A phenomenological approach on the negotiation in recording sessions

Abstract

The relationship between musicians and recording engineers is fundamental to the success or failure of a recording project. Several anecdotal examples from well recognized to emergent musicians can be found in the history of the recording music industry, suggesting that an artistic project can hugely affect poor relationship between these two parts. Despite its importance, this topic has been scarcely debated in the literature. Particularly, the negotiation of the recording process involving musicians and recording engineers is almost nonexistent. In this paper we mapped the phenomenology of negotiation in recording sessions through a longitudinal observational study focused on the process of recording the first album of Atma Kirtana. A qualitative data analysis revealed four aspects that shape this negotiation, namely: content, parts involved, typology and dimensions. Based on these four aspects we propose a theoretical model for analysis of the negotiation in recording sessions.