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| Tom Elmhirst | |
|---|---|
| Name | Tom Elmhirst |
| Occupation | Mixing engineer, Record producer, Sound engineer |
| Years active | 1996–present |
| Notable works | "21" (Adele), "Blackstar" (David Bowie), "In Rainbows" (Radiohead) |
| Awards | Multiple Grammy Awards |
Tom Elmhirst is a British mixing engineer and record producer known for his work on high-profile albums across pop, rock, soul, jazz, and electronic music. He has mixed recordings for major artists and contributed to projects that have won Grammy Awards, Brit Awards, and critical acclaim from publications and institutions in the music industry. Elmhirst's career spans collaborations with artists, producers, labels, studios, and engineers across London, New York, and Los Angeles.
Born and raised near London in the United Kingdom, Elmhirst developed an early interest in audio technology and popular music influenced by The Beatles, David Bowie, The Rolling Stones, and Led Zeppelin. He attended technical and vocational programs before securing entry-level roles at studios associated with EMI, Island Records, and independent studios in Ladbroke Grove. Early mentors included engineers and producers connected to Abbey Road Studios, AIR Studios, Olympic Studios, and the London session scene that involved figures like George Martin and Glyn Johns.
Elmhirst began his professional career in the late 1990s working as an assistant and engineer on sessions for artists signed to labels such as Virgin Records, Polydor Records, Columbia Records, and Sony Music. He transitioned to mixing and production, collaborating with producers from the Britpop and Trip hop movements, as well as contemporary pop and R&B figures associated with XL Recordings, RCA Records, and Island Records. His work has placed him in studios and mixing suites alongside professionals from Metropolis Studios, Electric Lady Studios, Electric Garden, and the American studios frequented by artists from Motown-influenced lineages.
Elmhirst's credits include mixes and production work for artists such as Adele, David Bowie, Amy Winehouse, Arcade Fire, Queens of the Stone Age, Bruno Mars, Lady Gaga, Beck, Arctic Monkeys, Sam Smith, Florence and the Machine, Radiohead, Rufus Wainwright, Nick Cave, Sia, Lana Del Rey, U2, Coldplay, Kendrick Lamar, Beyoncé, Rihanna, Paul McCartney, The Killers, Santana, Mark Ronson, St. Vincent, Kacey Musgraves, Lorde, Dua Lipa, The Weeknd, Drake, Taylor Swift, John Legend, Ellie Goulding, Ellie Rowsell, Hozier, Metallica, Bon Iver, Sharon Jones, Charles Mingus, Herbie Hancock, Nina Simone, Prince, Stevie Wonder, James Blake, PJ Harvey, The National, PJ Morton, Solange Knowles, Jessie Ware, Mavis Staples, Anderson .Paak, Tame Impala, Kylie Minogue, Sia Furler, Imogen Heap, M83, Deadmau5, Daft Punk, The xx, Sting, Elton John, George Michael, PJ Harvey (duplicate credits reflect repeated collaborations). He has mixed records that include landmark albums such as Adele's "21", David Bowie's "Blackstar", and albums associated with XL Recordings and Columbia Records releases.
Elmhirst is known for a mixing approach that balances vocal prominence, dynamic range, and spatial depth, working with analog consoles and digital audio workstations like Pro Tools alongside outboard gear from manufacturers tied to studios such as Neve, SSL, and API. His techniques include careful use of equalization, compression, reverb, and parallel processing informed by practices developed in studios linked to engineers like Alan Parsons, Chris Lord-Alge, Tom Dowd, and Bob Clearmountain. He often collaborates with mastering engineers who have worked at facilities such as Masterdisk, Abbey Road Studios mastering suites, and with professionals like Bob Ludwig and Emily Lazar to finalize releases.
Elmhirst has received multiple Grammy Award nominations and wins, contributing to albums honored at the Grammy Awards ceremonies, as well as recognition from the Brit Awards, Mercury Prize, and critics from outlets associated with Rolling Stone, Pitchfork, NME, The Guardian, and The New York Times. Projects he mixed have achieved Platinum certification and chart success on the Billboard 200 and the UK Albums Chart, earning awards tied to RIAA and BPI certifications and inclusion on year-end lists by institutions like the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame’s affiliated publications.
Elmhirst divides his time between major music production centers, maintaining residences and work ties in London and New York City, and frequently traveling to studios in Los Angeles, Nashville, and Paris. He is private about family life but is known within professional circles that include mixing engineers, producers, session musicians, and label executives from Universal Music Group, Warner Music Group, and independent labels. His professional network spans collaborators associated with artist management firms, publishing houses, and live music promoters such as Live Nation and AEG Presents.
Category:British audio engineers Category:Record producers