John Congleton

John Congleton
Born1976 or 1977 (age 48–49)[1]
OriginDallas, Texas[1]
Occupations
  • Record producer
  • engineer
  • mixer
  • writer
  • programmer
Instruments
  • Vocals
  • guitar
Years active1998–present

John Congleton is an American record producer, engineer, mixer, writer and musician. Known for producing albums by St. Vincent, Angel Olsen, The Mountain Goats, and more.

In addition to his production work, Congleton has fronted the alternative rock band the Paper Chase, and writes music for a newer project titled the Nighty Nite.

Early life

As a teenager, in Texas, Congleton played in a local punk rock band called Curvejob. Their first time recording, when he was 15, is the moment he cites as making him realize what he wanted to do with his life and that within two years he was already recording bands.[1]

Career

He interned in various studios around Dallas, Texas and while studying jazz composition at the University Of North Texas he got a job at the recording studio at the college. After two years of the course he dropped out and moved to Chicago, where he met Steve Albini and began working at Electrical Audio.[1] After a stint there he returned to Texas and got a job as a staff engineer at Irving's Dallas Sound Lab, then the biggest recording studio in the state. While there he worked with Chris Godbey and assisted Tim Kimsey. At the age of 22 he left that role and became a freelance engineer.[1] Two significant early albums in his career as a producer/engineer are To Everybody (2002) by eclectic Chicago band 90 Day Men, and The Earth Is Not A Cold Dead Place (2003) by instrumental post‑rock group Explosions In The Sky.[1]

While in the early years of working freelance, Congleton started a studio with Godbey in the house in Dallas where they both lived.[1] After moving out, Congleton put his collection of recording gear into storage until 2007 when he helped found Elmwood Recording with Stuart Sikes. The pair ran it together,[2] until Sikes moved away from the area. Congleton told Sound on Sound in 2014, "He had a building but he didn't have any gear, so I moved my gear in and we started a studio. Stuart decided to move to Austin a few years ago and that's when I took it over. It just made sense."[1]

In 2011 twenty different records that Congleton had a credit on were released. Including producing and mixing Clap Your Hands Say Yeah's Hysterical and The Mountain Goats' All Eternals Deck, producing St. Vincent's Strange Mercy, and engineering The War on Drugs' Slave Ambient and Bill Callahan's Apocalypse.[2]

Congleton was awarded a Grammy as producer of St. Vincent's 2014 album St. Vincent at the 57th Grammy Awards.[3]

He now works out of a Silver Lake, Los Angeles studio named Animal Rites.[4]

Band member and musician

Musically, Congleton is best known for being a founding member of the band the Paper Chase,[1] an alternative rock band formed in Dallas, Texas in 1998. They released music on Kill Rock Stars and Southern Records.[5] Congleton produced all the band's material to date. He also wrote nearly all of the material, with a few exceptions.[1]

Since the dissolution of the Paper Chase in 2010 he formed the Nighty Nite, who released a four-song EP, Dimples, in 2011.[6]

In January 2016 it was announced that Congleton and the Nighty Nite would be releasing a full-length studio album, Until the Horror Goes, on April 1 of that year.[7]

Selected production work

Congleton has worked with the following musicians and groups.[8][9]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j Frost, Matt (June 2014). "John Congleton: Engineer & Producer". Sound on Sound.
  2. ^ a b Katzif, Mike (December 23, 2011). "John Congleton: Meet Indie Rock's Unsung Hero Of 2011". NPR. Retrieved February 16, 2026.
  3. ^ "John Congleton". Grammy Awards. Retrieved February 17, 2026.
  4. ^ Pilley, Max (September 24, 2024). "In The Studio: The Murder Capital". Retrieved February 17, 2026.
  5. ^ DaRonco, Mike. "The Paper Chase Biography". AllMusic. Retrieved February 16, 2026.
  6. ^ Monger, James Christopher. "John Congleton Biography". AllMusic. Retrieved February 16, 2026.
  7. ^ Minsker, Evan (January 25, 2016). "Producer John Congleton (St. Vincent, Swans, Explosions in the Sky) Announces Solo Album". Pitchfork. Retrieved February 16, 2026.
  8. ^ Monger, James Christopher. "John Congleton | Credits". AllMusic. Retrieved February 18, 2021.
  9. ^ "John Congleton". Discogs. Retrieved 2025-03-20.
  10. ^ "Instagram".
  11. ^ Enos, Morgan (March 26, 2024). "On 'Notebook Fantasy,' Chicano Batman Open Up Their Psychedelic Soul: "We Always Know We're Going To Have That 'It' Factor"". Grammy.com. Retrieved February 16, 2026.
  12. ^ "Floodlights Drop New Single & Sign with PIAS".
  13. ^ Gard’ner, Daniel (Aug 26, 2024). "illuminati hotties – POWER – Hopeless". Under The Radar. Retrieved February 16, 2026.
  14. ^ "Mannequin Pussy: I Got Heaven". Pitchfork.
  15. ^ ""In the studio, everyone is a sad, tragic animal that has no idea what they're doing - no matter how successful they are": Mogwai producer John Congleton". 4 February 2025.
  16. ^ "PUP Announce New Album, Share Video for New Song "Hallways"". Pitchfork. 12 February 2025.
  17. ^ "Sarah Kinsley discusses handing over the productions reigns". 9 September 2024.
  18. ^ "Hold/Still, by Suuns".
  19. ^ "The Wombats Announce New Album 'Oh! The Ocean' | News". 15 October 2024.
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