Lauren Christy On Avril Lavigne's Debut, And The Matrix

Summary

Podcast Episode Summary: "Lauren Christie On Avril Lavigne's Debut, And The Matrix"

Episode Details:

• Title: All Of It
• Host: Tiffany Hansen (filling in for Alison Stewart)
• Guest: Lauren Christie
• Release Date: March 28, 2025

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Introduction

In this episode of ALL OF IT, host Tiffany Hansen delves into the influential role of women in the music production industry. Celebrating Women's History Month, the show spotlights Lauren Christie, a pivotal figure in the songwriting and production trio The Matrix. Lauren's extensive work with artists like Avril Lavigne, Shakira, and Rihanna underscores her significant impact on contemporary music.

Lauren Christie's Early Career and Discovery of Production Skills

Lauren Christie recounts her journey into music production, which began at a young age. Starting as a songwriter at 12, she secured a publishing deal at 18, leading to the establishment of her home studio.

• Quote [02:24]: "I started off writing songs when I was 12 years old and I got a publishing deal when I was 18... pretty soon I moved on to an eight track and I would just do all my own demos and that's when my production skills started."

This early hands-on experience in recording and producing her own demos fostered her natural aptitude for music production.

Transition from Solo Artist to Producer with The Matrix

Before forming The Matrix, Lauren was a solo recording artist and achieved notable success, including a Golden Globe nomination for her song "The Color of the Night."

• Quote [02:53]: "Before the Matrix, you were a solo recording artist yourself. You earned a Golden Globe nomination for best original song."

Her transition into production was marked by the formation of The Matrix, a trio that would go on to shape the sound of early 2000s pop music.

Breakthrough with Avril Lavigne's "Let Go"

The Matrix's collaboration with Avril Lavigne on her debut album "Let Go" was a defining moment in Lauren's career. This partnership not only earned them several Grammy nominations but also solidified their reputation in the industry.

• Quote [05:09]: "It was such an amazing summer... we just wrote all the songs. Skater Boy... it ended up being a number one song, thank God."

Lauren highlights the organic and inspired process behind crafting hits like "Sk8er Boi," emphasizing the serendipitous nature of their creative flow.

Faith and Its Influence on Music Production

Lauren discusses the profound impact of her faith on her work, revealing a personal transformation that deepened her approach to production.

• Quote [06:33]: "I didn't become a Christian until I was 42... now it just makes everything so much easier because before I really thought it was my talent."

Her faith provides her with a sense of purpose and ease, allowing her to approach sessions with openness and confidence.

Crafting Iconic Tracks: "Sk8er Boi"

Reflecting on "Sk8er Boi," Lauren shares insights into the song's creation, underscoring the blend of pop sensibility with aggressive guitar elements.

• Quote [07:16]: "I just love how it's so full on from the first moment... the aggressiveness of the guitars and a super pop song."

She attributes the song's success to its high energy and relatability, drawing from her own experiences as a ballet dancer facing parental disapproval of the music industry.

The Synergy Between Songwriting and Production

Lauren emphasizes the overlapping skills between songwriting and production, advocating for songwriters to embrace producing to enhance their creative control and financial viability in the streaming era.

• Quote [09:23]: "I think songwriters are producers... it's so important to be a producer today with the way things are with streaming and how it doesn't really pay songwriters."

She encourages emerging artists to develop production skills, highlighting successful producers like Rick Rubin and Linda Perry as inspirations.

Navigating the Music Industry as a Woman

Addressing her experiences as a woman in a predominantly male industry, Lauren describes a supportive environment within The Matrix, where her contributions were respected and valued.

• Quote [11:17]: "I never felt that thing of being kind of put down as a woman... I never got anything but respect."

This positive dynamic within her team fostered a professional environment where gender did not hinder her creative input.

Upcoming Project: "Their Hits My Way"

Lauren shares her excitement about her upcoming album "Their Hits My Way," where she reimagines songs she wrote and produced, showcasing their versatility and enduring quality.

• Quote [12:15]: "I wanted to just do reimagined versions of the song so you could hear them kind of pared down... a good song can be done in many different ways."

The project serves as a tribute to her legacy in music production and her enduring passion for singing.

Conclusion

Throughout the episode, Lauren Christie provides an insightful look into the multifaceted world of music production, highlighting the essential role of women in shaping the industry's landscape. Her journey from a young songwriter to a renowned producer exemplifies resilience, creativity, and the enduring power of passion in the arts.

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Notable Quotes:

• [02:24] "I started off writing songs when I was 12 years old and I got a publishing deal when I was 18... pretty soon I moved on to an eight track and I would just do all my own demos and that's when my production skills started."
• [05:09] "It was such an amazing summer... we just wrote all the songs. Skater Boy... it ended up being a number one song, thank God."
• [06:33] "I didn't become a Christian until I was 42... now it just makes everything so much easier because before I really thought it was my talent."
• [07:16] "I just love how it's so full on from the first moment... the aggressiveness of the guitars and a super pop song."
• [09:23] "I think songwriters are producers... it's so important to be a producer today with the way things are with streaming and how it doesn't really pay songwriters."
• [11:17] "I never felt that thing of being kind of put down as a woman... I never got anything but respect."
• [12:15] "I wanted to just do reimagined versions of the song so you could hear them kind of pared down... a good song can be done in many different ways."

This episode not only celebrates Lauren Christie's achievements but also provides valuable insights for aspiring songwriters and producers, underlining the importance of versatility and resilience in the ever-evolving music industry.

Transcript

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[Lauren Christie]

This is all.

[Tiffany Hansen]

Of it on wnyc. I'm Tiffany Hansen filling in for Alison Stewart. Thanks so much for spending part of your day with us. Whether you're listening on the radio, live streaming or on demand, we are grateful you're here. As we enter the final weekend of Women's History Month, Today's show is celebrating women in the music industry, women who work behind the scenes as producers and engineers. First up this hour is a woman who helped craft this hit song.

[Avril Lavigne]

Life's like this. You you fall and you crawl and you break and you take what you get and you turn it into honesty. Promise me I'm never gonna find you play again. No, no.

[Tiffany Hansen]

We're a quarter of the way through first century and in those 25 years, only three women have been nominated for the Grammy for non classical producer of the year. The first was our next guest, Lauren Christie, a member of the songwriting and production trio the Matrix. The group's work on Avril Lavigne's album Let Go earned them several Grammy nominations, including producer of the year and song of the year. The Matrix went on to work with Shakira, Rihanna, Jason Mraz, Korn, and many other artists. Lauren Christie, just on her own, has written with Enrique Iglesias, Bebe Rexha, and more. She also started out as a recording artist and continues to release music herself for our series Equalizers, Women in Music Production. Here is Alison's conversation with Lauren Christie.

[Interviewer]

How did you discover that you had a knack for production?

[Lauren Christie]

Well, I mean, I started off writing songs when I was 12 years old and I got a publishing deal when I was 18 and the first thing they did was bought me like a four track recording studio because it's expensive to go into studio. So they just bought me a home studio and I set it up in my bedroom and pretty soon I moved on to an eight track and I would just do all my own demos and that's when my production skills started.

[Interviewer]

Before the Matrix, you were a solo recording artist yourself. You earned a Golden Globe nomination for best original song. The Color of the Night from the movie of the same name. Do you mind if we play a little bit of it?

[Lauren Christie]

Of course.

[Avril Lavigne]

Let's I need to know the way you feel and I'll give you everything I am and everything I am want to be I'll put it in your hands if you could open up to me oh, can't we ever get beyond this wall? Cause all I want is just once to see you in the light but.

[Interviewer]

You hide behind so, Lauren, it's interesting. Every interview I watched of you, there's some section where you a part of it, a part of your production that you've done, and your voice is great.

[Lauren Christie]

Oh, thank you.

[Interviewer]

How do you find your. Your voice as an artist helpful to you in terms of writing and producing?

[Lauren Christie]

I mean, listen, I went through it as an artist. It's. It's a difficult life, you know, it's just so competitive. And back in the day, when I was doing it, you only got, like, a couple of shots at radio, and then literally it didn't work. Records shelved, you know, so I feel like I can be really compassionate to all the artists I get to work with, because I've been sort of behind the curtain for 25 years after I put my career on hold. And. And I can just understand what they're going through. And, you know, I. I feel like a big part of production is just making people feel confident and making them feel like a million bucks.

[Interviewer]

I speak with music producer Lauren Christie, who has worked with artists like Dua Lipa, Kelly Clarkson, Ricky Martin, Jason Derulo. It's another installment of our March series, Equalizers. Women in music production. The Matrices big break came with Avril Lavigne's album let's Go. Did you know when you were working on it that you had something special in your hands?

[Lauren Christie]

I did. I did. I mean, it was such an amazing summer. She came out and we did two songs. She went back to New York where she'd been signed, and LA Reid and Josh Sabin, who was her A and R man, they. They immediately heard the songs. One of them being complicated and said, go back for the whole summer. So that summer of 2001, Avril came, and for three months, we just wrote all the songs. Skater Boy, falling Down, all these different songs that ended up on the record I'm with you. It was just an amazing time. And I remember Roundabout, when we wrote Skater Boy, thinking, wow, these songs seem special to me. And I kept, you know, I'm a Christian. I kept feeling things being given to me, and I felt the same way. Just words would appear in our head, and we were like, wow, that means something like that. Life's like this you fall and you crawl and you take what you get and you turn it into honesty Promise me I'm never going to find you Fake it that was literally given to me. I didn't come up with that. It just dropped into my head. And so yeah, I think we did realize my manager at the time said that I'm with youh was a really nice album track and we needed to try harder. But it ended up being a number one song, thank God.

[Interviewer]

It sounds like faith really means something to you in your music production. Can you tell us a little more about that?

[Lauren Christie]

I mean, I didn't become a Christian until I was 42. I was just out there kind of just trying to do it on my own. And then I had like a fabulous calling from God which really changed my life. And now it just makes everything so much easier because before I really thought it was my talent and you know, I had to really prepare to be clever that day. And now I just walk into sessions with literally On a wing and a.

[Interviewer]

Prayer and with an open heart.

[Lauren Christie]

It sounds like literally yes, yes and yes very much has changed my life.

[Interviewer]

I want to play Skater Boy for our listeners. What is something that you like about this track? Something that you like about the production of this song?

[Lauren Christie]

I mean, I just love how it's so full on from the first moment. I love Corky James who played all the guitars on the Avril Lavigne record. It was just amazing. And my ex husband Graham Edwards. You know, I just remember us sitting at my house with Avril and we just said let's just do something that's really fun. And just Graham started playing that and I said how about we start a song off with he was a boy, she was a girl. Can I make it any more obvious? Let's just do something really dumb. And the whole song, you know, played out with Avril being a skater girl. And it's really my story of me being a ballet dancer and my parents not wanting me to marry a musician because they would consider musicians to be like punks, my parents and. But yeah, it's that aggressiveness of the guitars and a super pop song put with those. That aggressiveness of the guitars.

[Interviewer]

Lets listen to sk8er boy.

[Avril Lavigne]

He was a boy, she was a girl Can I make it any more obvious? He was a punk she did ballet what more can I say? He wanted her she'd never secretly. She wanted him as well and all other friends stuck up their nose and they had a problem with his baggy clothes he was a skater Boy, she said, see you later, boy he wasn't good enough for her. She had a pretty face but her hair was up in space. She needed to come back down to earth.

[Interviewer]

I'm speaking with music producer Lauren Christie. It's part of our March series, our Women's History Month March series, Women in Music Production. Lauren, what makes a good producer and what makes a good songwriter? And is there overlap there?

[Lauren Christie]

Mm. I mean, I do think that a lot of songwriters today who are just working as songwriters actually are crossing over into being the producers. Because, you know, I mean, that's when it started out for me, is I knew kind of what I wanted the groove to sound like the sonic bed of the track. If you've got the groove right, you can build on that. And I just think songwriters, you know, just have an overall taste of where the. Where it's gotta rise. It's gotta rise here. So we need, like, the drum fills right here. So I think songwriters are producers, and I teach a masterclass on songwriting and production, and I really try and talk to songwriters about, please become a producer while you're young. I even do a free giveaway on my. To one person on my masterclass. I kind of pull a name out of a hat and I send them a recording studio and a video of how to set it all up and start recording your own songs. It's so important to be a producer today with the way things are with streaming and how it doesn't really pay songwriters. So, you know, there's people who I just admire so much as producers, like Circuit, Benny, Blanca. They just have a vibe. Julian Bonetta, who did all the Sabrina Carpenter stuff, you know, Linda Perry. I'm sure you've spoken to her. These.

[Interviewer]

Just next week. We're talking to her next week.

[Lauren Christie]

Yeah, she's. She's awesome. Just, I think, having great sonic taste or Rick Rubin, I hear, you know, who's one of my heroes, he just has good taste. He doesn't work the board, he doesn't play an instrument. But it's worked out very well for all the artists he works with, having his good taste around them.

[Interviewer]

The Matrix. You're part of the Matrix. It was a trio, you and two men.

[Lauren Christie]

Yeah.

[Interviewer]

When you were working with artists, did you find your gender led you to be singled out either for the good or for the bad?

[Lauren Christie]

I always feel, because I was with. With two guys in a team, I never felt that thing of being kind of put down as a woman. And, you know, I. I'm very much involved in all the vocals and comping and tuning the vocals. And that meant I had to sit with, you know, with Jonathan from Korn, just me and him doing his vocals. And, you know, I never got anything but respect. I've never found it to be, you know, that anyone would diminish me for being a woman. And I think that is probably because I had two great guys around me as a team, you know, so it's been a good experience for me.

[Interviewer]

You're releasing an album later this year called their Hits My Way, featuring your take on songs that you wrote and you produced. What have you discovered revisiting these songs?

[Lauren Christie]

Well, I mean, first of all, I want people to know that I'm not trying to be a pop star at my age or, you know, I just really felt that I wanted to do something for my future grandkids so they can see that if you're a creator, you should keep doing it. Just because I made my last record in, what was it, 1997, I'm like, look, I'm. I'm this age, and I'm releasing a new album in 2025. And it's just, I wanted to just do reimagined versions of the song so you could hear them kind of pared down and say, a good song can be done in many different ways. And, you know, I love to sing. To this day, if someone says to me, would you like to get up and sing? I'm always like, yes. I very rarely say no to anything because it was my first love was singing. That's kind of what made me become a producer because how do I get, you know, this done? Yeah.

[Tiffany Hansen]

That was Allison's conversation with Lauren Christie, formerly of the songwriting and production team the Matrix. Up next, more from our series Equalizers, Women in music production. Stay with us.

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