Take Five with Jim Lawton

Jim Lawton is a songwriter and producer based in London, and a member of Electric Enemy. He's been at it for at least 15 years, the last six as a full-time songwriter and producer for other artists. Right now the band is on a European tour with a new single out, Beast Mode.

What does your working week actually look like right now?

A new song or project every day, that can be for an artist or a company or a production studio or a music supervisor. Because I'm self-employed it means I'm constantly working!

How do you find the people you work with?

Luckily at this point they actually find me, which is great, but otherwise I'll do the same as anyone else and send cold emails to people I really want to work with, or to studios or companies I'd like to create music for.

What's one thing about the music business you had to learn the hard way and what do you do now when you hit that wall?

I never used to look up and enjoy the current success that I have, which means you keep searching for the next hit rather than enjoying the hard work and the fruits of your labour. Basically, look up.

What does the work look like when it's going well?

When it's going well, there are too many contracts coming through for me to be able to read, which is why I'm so grateful to rely on my manager.

What are you trying to figure out right now?

Always trying to look for the next step up.

Electric Enemy are on a European tour, and Jim is working with major labels worldwide and on various TV and film projects.