Brian Howes
Songwriter, producer, multi-instrumentalist, A&R professional and studio owner – the Vancouver-based Brian Howes has evolved over the last decade into one of contemporary music’s most prolific songwriters/producers, as his name pops up repeatedly as a writer and/or producer on massive hits by Hinder, Daughtry, David Cook, Puddle of Mudd, Boys Like Girls, Simple Plan, and Hedley, among others.
“I’m comfortable wearing a ton of different hats,” explains Howes, who was born in Los Angeles in the mid-1970s and relocated to Canada’s west coast as a youngster. “I’ve had record deals with two of my own bands (Closure and DDT), tasted a little success and made all the mistakes. But I learned awhile back that I love working with other bands and helping steer them clear of the potholes. Rather than being out in the trenches locked in one situation and one genre, it’s incredibly satisfying to be involved in the big picture as a writer, producer and collaborator.” Acing his long-time role models Bob Rock and David Foster for Producer of the Year honours at Canada’s 2007 Juno Awards, a second nomination in the category at the 2011 awards, and helming Skillet’s Grammy nominated Comatose album is evidence he’s on the right track.
These days Howes is focused on two main fronts: Producing records at Van Howes Studios, a top-tier recording studio in downtown Vancouver that he opened in 2007 with his creative wingman, recording engineer/mixer JVP (aka Jay Van Poederooyen); and expanding his songwriting efforts in partnership with EMI Music Publishing.
Howes’ first bid to develop a band from the get-go proved he had the knack. The members of Hinder were fans of his former band Closure and arrived on Howes’ doorstep seeking guidance, and strong co-writing and production expertise. “They were exactly the kind of band I believe in: Great songs and great live performers with a star singer, an incredible work ethic and real belief in themselves,” he says. “We totally connected to the point where I was almost a sixth member.” The product of their efforts was Extreme Behavior, which sold four million units for Universal Republic and spun off the major hits “Get Stoned” and the international number one “Lips of an Angel” – both Howes co-writes. “Lips Of An Angel” and “Better Than Me” off of Extreme Behavior were recognized as BMI Pop Award Winning Songs in 2008. Two additional awards for BMI Song of The Year and Top Digital Song were also awarded to “Lips Of An Angel”, a huge achievement for Howes.
The success of Hinder spawned a series of high profile production/co-write gigs. Howes’ collaboration with American Idol finalist Chris Daughtry generated the heavy-rotation singles “Over You” and “What I Want” and Hedley’s Universal debut, which Howes produced and co-wrote, generated three number one hits in Canada. Among other notable credits, Howes also co-wrote American Idol winner David Cook’s single “Light On” with Soundgarden’s Chris Cornell. The song went to Certified Platinum and was another BMI Pop Award winner.
2008 proved to be another monumental year for Howes. In the spring, the industry veteran holed up in Van Howes Studios with Hinder to write and record the hotly anticipated follow-up to the Oklahoma band’s debut, Extreme Behavior. The album (entitled Take it to the Limit) has since been certified Gold. June marked the launch of Van Howes Records (a joint venture imprint with Interscope’s Jimmy Iovine) with Light It Up, the sophomore release from the heavily hyped, New York alt-rockers, Rev Theory, which Howes co-wrote and produced at his studio. On the heels of these triumphs, Howes spent 2009 diversifying his songwriting and producing skills with more pop-orientated acts like Boys Like Girls and BC Jean, as well as taking extensive writing trips to London and Nashville to further expand his trade into the global market. Howes also enjoyed further success at 2009’s BMI Pop Awards with three more awards for collaborations with Chris Daughtry and Grammy nominee Skillet to add to his collection.
The following two years brought many further successes for Howes including the release of the Boys Like Girls hits “2 is Better Than 1” featuring Taylor Swift, and “Love Drunk” from the band’s self-titled RCA album, both top 10 radio singles in the US. As well, Daughtry’s sophomore effort, Leave This Town, featuring the Howes co-writes “Ghost Of Me” and “What I Meant To Say”, and the highly-anticipated follow up to Puddle of Mudd’s multiple number one hit rock album, Famous, including the top 5 radio hit “Stoned”, which Howes produced and co-wrote. Lastly, Hedley’s hit singles, “Cha-Ching” ,“Don’t Talk to Strangers” (Howes co-writes), and “Perfect” from the group’s third record, The Show Must Go, were wildly successful top 10 Platinum selling singles. “Perfect” gained the most airplay of any domestic artist in 2010 on the Canadian airwaves. In November 2010, Howes was honored with the prestigious SOCAN International Achievement Award, which the year prior was awarded to Rush.
Howes recently put the finishing touches on Simple Plan’s forthcoming release for Atlantic Records, and has been focusing his efforts on songwriting, including co-writing the title track from X Factor winner Joe McElderry’s release, and aligning himself with other high caliber writers in the US and beyond.