TTHC interviews "The Distance" producer, Simon Climie

In 2008, Alabama soul met UK pop in the French countryside.

Alabama native, Taylor Hicks traveled to France that year to collaborate with renowned London musician and producer, Simon Climie, for Taylor’s first release, “The Distance,” on his own label, Modern Whomp Records.

Simon was kind enough to give an extensive interview to TTHC and talked about Taylor Hicks, music, and success.

“…The first thing that struck me was his passion for Music...and in particular “Song Sense” where he really has vision , and the ability to recognize what’s special about certain songs and how to bring that through...”

The British songwriter and producer is the former lead singer of the 1980s UK pop duo, Climie Fisher. With his partner, Rob Fisher, they had top five charting records, that Simon describes like a “Hall and Oates type of thing—two guys making good music.”

“I started as Songwriter ...without a huge ambition to be a “Rock Star” - And when I met Rob Fisher at Abbey road - … We wanted to write songs and both loved experimenting in the studios....It was fun having a band... like there was a force there that was definitely bigger than the both of us....”

Simon released his own solo album, Soul Inspiration, in 1992 for Sony’s Columbia label. He branched out into a role in the production side of the business, producing and writing songs for a number of 1990s pop artists. He is best known for his work as a collaborator with Eric Clapton on albums such as Pilgrim, Reptile and Riding with the King.

“His most recent work with Clapton is on Clapton and J.J. Cale's album The Road to Escondido, which was released in 2006. Apart from Clapton, he also worked with former Doobie Brothers member Michael McDonald on his Motown albums. He produced the 2009 album by the American Idol winner Taylor Hicks, The Distance.” (wikipedia)

Also a prolific songwriter, Simon co-wrote The Distance tracks, “What’s Right is Right,” “New Found Freedom,” and “Once Upon a Lover.

In the music production business, Simon is recognized for a “common thread of quality” from his work with Eric Clapton to his own Climie Fisher Group.

Read much more from Simon—his take on the legendary artists with whom he has worked, how he put Taylor to the test, and his own defining piece of work.

Simon Climie's Interview on our message board, Connections:

http://taylorconnections.com/topic/3245790/1/

Listen to Simon Climie’s songs:
http://www.simonclimiesongs.com/


Blog Sources:
Simon Climie’s Interview with The Taylor Hicks Community

http://www.sonnoxplugins.com/pub/plugins/User-SimonClimie.htm

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Simon_Climie

Photos: One of Simon Climie's studios in the U.S.; Simon (right) and Rob Fisher; Simon's loft studio.