Markus Dravs
Encyclopedia
Markus Dravs is a music producer, programmer, engineer, and mixer.
After hearing Brian Eno
's collaboration with David Byrne
"My Life in the Bush of Ghosts
", he decided to get into engineering.
He started out at Westside/Hook End Manor and learnt his initial skills from the then owners, Clive Langer
and Allan Winstanley, before moving to Metropolis
, where he assisted under Gary Langan
, before working under Brian Eno
for the next few years. He went on to get his first co-production credit on Eno’s album Nerve Net
and they subsequently worked together on many productions including 12" remixes for Depeche Mode
, the Grid
, and 808 State
.
He has worked on several notable albums, including Brian Eno
's Nerve Net
, James
' Wah Wah
, Björk
's Homogenic
, and Arcade Fire's albums Neon Bible
and The Suburbs
.
Recently he has worked with Coldplay
on their album Viva la Vida or Death and All His Friends
. According to Markus: "Chris Martin
called me and told me he had a conversation with Win Butler
, who suggested, 'He’ll kick you into shape' which was poetic for 'He will do his utmost in helping you to develop your artistic horizon.'"
In 2011 Dravs received acclaim for producing Mumford & Sons
' debut album, Sigh No More
and Arcade Fire’s The Suburbs
. Sigh No More
won Best British Album at The Brit Awards. This year The Suburbs
won both the Grammy for Album Of The Year and the Brit Award for Best International Album.
Dravs’ next major production project to be released is Coldplay
's highly anticipated fifth studio album Mylo Xyloto (Parlophone Records/EMI
), which is set for release on 24 October via Parlophone Records/EMI
.
Among other projects, he is currently in the studio working with Mumford & Sons
on their sophomore album, due for release in 2012.
In conjunction with Kobalt Music Group, Dravs has started up a publishing and production company called Casa-D. According to Markus "The idea behind Casa-D Productions is to form a creative hub, from which I can collaborate with other musicians, top line writers and lyricists to write and/or produce new songs both for other artists and for release ourselves via Casa-D."
After hearing Brian Eno
Brian Eno
Brian Peter George St. John le Baptiste de la Salle Eno , commonly known as Brian Eno or simply as Eno , is an English musician, composer, record producer, singer and visual artist, known as one of the principal innovators of ambient music.Eno studied at Colchester Institute art school in Essex,...
's collaboration with David Byrne
David Byrne
David Byrne may refer to:*David Byrne , musician and former Talking Heads frontman**David Byrne , his eponymous album*David Byrne , Irish footballer*David Byrne , English footballer...
"My Life in the Bush of Ghosts
My Life in the Bush of Ghosts
My Life in the Bush of Ghosts may refer to:*My Life in the Bush of Ghosts , a 1954 novel by Amos Tutuola*My Life in the Bush of Ghosts , a 1981 album by Brian Eno and David Byrne, titled after Tutuola's novel...
", he decided to get into engineering.
He started out at Westside/Hook End Manor and learnt his initial skills from the then owners, Clive Langer
Clive Langer
Clive Langer is a British record producer active from the mid 1970s onwards. He usually works with Alan Winstanley. He composed the music for the films Still Crazy and Brothers of the Head. Prior to his record producing career he was a guitarist with the British cult band Deaf SchoolLanger...
and Allan Winstanley, before moving to Metropolis
Metropolis
A metropolis is a very large city or urban area which is a significant economic, political and cultural center for a country or region, and an important hub for regional or international connections and communications...
, where he assisted under Gary Langan
Gary Langan
Gary Langan is an audio engineer and record producer.-Biography:In 1983, Langan co-founded the ZTT Records label with Trevor Horn, Paul Morley and Jill Sinclair...
, before working under Brian Eno
Brian Eno
Brian Peter George St. John le Baptiste de la Salle Eno , commonly known as Brian Eno or simply as Eno , is an English musician, composer, record producer, singer and visual artist, known as one of the principal innovators of ambient music.Eno studied at Colchester Institute art school in Essex,...
for the next few years. He went on to get his first co-production credit on Eno’s album Nerve Net
Nerve Net
Nerve Net is a 1992 music album by the British musician Brian Eno. It marked a return to more rock-oriented material, mixed with heavily syncopated rhythms, experimental electronic compositions and an occasional touch of jazz...
and they subsequently worked together on many productions including 12" remixes for Depeche Mode
Depeche Mode
Depeche Mode are an English electronic music band formed in 1980 in Basildon, Essex. The group's original line-up consisted of Dave Gahan , Martin Gore , Andy Fletcher and Vince Clarke...
, the Grid
The Grid
The Grid are an English electronic dance group, consisting of Richard Norris and David Ball , with guest contributions from other musicians...
, and 808 State
808 State
808 State are a British electronic music outfit, formed in 1987 in Manchester, taking their name from the Roland TR-808 drum machine and their common state of mind...
.
He has worked on several notable albums, including Brian Eno
Brian Eno
Brian Peter George St. John le Baptiste de la Salle Eno , commonly known as Brian Eno or simply as Eno , is an English musician, composer, record producer, singer and visual artist, known as one of the principal innovators of ambient music.Eno studied at Colchester Institute art school in Essex,...
's Nerve Net
Nerve Net
Nerve Net is a 1992 music album by the British musician Brian Eno. It marked a return to more rock-oriented material, mixed with heavily syncopated rhythms, experimental electronic compositions and an occasional touch of jazz...
, James
James
James is a common English surname and given name:* James , the typically masculine first name James* James , various people with the last name JamesJames may also refer to:-People:...
' Wah Wah
Wah Wah
Wah Wah, the sixth full-length release by the Manchester indie rock group James, was produced by Brian Eno during the same six-week session as Laid. Although the group had always been keen on improvisation, both as their principal songwriting method and onstage, this was their first album to be...
, Björk
Björk
Björk Guðmundsdóttir , known as Björk , is an Icelandic singer-songwriter. Her eclectic musical style has achieved popular acknowledgement and popularity within many musical genres, such as rock, jazz, electronic dance music, classical and folk...
's Homogenic
Homogenic
Homogenic is the fourth studio album by Icelandic musician Björk, released in September 1997. Produced by Björk, Mark Bell, Guy Sigsworth, Howie B and Markus Dravs, it was released on One Little Indian Records...
, and Arcade Fire's albums Neon Bible
Neon Bible
Neon Bible is the second album by Canadian indie rock band Arcade Fire, released in March 2007 on Merge Records. Originally announced on December 16, 2006 through the band's website, the majority of the album was recorded in a church that the band bought and renovated.Neon Bible became Arcade...
and The Suburbs
The Suburbs
The Suburbs were an alternative punk rock/funk/new wave band from Minneapolis, Minnesota popular in the late 1970s through the 1980s. The band frequently headlined at Minneapolis's most influential music clubs including Jay's Longhorn Bar and First Avenue....
.
Recently he has worked with Coldplay
Coldplay
Coldplay are a British alternative rock band formed in 1996 by lead vocalist Chris Martin and lead guitarist Jonny Buckland at University College London. After they formed Pectoralz, Guy Berryman joined the group as a bassist and they changed their name to Starfish. Will Champion joined as a...
on their album Viva la Vida or Death and All His Friends
Viva la Vida or Death and All His Friends
Viva la Vida or Death and All His Friends, often referred to as simply Viva la Vida is the fourth studio album by British rock band Coldplay, released on 11 June 2008 on Parlophone. The album was named after a Spanish phrase that translates in English as "long live life"...
. According to Markus: "Chris Martin
Chris Martin
Christopher Anthony John "Chris" Martin is an English song-writer, who is the lead vocalist, pianist and rhythm guitarist of the band Coldplay. He is married to actress Gwyneth Paltrow.-Early life:...
called me and told me he had a conversation with Win Butler
Win Butler
Win Butler is the lead vocalist and songwriter of the Montreal-based indie rock band Arcade Fire. His wife Régine Chassagne and his brother William Butler are both members of the band.-Life and career:...
, who suggested, 'He’ll kick you into shape' which was poetic for 'He will do his utmost in helping you to develop your artistic horizon.'"
In 2011 Dravs received acclaim for producing Mumford & Sons
Mumford & Sons
Mumford & Sons are a British folk rock band. The band consists of Marcus Mumford , Ben Lovett , Country Winston Marshall , and Ted Dwane...
' debut album, Sigh No More
Sigh No More
Japanese release2002 re-release"Countdown" does not appear on the vinyl or cassette versions of the album."Heroes" is an alternative version of "Changes" and also appears on the Japanese version of Insanity and Genius....
and Arcade Fire’s The Suburbs
The Suburbs
The Suburbs were an alternative punk rock/funk/new wave band from Minneapolis, Minnesota popular in the late 1970s through the 1980s. The band frequently headlined at Minneapolis's most influential music clubs including Jay's Longhorn Bar and First Avenue....
. Sigh No More
Sigh No More
Japanese release2002 re-release"Countdown" does not appear on the vinyl or cassette versions of the album."Heroes" is an alternative version of "Changes" and also appears on the Japanese version of Insanity and Genius....
won Best British Album at The Brit Awards. This year The Suburbs
The Suburbs
The Suburbs were an alternative punk rock/funk/new wave band from Minneapolis, Minnesota popular in the late 1970s through the 1980s. The band frequently headlined at Minneapolis's most influential music clubs including Jay's Longhorn Bar and First Avenue....
won both the Grammy for Album Of The Year and the Brit Award for Best International Album.
Dravs’ next major production project to be released is Coldplay
Coldplay
Coldplay are a British alternative rock band formed in 1996 by lead vocalist Chris Martin and lead guitarist Jonny Buckland at University College London. After they formed Pectoralz, Guy Berryman joined the group as a bassist and they changed their name to Starfish. Will Champion joined as a...
's highly anticipated fifth studio album Mylo Xyloto (Parlophone Records/EMI
EMI
The EMI Group, also known as EMI Music or simply EMI, is a multinational music company headquartered in London, United Kingdom. It is the fourth-largest business group and family of record labels in the recording industry and one of the "big four" record companies. EMI Group also has a major...
), which is set for release on 24 October via Parlophone Records/EMI
EMI
The EMI Group, also known as EMI Music or simply EMI, is a multinational music company headquartered in London, United Kingdom. It is the fourth-largest business group and family of record labels in the recording industry and one of the "big four" record companies. EMI Group also has a major...
.
Among other projects, he is currently in the studio working with Mumford & Sons
Mumford & Sons
Mumford & Sons are a British folk rock band. The band consists of Marcus Mumford , Ben Lovett , Country Winston Marshall , and Ted Dwane...
on their sophomore album, due for release in 2012.
In conjunction with Kobalt Music Group, Dravs has started up a publishing and production company called Casa-D. According to Markus "The idea behind Casa-D Productions is to form a creative hub, from which I can collaborate with other musicians, top line writers and lyricists to write and/or produce new songs both for other artists and for release ourselves via Casa-D."