Recording Studio Rockstars RSR438 - Dave Godowsky - From Songwriting to A&R for Rounder Records, iZotope, Native Instruments, and Plugin Alliance
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Jan 26, 2024 Dave Godowsky, veteran A&R/artist-relations pro and songwriter/producer, reflects on signing Nathaniel Rateliff, managing Clap Your Hands Say Yeah, and guiding Ween’s recovery and reunion. He shares island songwriting rituals, capturing first-take magic, working with mixers like Chris Shaw, and finding inspiration in Native Instruments and Kontakt.
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Chose Nathaniel Rateliff Over Mumford Based On Gut
- As Rounder A&R, Godowsky chose to sign Nathaniel Rateliff over Mumford & Sons based on songwriting quality and gut instinct.
- He later felt vindicated when Rateliff broke out after years of paying his dues and sleeping on Godowsky's couch.
Annual Island Songwriting Retreat Sparks Breakthroughs
- Dave Godowsky harvests songwriting “seeds” by saving voice memos and notes, then spends the first week of June on an off-grid island turning the best scraps into songs.
- The island retreat (grant-funded via Club Passim) is a yearly ritual for 12+ years where distance and routine consistently spark productive writing sessions.
Save Seeds Then Revisit To Find The Good Ones
- Store lots of small ideas and revisit them later rather than overcommitting to the first impulse.
- Use a focused block of time (Godowsky's island week) to sift voice memos and notebooks and decide which 'seeds' actually grow.