Patrick (Bischoff) Brown (born August 26, 1978, in Phoenix, Arizona) is an American engineer, producer and studio owner. He has been the CEO of several record labels, including Brown Bottle Records and Different Fur Studios. He is the current owner of Different Fur Studios in the Mission district of San Francisco, California.
Biography
Brown spent his early life in Arizona and later moved to Long Island, New York, where he studied web design. He found out that he had a talent for recording after working on various projects with friends and helping friends' bands record.Weirdgirl. Behind the Sound: Our Interview with Different Fur's Patrick Brown. Culture Brats, 2011. http://www.culturebrats.com/2011/08/behind-sound-our-interview-with.html Because of this talent Brown moved to San Francisco in 1998 where, after getting settled, he attended Ex'pression College for Digital Arts. In 2004, during his final semester at Ex'pression, Brown was hired as an Intern at Different Fur. There he was given his first solo session, Gordon Gano from The Violent Femmes. 2006 marked a turning point for the studio because Brown helped bring in various bands through iTunes' Live Sessions.Putnam, Rob. Engineer Crosstalk: Patrick Brown. Music Connection. Issue 9. September 2011. In 2007 Brown purchased the studio from Jeremy Smith.Hansen, Nate. From Beats to beats, poetry to iPods . 944 Magazine, 2011 Most studios are not owned by engineers, but Brown purposefully wanted to create a studio that focused on this aspect of the recording process. As owner, he morphed the business model by bringing in more interns, because Brown believes it takes a community of passionately involved people to really create something worthwhile. Since Brown's purchase of the studio, he has been credited as an owner who has "modernized the studio without losing any of the building's pastoral charm".Perkins, Brandon. Welcome to the Flop House. San Francisco's Different Fur Recording creates the right atmosphere for creating. URB Magazine, April 1, 2009
Brown's work has been featured on Pitchfork,Sun Airway: Oh, Naoko. Tunnelvision. Pitchfork.tv. http://pitchfork.com/tv/tunnelvision/1348-sun-airway/2008-oh-naoko/B. Bravo & The Starship Connection: The Roll Out. Yours Truly. Pitchfork.tv. http://pitchfork.com/tv/yours-truly/1888-b-bravo-the-starship-connection/3091-the-roll-out/ Dam-Funk & Master Blaster: Songs From Scratch. Yours Truly. Pitchfork.tv. http://pitchfork.com/tv/yours-truly/1890-dam-funk-master-blaster/3093-songs-from-scratch/ Twin Sister: Stop. Yours Truly. Pitchfork.tv. http://pitchfork.com/tv/yours-truly/1879-twin-sister/3055-stop/ Of Montreal: Of Montreal – Dour Percentage. Yours Truly. Pitchfork.tv. http://pitchfork.com/tv/yours-truly/1900-of-montreal/3103-dour-percentage/ Lee Fields & The Expressions: Faithful Man. Yours Truly. Pitchfork.tv. http://pitchfork.com/tv/yours-truly/1898-lee-fields-the-expressions/3101-faithful-man/ Video: The Morning Benders: "Promises." News. Pitchfork. http://pitchfork.com/news/38492-video-the-morning-benders-promises/Video: The Morning Benders: "All Day Day Light." News. Pitchfork. http://pitchfork.com/news/39925-video-the-morning-benders-all-day-day-light/ Stereogum,Toro y Moi – "You Hid" Live Video. http://stereogum.com/367732/toro-y-moi-you-hid-live-video/video/New Morning Benders Video – "Boarded Doors." Stereogum. http://stereogum.com/9519/new_morning_benders_video_boarded_doors/video/ Urb,The Park – Belle. URB.COM. Fader, PrefixMag, Imposemagazine, Vice, Noisey, Spinner, Hybebeast, Spin.com, iTunes New & Noteworthy, iTunes Indie Spotlight, WorldStar HipHop, 2dopeboys,The Park – These Are The Days (video). 2dopeboyz. http://www.2dopeboyz.com/2012/02/06/the-park-these-are-the-days-video/ The Owl Mag,Trainwreck Riders. The Owl Mag. Live 105, "Chronicle" the movie, a Reese's Peanut Butter Cup commercial,Reese's Peanut Butter Cups TV Commercial Music. Adtunes. http://adtunes.com/forums/showthread.php?t=100931 The Bay Bridged,Video: B.Bravo and the Starship Connection perform "The Rollout": The Bay Bridged – San Francisco Bay Area Indie Music. http://www.thebaybridged.com/2012/02/14/video-b-bravo-and-the-starship-connection-perform-the-roll-out-in-a-session-with-theneighborhood-tv/ Video: Lilac – "Shame": The Bay Bridged – San Francisco Bay Area Indie Music. http://www.thebaybridged.com/2012/06/07/video-lilac-shame/ Zodiac Death Valley – "La Razon"/"The Room": The Bay Bridged – San Francisco Bay Area Indie Music. http://www.thebaybridged.com/2011/10/20/zodiac-death-valley-la-razon-the-room/ Video: Ash Reiter – "Heatwave": The Bay Bridged – San Francisco Bay Area Indie Music. http://www.thebaybridged.com/2011/12/12/video-ash-reiter-heatwave/ The Buttercream Gang – "Couch Games" October 30, 2012 Written by Jason Shane http://www.thebaybridged.com/2012/10/30/the-buttercream-gang-couch-games/ Song Premiere: Surf Club – "Reverie" http://www.thebaybridged.com/2012/10/23/song-premiere-surf-club-reverie/ TBB Song Premiere: Swiftumz – "Willy" / Chris McVicker talks video for "More Than Sleep" http://www.thebaybridged.com/2012/04/25/tbb-song-premiere-swiftumz-willy-chris-mcvicker-talks-video-for-more-than-sleep/ Impose Magazine,The Buttercream Gang, "Couch Games" http://www.imposemagazine.com/bytes/the-buttercream-gang-couch-games The Bold Italic,Mixtape Mondays: Woof Playboy,Morning Benders in PLAYBOY! – Rock The Rabbit. differentfurstudios.com Blog. and his work with The Morning Benders was voted iTunes Indie album of the year in 2008.The Morning Benders Bring Unique, Attractive Sounds on Big Echo – Yahoo! Voices – voices.yahoo.com http://voices.yahoo.com/the-morning-benders-bring-unique-attractive-sounds-5474595.html
Recording Technique As an engineer, Brown is constantly focused on the sound and vibe in the room. He pays attention to who is coming in and out, the reactions of people, and who needs coaxing in one direction or another. He views being an engineer as an art form in and of itself because he has to look at the sound being put to tape on different levels – the musician's, the consumer's, the technical side, and the sonic side – and balance all of these levels at the same time. According to Brown, "it's sort of like a balance between the performance itself and the actual sound, you know, you're deciding which is more important or how to get both. And they're completely different things."Weirdgirl. Behind the Sound: Our Interview with Different Fur’s Patrick Brown. Culture Brats, 2011. http://www.culturebrats.com/2011/08/behind-sound-our-interview-with.html
That being said, Brown feels he is an under-producer in that he wants to hear the emotion behind the artist and his/her songs first and foremost. "All in all, I'll do everything I can to make sure things sound the way you expect, and hopefully even better, so that when you leave you are proud of what we've accomplished."Chloe. Broke-Ass(ish) Interview: Pat Brown of Different Fur Studios (43rd Anniversary Party Friday @ Cafe Du Nord). Broke-Ass Stuart’s Goddamn Website. August 23, 2011. http://brokeassstuart.com/blog/2011/08/23/broke-assish-interview-pat-brown-of-different-fur-studios-43rd-anniversary-party-this-friday-cafe-du-nord/
Brown also focuses on trying to get bands to their next place. He constantly thinks about getting artists more attention for their music, which starts with the recording itself, but also includes getting fans out to their shows, telling people about the record, and finding new ways of getting records into the hands of fans.Johnston, Zane. Q&A: Patrick Brown, Different Fur Studios. Pulse: Clubs & Music Blog. SF Station. September 30, 2011. http://pulse.sfstation.com/2011/09/30/interview-patrick-brown-owner-operator-of-sf-recording-studio-different-fur/
Brown plans to keep the studio on the creative cutting-edge and in 2011 completed an upgrade accompanied by construction. He is also content to keep the studio focused on local bands and local labels, including Tricycle Records and Omega Records. However, this doesn't prevent the occasional big-name artist from stopping by. And while Brown will focus on getting out the sounds a band wants in their song, he is also going to make sure they're comfortable. Plus, if an artist does something funny, chances are he will tweet about it.Port, Ian S. Fresh Times for Mission Recording Studio Different Fur. SF Weekly Music. June 15, 2011. http://www.sfweekly.com/2011-06-15/music/different-fur-recording-studio-yours-truly-morning-benders-a-b-the-sea-patrick-brown/
Influences Growing up, Brown was a fan of artists he first heard through his Mom, including Paul Simon, Billy Joel, and Neil Young.. On the Record: Patrick Brown talks Paul Simon. Rhapsody TV. October 19, 2011. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BYfucKx3UIk He also listened to a lot of late 1980s and early 1990s pop like Technotronic, Lisa Lisa, MC Hammer, and a lot of Bobby Brown. In fact, Bobby Brown's Don't Be Cruel, which was recorded at Different Fur Studios, is an influential album for Patrick Brown.Producer’s Corner: Patrick Brown. Rhapsody TV. October 19, 2011. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s3MIGVwUYbc
Brown is a fan of very few engineers but is constantly evaluating other people's works and learning from them. Engineers that Brown finds influential include Russell Elevado, Tony Maserati, and Tom Dowd. However, he draws more inspiration from producers and musicians like Morris Day, Prince, D'angelo, Biggie, Funkadelic's album Maggot Brain, the first N.E.R.D. record, and the first Kenna record. Overall, Brown is influenced by those people and records that have challenged what has been established. This is what helps him grow the most as an engineer, producer, and studio owner; and it is the type of person Brown aims to be.
Discography
Albums
2006 Karpov – Soliloquy Transdub Massiv – Negril To Kingston City FM Fatale – Soft Life for Killers Vienna Teng – Dreaming Through The Noise
2007 The Most Holy Trinity – Rituals for Parting Chow Nasty – Super Electrical Recordings Gravy Train!!!! – All The Sweet Stuff
2008 Michael Franti & Spearhead – All Rebel Rockers The Morning Benders – Talking Through Tin Cans Alison Harris – Smoke rings in the sky Morley – Seen Big Light – Big Light
2009 Trainwreck Riders – The Perch So Many Wizards – Tree
2010 Flexx Bronco – Volume 2: Off the Record The Morning Benders – Big Echo Gomorran Social Aid Club – The Gomorran Social Aid and Pleasure Club
2010 (continued) The Gomorrans – Giving Birth To Love Victor Harris – Midnight at Malibu A B & The Sea – Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)
2011 NeaCombo Diffuzion – Round 2 Digital Attack (Mastering) Lowered (Mastering) Alessandra – So Nice Dylan Fox And The Wave – Tunnel Vision A B & The Sea – Run Run Run The Park – The Process... Zodiac Death Valley – Zodiac Death Valley Le Panique – Saturday Matinee Lilac – Lilac
2012 Sourpatch – Stagger and Fade A B & The Sea – Constant Vacation Lilac – Christine The Park featuring Darondo and Happy Mayfield – The Silvercloud Time Machine (7") Nate Mercereau – $1,000,000 Worth of Twang Buttercream Gang – Oh Brother Illusion of Self – Illusion of Self
EP's 2010 A B & The Sea – Boys and Girls 2011 The Park – These Are The Days 2011 The Cold Volts – People Noise 2011 Dylan Fox and The Wave - Tunnel Vision 2011 Bird Call – Other Creatures (co-engineered) 2011 A B & The Sea – Run Run Run! 2011 Ash Reiter – Heatwave 2011 Lilac – Lilac 2012 Starred – Prison to Prison
Live Session (iTunes exclusive) 2007 Black Lips. iTunes link 2007 Rodrigo y Gabriela. iTunes link 2007 Mew. iTunes link 2007 Jack Ingram. iTunes link 2007 Gomez. iTunes link 2008 OneRepublic. iTunes link 2008 Tristan Prettyman. iTunes link 2008 The Blakes. iTunes link 2008 Tegan and Sara. iTunes link 2008 Amos Lee. iTunes link.
Singles 2006 Hey Willpower – "P.D.A. (US Bonus Track)"