In the quote, Charlie Watts reflects on how his perception of the music he helped create changed upon hearing it through recording, mixing, and revisiting it after initial recordings. He acknowledges that despite his involvement in the creative process, he often found himself pleasantly surprised by the quality and sound of the tracks once they were fully produced and mastered.
The deeper meaning behind Watts' statement lies in the subjective nature of perception during live performances versus recorded music. When artists perform live, their experience is tied to the moment, and how the music sounds can be influenced by a multitude of factors such as the acoustics of the venue, the energy of the audience, or the emotional state of the musicians. However, once tracks are recorded and professionally mixed and mastered, they often achieve a clarity and depth that was not immediately apparent during live performances. This process highlights the importance of technical expertise in recording and production for enhancing the final product's quality. Watts’ reflection also touches on his role as more of a drummer and performer rather than a songwriter or producer, showing humility about his contributions beyond playing music.
Charlie Watts is best known as the longtime drummer for The Rolling Stones. His quote reflects not just his experience with his band but also insights into the recording process that are valuable to musicians and producers in understanding how recorded music can evolve significantly from its initial live performance state.
