Today we’d like to introduce you to Eric Michael Lichter
Hi Eric Michael, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I started Dirt Floor Recording & Production in earnest in the spring of 2006, after several failed attempts at recording in larger professional facilities. With no training or prior knowledge of whatever “rules” there were, I taught myself how to play several different instruments, thus becoming, by accident, a multi instrumentalist and “producer”. It did take years to realize that what I was indeed doing was producing, although the term is not one which was self anointed. I began to get producer credits on a lot of the records after a few years of hard work. Anyway, the “producer” title has since stuck, and has been well earned! What sets Dirt Floor apart from most studios is that I also produce and play on lots of the records made here, and these records go off into the world, bringing more attention to what I do. Of course at this point I no longer have to do it alone, and have an incredible team by my side. We can do any style of music, working with solo artists and bands from all over the world!
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
It has been a pretty smooth road, though It took a lot of patience because so much of this has been gradual. There were always signs that let me know what I was doing was worth it, and to keep on pushing. Some of the struggles early on were really mostly financial, and finding my worth, and not being afraid to assert that to prospective clients. As my reputation grew, I got more comfortable with it. There were a few moments of self doubt, but those moments never lasted for very long. I had done several interviews in several well respected recording publications, which helped give me some traction. In 2013 Dirt Floor was featured in issue #92 of Tape Op magazine (“Eric M Lichter, Dirt Floor Family Man”) and that really helped solidify, in my mind, that this was my calling, and really gave me the confidence to stay on this path.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
Most of my life I had pursued being a “Singer/Songwriter”. I had always leaned more towards the guitar, and would still consider myself a guitarist and singer. My influences are mostly of the Laurel Canyon/70’s LA variety, which I’ve leaned heavily into as a multi instrumentalist too. I had several opportunities in my late 20’s that could have been very promising, but that’s a story I’ve told so many times, haha. Truth be told, I wasn’t really cut out for that kind of life, and don’t think I could really handle that sort of attention. I suppose I preferred being behind the artists, helping them create, finding I really get so so much satisfaction that way. There’s a special kind of narcissist that demands the spotlight, and, although I do have to use social media to put myself out there, I don’t enjoy that stuff, and find it cringey. What sets me apart from others is what I do and how I do it. Just days ago I was with my great friend, and Dirt Floor engineer G Falivene, and we had just wrapped our first day with a new artist. We had literally just built up a full song, from top to bottom, with all the bells and whistles. I mean, the artists was BEAMING, and so were we. G looked over at me and said, ” you know, nobody does what we do, the way we do it”, and he’s right. We do this EVERY day, and turn ideas into completed, fully realized musical pieces. Within 7 hours, for the most part, we will take a seed of a song idea, and bring it to life. I LOVE that more than anything!
Alright, so to wrap up, is there anything else you’d like to share with us?
As a matter of fact, yes! I try to never miss an opportunity to mention my daughter Inara Mae, who really is the reason I do all of this. She’s the reason I’ve chased this dream, and the reason I’ve held so tightly to it for all of these years. When she was a little girl I made the choice to follow this, not just for me, but for her. I wanted to show her that dreams can come true with hard work and perseverance. I know that’s kind of cliche, but I’m sitting here now telling you, the shit is true! I want her, and anyone out there with a dream, to work towards it, and don’t be intimidated by whatever “rules” you think you need to adhere too, because that’s all just nonsense! Do it!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.dirtfloorrecordingstudio.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dirt_floor_record_production/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/dirtfloorstudio/?ref=page_internal
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC3W4lKz3FTQ57EZAGVQLLPQ
