Backsliderz”, Dione and I began writing together. I wanted to capture some of the huge, infectious, and raw energy of that was happening live, with some ethereal sounds and more intimate compositions that I was drawn to. Backliderz (2015) We wrote two songs together initially […]
Lindsay Foote – EP
Lindsay Foote is an incredibly talented, young singer and songwriter. She’s an active member of the Toronto and Boston folk/roots scenes, and I had the fortune of producing her upcoming EP. The full recording will be released early 2020, here’s the first single NYC. I knew the first time that I met him that I […]
Andrea Koziol – Bill Brennan Album release + video
I’ve been lucky enough to play with Andrea Koziol for many years. I’m really excited to have played on her and Bill Brennan’s latest release “I’ll Be Seeing You”. We recorded and filmed it all live in studio. Here’s our cover of 50 Ways to Leave a Lover WholeNote gave us a nice review. Check […]
Opening for Willie Nelson and Allison Krauss
Jessica Mitchell and band warmed up the stage for the Outlaw Festival that came through Toronto on June 21, 2019. It was a huge thrill to play the Budweiser Stage with the band and to watch Allison Krauss and Willie Nelson’s sets.
Northern Rescue on CBC
Northern Rescue is now out on Netflix and CBC! Working with composer Ari Posner, I played all the guitars on the show as well as composed a few cues.
Come From Away
I’ve been a regular sub in Come from Away since March 2019. It’s a very fun show to perform and great to be part of something so positive.