🎤 In an era where classic rock superstars are looking for fresh energy, 33-year-old producer Andrew Watt has quickly emerged as the genre’s new sonic architect. Having steered critically acclaimed albums for legends like Ozzy Osbourne and The Rolling Stones, Watt has become the go-to name for rock’s old guard. However, Watt recently revealed he was initially hesitant about taking on the “Prince of Darkness,” feeling his resume as a “pop producer” wasn’t suitable.
In a candid interview, Watt detailed his philosophy for working with icons and admitted to the internal struggle he faced when the call came from the Ozzy Osbourne camp.
From Pop to the Prince of Darkness
Watt’s ascent in the rock world is unconventional. Before hitting the studio with rock gods, he was best known for his work with massive pop acts like Justin Bieber and Avicii. This background was the source of his initial self-doubt when the chance to work with the former Black Sabbath frontman arose.
As Watt recalls, the connection to Ozzy Osbourne began during his successful collaboration with rapper and rock fan Post Malone. A casual night out at the legendary Rainbow on Sunset Boulevard sparked an idea. After Post Malone bought a picture of Ozzy right off the wall, Watt suggested, “We should do a song with Ozzy!”
This led to the 2019 collaboration “Take What You Want.” But when Ozzy invited Watt to produce his full 2020 LP, Ordinary Man, Watt paused.
“I was so honored, but I was a pop producer, so I wasn’t sure,” Watt admitted. It took the support of rock heavyweights Chad Smith (Red Hot Chili Peppers drummer) and Duff McKagan (Guns N’ Roses bassist), both of whom would contribute to the album, to convince him: “You’ve got to do it, and we’ll do it with you.”
The faith paid off. Ordinary Man proved to be a critical and commercial success, kickstarting a fruitful collaboration that continued with the acclaimed 2022 follow-up, Patient Number Nine.
The Philosophy of Producing Icons
Watt’s success with the greats—including Iggy Pop, Pearl Jam’s Eddie Vedder, and the aforementioned Ozzy Osbourne—rests on a surprisingly straightforward philosophy: respect and professionalism.
Working with legends like Mick Jagger, Keith Richards, Paul McCartney, and Elton John means working with artists who are fully capable of producing themselves. “None of them needs a producer – but they are choosing to hire a producer,” Watt noted.
His approach is to strictly compartmentalize his fanboy moments. “You lose your shit privately,” he says. In the studio, the focus is strictly on delivering the job he was hired to do.
This philosophy was key to the creation of The Rolling Stones’ Grammy-nominated album, Hackney Diamonds. Watt simply produced “from the front row,” thinking like the ultimate fan: “‘What do I want to hear?’ It’s gotta have energy, and it’s gotta evoke the things that people love about the band, and fit in with the hits.”
By bridging the gap between pop production polish and raw rock energy, Andrew Watt is not only making some of the biggest releases of the year possible but is also carving out his own remarkable legacy in the history of Rock Music.