Andrew Watt, Rick Rubin and the Producers Reviving the Live Studio

Andrew Watt, born in 1990, produced the Rolling Stones' 'Hackney Diamonds' without click tracks, timing grids or computer editing — and he is now one of the busiest producers in rock. His method sounds like 1972. It is also reshaping how major artists make records in 2025 and 2026.

Watt told GRAMMY.com in a 2024 interview that the Stones recorded 'Hackney Diamonds' live, letting songs speed up, slow down and develop through natural interaction. Keith Richards leans into a guitar phrase, drummer Steve Jordan responds, and Mick Jagger adjusts his vocal to follow the groove. The music develops through the shared instincts of performers who know each other's playing.

His credit list spans pop and rock alike:

• Justin Bieber, Post Malone and Miley Cyrus in his early career
• Ozzy Osbourne's 'Ordinary Man' and 'Patient Number 9'
• Iggy Pop's 'Every Loser'
• The Rolling Stones' 'Hackney Diamonds'
• Pearl Jam's 'Dark Matter'

How did Watt bring bands back together?

Watt applied the same philosophy to Pearl Jam's 'Dark Matter', recorded at Shangri-La Studios in Malibu. He recognized that the band's greatest strength was how they listened and responded to one another live. The sessions captured that chemistry directly.

He then united Elton John and Brandi Carlile for the 2025 album 'Who Believes in Angels?'. The artists cut the record in just 20 days at Los Angeles' historic Sunset Sound Studios, backed by drummer Chad Smith, bassist Pino Palladino and guitarist Josh Klinghoffer. Bernie Taupin wrote the lyrics. Watt served as producer, co-writer and creative collaborator. The process was documented extensively, letting fans watch songs take shape through discussion and improvisation. The takeaway: the producer now works as a musical participant, not a technician.

What is Rick Rubin's role in the shift?

Rick Rubin has shaped popular music since co-founding Def Jam Recordings in the 1980s, establishing the sounds of LL Cool J, the Beastie Boys and Run-D.M.C. He went on to work with Slayer, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Johnny Cash, Tom Petty and Adele. His recordings with Cash, beginning with 'American Recordings' in 1994, placed the singer's voice and acoustic guitar at the centre and introduced Cash to a new generation.

Recently Rubin has turned to younger artists: beabadoobee, Tyler Childers and Marcus King. For beabadoobee's 2024 album 'This Is How Tomorrow Moves', he worked with the singer-songwriter at Shangri-La on a record drawing from alternative rock and 1990s melodic traditions. He produced Childers' 2025 album 'Snipe Hunter'. The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inducted Rubin in 2026, recognizing collaborations across generations.

Why does Dave Cobb's range matter?

Dave Cobb built his reputation on Chris Stapleton, Jason Isbell, Brandi Carlile and Sturgill Simpson. His production of Stapleton's 'Traveller' brought a soulful country sound to a mass audience, and he continued with Stapleton's 'Higher' in 2023 while also producing Greta Van Fleet's classic-rock-rooted 'Starcatcher'.

In 2024 Cobb added Zayn's 'Room Under the Stairs', Ben Platt's 'Honeymind' and Blackberry Smoke's 'Be Right Here'. A producer known for roots music was now working with a former One Direction member, a Broadway performer and a Southern rock band. Zayn's album paired his vocals with acoustic instruments and understated arrangements. Cobb's 2025 credits include Mumford & Sons' 'Rushmere'; his discography lists The Red Clay Strays, 49 Winchester and others for 2026. The lesson: musicianship-focused production travels across genres.

What did T Bone Burnett deliver for Ringo Starr?

T Bone Burnett, whose credits include Robert Plant and Alison Krauss, Elvis Costello and Counting Crows, produced Starr's country album 'Look Up' in 2025. According to Starr's official announcement, the album contained 11 songs, with Burnett writing or co-writing nine. Starr sang and played drums, joined by Billy Strings, Molly Tuttle, Alison Krauss, Larkin Poe and Lucius.

The partnership succeeded enough to produce a second album, 'Long Long Road', released in April 2026, with Sheryl Crow, St. Vincent and Billy Strings among the guests. Burnett's 'Raising Sand' with Plant and Krauss won Album of the Year at the 2009 Grammy Awards and was followed by 'Raise the Roof' in 2021.

How fast can a live album be made?

British producer James Ford recorded Pulp's first album in 24 years, 'More', in just three weeks in Walthamstow, London, starting in November 2024. According to Jarvis Cocker's release notes, it was the shortest recording period of any Pulp album. The band arrived with songs rehearsed through live performance; the Elysian Collective contributed string arrangements and the Eno family added parts. The short schedule concentrated the sessions on performances. Ford's CV spans Arctic Monkeys, Depeche Mode, Florence + the Machine, Blur and Jessie Ware.

Hip-hop tells a parallel story. Pharrell Williams, producing since the 1990s as half of The Neptunes with Chad Hugo, reunited with Clipse for 'Let God Sort Em Out' in 2025 — the duo's first studio album in 16 years. Pharrell brought Pusha T and Malice decades of shared musical history, a foundation remote collaboration cannot replicate.

Is the old-school versus digital divide real?

No comprehensive industry figures prove older producers receive more commissions as a demographic. What is documented is a striking series of recent projects where veteran producers and traditional recording methods remain central to major releases. Watt uses contemporary equipment while capturing live rock performances; Rubin moves between stripped-down acoustic records and electronic productions; Ford combines dance-music experience with indie rock. Their expertise lies in creative decisions that help music come alive.

The lineage runs deep: George Martin with The Beatles, Quincy Jones with Michael Jackson, Phil Spector's Wall of Sound, Nile Rodgers with Chic and David Bowie. In an era when a bedroom recording can reach millions of listeners, the skills that remain scarce are knowing when a performance has captured something special — and the albums by Pearl Jam, Ringo Starr, Pulp and Clipse suggest artists will keep paying for that judgment.