Paul McKercher
OriginHobart, Tasmania, Australia
GenresPop, rock
Occupation(s)Producer, engineer, teacher
Instrument(s)Guitar, cello
Years active1991–present
Websitepaulmckercher.com

Paul McKercher is an Australian record producer, audio engineer, sound mixer and multi-instrumentalist. He has received five ARIA Artisan Awards and has produced over 50 albums. McKercher has worked with Australian artists Josh Pyke, Bertie Blackman, Papa vs Pretty, Sarah Blasko, You Am I, Pete Murray, Motor Ace and Eskimo Joe. An avowed analogue fan, he specialises in the use of tape, although he also uses digital technologies.

Biography

Paul McKercher worked at national youth radio station, Triple J, for three years. In 1991 he and fellow audio engineer John Jacobs created the "JJJ News Theme" as a mix of McKercher's guitar playing, a scratch of N.W.A.'s "Fuck tha Police" and the orchestral ABC News theme, "Majestic Fanfare", with the beat based on Prince's "Gett Off".[1][2] McKercher followed with seven years at ABC radio.[3] He has also worked as a free-lance record producer, engineer and mixer since 1992. For three weeks in 1993 McKercher recorded indie pop group Falling Joys' third studio album Aerial (August 1993).[4][5] Using three different eight-track machines, at an isolated house in Kangaroo Valley, he captured the band live-in-the-studio.[5]

In late 1997 Kercher was working at Woodstock Studios, Melbourne on pop rock band the Jaynes' extended play Dogbone (April 1998).[6][7] He has written articles for Audio Technology Magazine.[3] McKercher's techniques were discussed by Zolton Zavos in May 2000 in part one of "Making Tracks" in Tharunka on his work at Megaphon Studios, Petersham.[8] Zavos acknowledged his "wonderful ear" when he worked as a producer, engineer and multi-instrumentalist.[8]

In 2010 he addressed the Face the Music Conference.[9] As from December 2016 he was a teacher at SAE Institute, Sydney delivering classes on "how to produce recordings" as well as continuing as a producer, engineer and mixer.[10]

List of technical works

Year Artist(s) Work Role(s) Ref.
1991 Triple J "JJJ News Theme" (with John Jacobs) Mixer, guitar [1][2]
1992 DAZYchains Daze of Our Lives (EP) Producer [6]
Glide Shuffle Off to Buffalo (EP) Producer [6]
The Apartments Drift Producer, engineer [11]
1993 Clouds Thunderhead Producer, remastering [6][11]
Various artists In Defence of Animals Engineer [11]
Falling Joys Aerial Producer [5]
1994 Various artists Jabberjaw Compilation Engineer [11]
1995 The Apartments A Life Full of Farewells Producer, mixer [6][11]
The Cruel Sea Three Legged Dog Producer, engineer, backing vocals [6][11]
Tumbleweed Galactaphonic Producer, engineer [6][11]
1996 Magic Dirt Friends in Danger Producer, engineer, mixer [11]
Hoodoo Gurus In Blue Cave Engineer [11]
Spiderbait Ivy and the Big Apples Producer [6]
You Am I Hourly, Daily Engineer, cello [11]
Tumbleweed Return to Earth Producer [6]
1997 Pollyanna Hello Halo Producer, mixer [11]
Screamfeeder Closing Alaska (EP) Engineer [11]
Fini Scad "Furious" Producer [12]
Sidewinder Tangerine Producer [13]
1998 The Cruel Sea Over Easy Producer [6]
The Jaynes Dogbone (EP) Producer [6]
Primary Vicious Precious (EP) Producer [14]
Hoodoo Gurus Bite the Bullet Engineer [11]
The Superjesus Sumo Engineer, mixer [11]
Cold Chisel The Last Wave of Summer Engineer [11]
1999 Screamfeeder Kitten Licks Engineer [11]
2000 Testeagles Non Comprehendus Producer [15]
Augie March Sunset Studies Producer, mixer, acoustic guitar [6][11]
Midnight Oil The Real Thing Engineer [11]
2001 You Am I Dress Me Slowly Engineer [11]
Motor Ace Five Star Laundry Engineer, mixer [11]
2002 Augie March Strange Bird Producer [6]
Monique Brumby Signal Hill Producer [6]
You Am I Deliverance Producer [6]
Knievel The Name Rings a Bell That Drowns out Your Voice Cello [11]
Speedstar Bruises You Can Touch Producer [11]
2003 Motor Ace Shoot This Engineer, mixer [11]
Pete Murray Feeler Producer [16]
The Anyones[nb 1] The Anyones Engineer, mixer [11]
2004 Eskimo Joe A Song Is a City Producer, engineer [11]
Butterfly 9 Butterfly 9 Mixer [11]
Hoodoo Gurus Mach Schau Engineer [11]
Little Birdy BigBigLove Producer, engineer, mixer [18]
2005 Motor Ace Animal Engineer [11]
Jimmy Barnes Double Happiness Producer, engineer, mixer [11]
Daughterboy Jao Simple Matters Producer, engineer, mixer,
effects, piano, Fender Rhodes		 [11][19]
Gear The Gear (EP) Producer, mixer [11]
Paul Greene Reset Producer, engineer [20]
2006 Augie March Moo, You Bloody Choir Producer, engineer, mixer [11]
Sarah Blasko What the Sea Wants, the Sea Will Have Engineer [11]
The Cops 80 in the Shade Producer [21]
2007 Something for Kate The Murmur Years Engineer [11]
2008 Josh Pyke Chimney's Afire Producer, engineer, mixer [11]
Melanie Horsnell Complicated Sweetheart Producer, mixer, guitar [11]
Kara Grainger Grand and Green River Producer, mixer [11]
Chasing Bailey Long Story Short Producer, mixer [11]
2009 Jen Cloher & the Endless Sea Hidden Hands Producer [22]
2011 Sierra Fin Cautionary Tale of the Beautiful Blackout Producer, engineer, mixer [11]
Papa vs Pretty United in Isolation Producer, engineer [23]
Bayonets for Legs The Coloured Air (EP) Mixer [24]
2014 The Vines Wicked Nature Producer, mixer [11]
Augie March Havens Dumb Mixer [25]
Andy Bull Sea of Approval Engineer, mixer [26]
2015 Art vs. Science Off the Edge of the Earth and Into Forever, Forever Engineer, mixer [11]
Sarah Belkner Humans (EP) Vocals producer [27]
2017 The Go Set One Fine Day Engineer [11]

Awards and nominations

ARIA Music Awards

Year Nominee / work Award Result Ref.
1995 himself Engineer of the Year Won [28][29]
Producer of the Year Nominated
1996 You Am I – Hourly, Daily Engineer of the Year Won [30]
2001 Augie March – Sunset Studies Engineer of the Year Won [31]
Producer of the Year Nominated
2003 Pete Murray – Feeler Engineer of the Year Nominated [32][33]
Producer of the Year Nominated
2004 Eskimo Joe – A Song Is a City Engineer of the Year Won [34]
Producer of the Year Won
Pete Murray – "So Beautiful" Producer of the Year Nominated
2005 Little Birdy – BigBigLove Engineer of the Year Nominated [35]
Producer of the Year Nominated
Eskimo Joe – "Older Than You" Engineer of the Year Nominated
Producer of the Year Nominated
2006 Augie March – various tracks on Moo, You Bloody Choir Engineer of the Year Nominated [36]
Producer of the Year Nominated
2007 Sarah Blasko – What the Sea Wants, the Sea Will Have Engineer of the Year Nominated [37]
2014 Andy Bull – Sea of Approval Engineer of the Year Nominated [38]
2022 Ball Park Music – Weirder & Weirder Mix Engineer – Best Mixed Album Pending [39]

Notes

  1. ^ For the US market The Anyones (and their 2003 self-titled album) were renamed as the Everyones due to a naming conflict with Los Angeles band Anyone.[17] Consequently AllMusic has the release as The Everyones by the Everyones, in 2004.[11]

References

  1. ^ a b Nuttall, Lyn. "ABC News Theme (excerpt from The Majestic Fanfare) – Queen's Hall Light Orchestra (1952)". Pop Archives – Sources of Australian Pop Records from the 50s, 60s and 70s. Retrieved 18 October 2020.
  2. ^ a b Smith, Lucy (interviewer); McKercher, Paul (interviewee); Jacobs, John (interviewee). "Audio Interview". 30 Years of Triple J: News Theme. Archived from the original on 22 February 2006. Retrieved 18 October 2020. ((cite web)): |author1= has generic name (help)
  3. ^ a b "Speakers and Artists: Paul McKercher". Song Summit (APRA AMCOS). 26 May 2012. Archived from the original on 4 March 2014. Retrieved 18 October 2020 – via National Library of Australia.
  4. ^ McFarlane, Ian (1999). "Encyclopedia entry for 'Falling Joys'". Encyclopedia of Australian Rock and Pop. St Leonards, NSW: Allen & Unwin. ISBN 1-86508-072-1. Archived from the original on 21 August 2004.
  5. ^ a b c "CD Review: Aerial Falling Joys". The Times. Vol. 89, no. 4, 178. Victor Harbor, SA. 5 November 1993. p. 11. Retrieved 18 October 2020 – via National Library of Australia.
  6. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o Holmgren, Magnus. "Paul McKercher". Australian Rock Database. Archived from the original on 29 November 2004. Retrieved 17 October 2020.
  7. ^ "Let's Go Out: Raw Summer Energy at the Hotel Crown". The Times. Vol. 93, no. 17. Victor Harbor, SA. 8 January 1998. p. 17. Retrieved 18 October 2020 – via National Library of Australia.
  8. ^ a b Zavos, Zolton (2 May 2000). "Making Tracks: The Recording Process". Tharunka. Vol. 46, no. 5. New South Wales, Australia. p. 37. Retrieved 19 October 2020 – via National Library of Australia. Note: article includes a photo of the artisan.
  9. ^ "Speaker: Paul McKercher, Producer/Engineer/Mixer/Musician". Face the Music Conference. 2010. Archived from the original on 27 November 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2020.
  10. ^ staff writers (21 December 2016). "Scenestr of the Day – Paul McKercher". Scenestr. Archived from the original on 7 April 2017. Retrieved 18 October 2020 – via National Library of Australia.
  11. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac ad ae af ag ah ai aj ak al am an ao ap aq "Paul McKercher | Credits". AllMusic. Retrieved 17 October 2020.
  12. ^ McFarlane, 'Fini Scad' entry. Archived from the original on 3 August 2004. Retrieved 19 October 2020.
  13. ^ Sidewinder (1997). "Tangerine". Polygram. Retrieved 18 October 2020.
  14. ^ McFarlane, 'Primary' entry. Archived from the original on 9 August 2004. Retrieved 19 October 2020.
  15. ^ McFarlane, 'Testeagles' entry. Archived from the original on 15 June 2004. Retrieved 19 October 2020.
  16. ^ Murray, Pete (2003), Feeler, Sony Music, retrieved 19 October 2020
  17. ^ "The Anyones are The Everyones". Metropolis Audio Studios. 2003. Archived from the original on 31 August 2004. Retrieved 19 October 2020 – via National Library of Australia.
  18. ^ Little Birdy (2004), BigBigLove, Eleven/EMI, retrieved 31 October 2020
  19. ^ "Entertainment :: Book Review". Air Force News. Archived from the original on 22 October 2015. Retrieved 19 October 2020 – via National Library of Australia.
  20. ^ Greene, Paul (2005), Reset, Paul Greene : ACMEC records [distributor], retrieved 31 October 2020
  21. ^ Cops; Mckercher, Paul; Carter, Simon (2006), 80 in the Shade, Inertia Recordings, retrieved 19 October 2020
  22. ^ Cloher, Jen; Endless Sea (2009), Hidden Hands, Sandcastle Music : MGM, retrieved 31 October 2020
  23. ^ Papa Vs Pretty (2011), United in Isolation, EMI Music Australia, retrieved 31 October 2020
  24. ^ Bayonets for Legs (2011), The Coloured Air, Perth, WA: Bayonets for Legs/ Green Media/MGM, retrieved 31 October 2020
  25. ^ Augie March (2014), Havens Dumb, retrieved 31 October 2020
  26. ^ Bull, Andy (2014), Sea of Approval, Universal Music Australia, retrieved 31 October 2020
  27. ^ Belkner, Sarah (2015), Humans, Free Energy Device Studios, retrieved 31 October 2020
  28. ^ "Winners by Year 1995". Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA). Archived from the original on 26 September 2007. Retrieved 19 October 2020.
  29. ^ O'Grady, Anthony. "The 9th Annual Aria Music Awards". Australian Recording Industry Association. Archived from the original on 16 December 2000. Retrieved 20 October 2020.
  30. ^ "Winners by Year 1996". Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA). Archived from the original on 14 December 2007. Retrieved 3 December 2013.
  31. ^ "ARIA Awards – History: Winners by Year 2001: 15th Annual ARIA Awards". Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA). Archived from the original on 26 September 2007. Retrieved 19 October 2020.
  32. ^ "ARIA Awards – History: Winners by Year 2003: 17th Annual ARIA Awards". Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA). Archived from the original on 26 September 2007. Retrieved 19 October 2020.
  33. ^ "17th Annual ARIA Awards". Australian Recording Industry Association. Archived from the original on 22 February 2004. Retrieved 19 October 2020. Note: User may be required to access archived information by selecting 'The History', then 'By Award', 'Producer of the Year' and 'Option Show Nominations'.
  34. ^ "ARIA Awards – History: Winners by Year 2004: 18th Annual ARIA Awards". Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA). Archived from the original on 4 March 2008. Retrieved 19 October 2020.
  35. ^ "ARIA Awards – History: Winners by Year 2005: 19th Annual ARIA Awards". Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA). Archived from the original on 28 July 2020. Retrieved 19 October 2020.
  36. ^ "Winners by Year 2006". Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA). Archived from the original on 12 December 2007. Retrieved 30 October 2020.
  37. ^ "ARIA Awards – History: Winners by Year 2007: 21st Annual ARIA Awards". Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA). Archived from the original on 18 November 2007. Retrieved 20 October 2020.
  38. ^ "2014 ARIA Awards Winners by Year". Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA). Retrieved 9 October 2014.
  39. ^ Lars Brandle (12 October 2022). "Rüfüs Du Sol Leads 2022 ARIA Awards Nominees (Full List)". The Music Network. Retrieved 12 October 2022.

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