565 – Shannon Forrest: Preserving the Human Element
Shannon Forrest was destined to be a professional musician. His formidable years were filled with hours in the studio with his father Otis, an accomplished producer and engineer in South Carolina, where he learned about recording, editing, producing, cutting tape, and everything else that goes into making a record.
These early years proved valuable as Shannon began recording records on his own, amassing a resume that includes Brooks & Dunn, Taylor Swift, Rascal Flatts, Carrie Underwood, Mary Chapin Carpenter, The Chieftains, Willie Nelson, Ricky Skaggs, Trisha Yearwood, Lee Ann Womack, Jerry Douglas, Merle Haggard and many others. In 2015, Forrest joined Toto replacing Keith Carlock.
Shannon has a deep passion for creating records with musicians in the same room, recording in real time. Although he recognizes the importance and benefits of digital technology, his stance on getting the human feel to translate on a recording is unwavering. I happen to agree with him,
Shannon Forrest talks about:
- How he juggles wearing multiple hats of producing, drumming, and engineering
- The value of knowing as much as you can about the recording process
- The evolution of the music scene/industry
- Learning from his producer/engineer dad and being exposed to opportunities at a young age
- How he got the gig with Toto and finding the balance of replacing someone in a band
- Finding what makes you sound unique as a musician