staff profile
Finn Eiles
Staff Profile: Finn Eiles
Today we snuggle up to one Finn Eiles, fast-rising engineer de rigeur to indie types everywhere. Which is his favourite gatefold sleeve, I hear you ask? And just how does he feel about fried food? What about his musings on wardrobe-accessed fantasy worlds? Is there, in fact, any subject matter of significance that isn't covered in this month's profile? Read on and discover...
MILC: What do you do here at Miloco?
FINN: Engineer
MILC: How long have you been at Miloco (and how did you get started in the music business)?
FINN: Been here 5 years now. I started hanging around a couple of friends studios, just basically being curious about studios and I then landed a place on an intro engineering course and one thing led to another...
MILC: What do you think Miloco can offer over other studios?
FINN: It can offer rooms to cater to all parts of the recording process, from mixing to tracking to overdubbing to programming etc.
MILC: You've worked with a whole host of artists, from Test-Icicles to The Pogues, as well as the Mystery Jets, Matt Johnson and Alabama 3, to name but a few...of which are you most proud?
FINN: In their own different way I am proud of them all. On anything you work on there is always something to be proud of.
MILC: Which artist and/or producer would you most like to work with in the future?
FINN: George Clinton probably to see if he is bonkers and also to find out how much fried chicken he really eats.
MILC: Staff knob of the month. Of all the switches, buttons, effects and tools at your disposal during recent Miloco sessions, which single one has given you most satisfaction?
FINN: The mute button. Always.
MILC: Do you ever write/record your own material?
FINN: Just the odd symphony when I have the time.
MILC: Where do you see yourself in 10 years time?
FINN: In a daylit studio working four-hour days.
MILC: You spend a lot of time down at The Garden. Have you had chance to try it out since it took delivery of its new monitors? If so, do you like how it's sounding?
FINN: They are a great improvement on the previous monsters, I mean monitors, and they will also improve the whole sound of the room in general.
MILC: What new act/album would you recommend we keep our ears peeled for this year?
FINN: I hope the Mystery Jets the get the attention they deserve.
MILC: What was your favourite album when you were:
a) 5-12 yrs old?
b) 13-16?
c) 17-25
FINN:
a) Prince - Around The World In A Day
b) Thin Lizzy - Live and Dangerous
c) The Parliaments - Testifyin'
MILC: If you could have been involved in the recording of any one album, which one would it have been?
FINN: I know it's not a studio album but the Who Live at Leeds is one recording I would have loved to have attended.
MILC: What is your favourite album cover and why?
FINN: Has to be Boney M's Ocean of Fantasy. It opens out to the most over the top 4 way gatefold cover. Priceless. (Picture supplied).
MILC: Which other producer/engineer's work has influenced you most over the last 12 months?
FINN: No one person in particular. Everyone you work with gives you something to remember or learn and sometimes they are pearls of wisdom.
MILC: What's the last film you saw at the cinema (was it any good)?
FINN: That Narnia ting. Not especially good.
MILC: What's your favourite kitchen utensil and why?
FINN: Definitely a frying pan. I can't think of any piece of food that cannot be happily fried.
MILC: What's the last book you read/what are reading now?
FINN: Just finished Down and Out In Paris and London by Mr Orwell. Have also been struggling with War and Peace for about 3 months now!
MILC: What was your most recent holiday destination and what did you do there?
FINN: 'Holiday'? I don't understand.
MILC: What are you doing next weekend?
FINN: Going on holiday.
MILC: Who would win a fight between... Micky Mouse and Jerry (of 'Tom and...' fame)? And why?
FINN: I don't think they would fight. I suspect they would create some sinister cartoon mouse pact and make an attempt at conquering the non-cartoon world with the help of Roger Rabbit and Bob Hoskins.
[Result: both go forward to the next round]
MILC: Which is the best gig you've ever been to?
FINN: Super Furry Animals at Glastonbury a few years back.
MILC: What's the worst behaviour you've ever witnessed in a studio?
FINN: Not sure about the worst but I remember one of the most stupidest. A guitarist decided to create some 'crazy feedback' by throwing his guitar on the floor and then jumping on it - repeatedly. May have seemed like a good idea until he broke most of the strings and damaged the neck of the only guitar we had rendering the rest of our session useless.
MILC: What's the longest studio time you've ever spent on an, ultimately pointless, task?
FINN: I remember assisting on a session where a track had been recorded and overdubbed - a day's work - only for the singer to turn up and decide that he wanted to drop the key. Genius.
Finn Eiles was talking to Milc in January 2006
© Milc@Miloco 2006
You can view Finn's full CV (including sample audio files) here: Finn Eiles