Black-and-white half-face portrait of Jeff Kossack in glasses

Less is the new black.

Songwriting, production, recording, mixing and mastering with Jeff Kossack

I’m a songwriter and producer, and my tracking room, OtherHand Recording, remains a hub of creative activity. I help independent artists turn songs into records: sparse where it counts, with the vocal out front and room for every song to breathe.

Start your project See the studio and credits

Co-engineer and co-producer of Tall Men Group’s 2 Tall · “One More Day”: 2010 Hollywood Music in Media Award nominee · Four albums of my own

From the first line to the final master

Take one part or the whole journey, in the same room where I make my own records.

The OtherHand Recording control room: a mixing console and two monitors in low, warm light — The control room at OtherHand Recording.

Songwriting

Bring a verse, a hook or a voice memo. We sit down and write until it is a finished song with a shape you are proud of.
Production

Arrangements built around the song: vocals out front and only what the song needs. When a tune calls for more, I have a large and wonderful network of players to call on.
Recording

Vocals and instruments tracked in my own room, OtherHand Recording, with a dedicated vocal booth and a full control room.
Mixing

Mixes that give every part room to breathe, so the voice and the song carry the record.
Mastering

The final pass that makes a record sound finished on every speaker. If you’re making a record, don’t skimp on this part.

Sessions at OtherHand Recording

I co-engineered and co-produced the Tall Men Group record 2 Tall, tracked songs on Nolan Garrett’s Brick Lanes, and co-produced Jimmy “Muffin” Yessian’s CD.

I’ve also produced sessions for independent artists around L.A., including:

Keesha Scott-Hogan
Shani Shousterman
Chas Castell
Sophie Ilys
Candice Courtney
Marc Platt
Sierra West
Jean Mann

Start your project All studio credits

“If you’re making a record, do not skimp on this part.”

Jeff Kossack, on mastering

Jeff Kossack and the OtherHand, four musicians in black and white with the Hollywood sign behind them — Jeff Kossack and the OtherHand.

Songs must breathe to be truly great

Less is the New Black set a new direction for me and my studio band: smaller arrangements, vocals much more out front, and very, very sparse, in both the main recording and post-production. While making it, I found myself wishing I’d made this kind of record long ago.

That is the ear I bring to your songs. All the session work at my studio has pushed my production further, in concept and in execution.

Hear the records

Made with friends

I love unusual instrumentation, and I love making music with friends. The OtherHand is an ever-increasing circle of musicians, my “go-to” crew, changing from record to record to suit the size and scope of each project.

Nick Kirgo, Daniel Rhine and Ed Tree on Less is the New Black, with Alf Rodenas on mixing and Marc DeSisto on mastering.

Meet the OtherHand

The Tall Men Group

I wouldn’t have reached this level of work, behind the microphone or behind the desk, without the Tall Men Group, the songwriter-band brainchild of my good friend Jimmy Yessian. I gotta hand it to Jimmy for giving me good reason to sit down and write with regularity. As Malcolm Gladwell says, repetition breeds proficiency.

I also keep working with my longtime friend Terry “T. Smidi” Smith, whose studio counsel only adds to the production values of my music.