Jon Withnall is an Audio Production lecturer at SAE’s Liverpool campus with an enviable musical CV taking in million-selling albums, BRITS and Grammy Awards.
His high-profile success comes through his time working at Parr Street Studios in Liverpool as an engineer alongside producer Ken Nelson.
Since then, Jon has kept himself busy across numerous musical projects, working in the studio, running various labels and lecturing at SAE, all with a view to nurturing the next generation of industry talent and success.
Here, we find out more about his music industry adventures and advice for aspiring industry professionals…
How did your musical journey start?
Music has been a lifelong obsession since I was a kid and my mum always attributed my passion to her singing when I was in the womb. I remember as a kid harmonising with the Bee Gees and as a family, we used to sit down on Thursdays to watch Top of the Pops.
When I was in my teens, I got into Bob Dylan records, then in the eighties I loved punk and ska. Everyone in my family was into music but I was obsessed by it.
How did you find your way into the industry?
I was in several bands, one called Dakota, this funk band. We had a bit of backing here and there. I loved it, and got a chance to go to Abbey Road as part of this unsigned act. Just after, the bass player left and I spoke to the manager and told him we were splitting. I told him I loved the studio work, so he then introduced me to Ken Nelson in Liverpool. We got on really well and he asked me to come and help out on some of the sessions he was working on at Parr Street. The next project just happened to be Coldplay. I started as an in-house engineer, then several Coldplay, Feeder, Skunk Anansie records all came in the wake of that.
It must have been immense to have seen such success?
I remember walking down Bold Street in Liverpool and literally every clothes shop was playing a song from the Coldplay record I had worked on. My first record did six million copies, then the second one I got to work on did even more. There were a few Rihanna tracks including Take a Bow that broke some records too. It was amazing to be part of this.
How did you approach it?
I always believed in making myself useful. When people call the studio, they will then ask for you as you’ve proven yourself to be invaluable.
Turn up on time, smell good, don’t be hungover, be the guy who says yes. As an engineer, get to the point where you’re anticipating what the producer needs before they’ve even asked for it. It’s a skill to be able to read the room like that but can pay dividends when you get it right.
When you’ve got it streamlined and fluid like this, it’s an amazing feeling – it just takes some time to get it.
How did you progress from there?
I’ve constantly changed what I’m doing. I get bored easily and always like to do things differently. For example, there was this one point where I met this artist Louie Berry at Parr Street who wanted to record. He had some amazing songs so I decided to develop him. I produced and engineered, found some money to back it, got him a manager, signed to Sony and really enjoyed the process.
Every so on, I regenerate as another thing. I like working with new artists who are really enthusiastic, there’s some huge excitement. I like the part where it’s new and fresh.
What led you to SAE and how has it been sharing your industry expertise?
I love it at SAE. About 10 years ago, I was asked to get involved as a guest lecturer. I went and did it, I was very nervous when I first started – but I also realised I can talk for England, music is a topic that is always changing and I’m obviously deeply into it.
During Covid, I was asked if I’d like to go part-time. I hadn’t had a salaried job for about 20 years and I thought maybe it would be nice to know what I’m doing some of the time.
I love doing it. I’m still producing, engineering, mixing, managing labels alongside looking after artists. I really love being so busy and working across different projects.
What’s keeping you busy?
I’m doing so many different things, at the moment, we’re doing the Campus label, this student-run initiative, I run my own label, New Retro Records. We’re working out some publishing for the label for some of the artists there, collaborating with this artist Doctor Orange and I’m lecturing. It’s great to be working across so much!
Visit jonwithnall.com to find out more.
Study Audio production at SAE
At SAE, our Audio Production Degree can help students learn the latest production skills and techniques to further their careers.
Our course encourages students to adopt a future-facing mindset where they are keen to understand more about how innovation and technology will shape the industry and their work.
