Ben Rice is a Brooklyn-based producer and mixer helping artists shape a sound that feels true to them, building records around strong songs and committed performances.
Ben Rice is a music producer, mixer, multi-instrumentalist, and songwriter known for cultivating a supportive environment in which artists can authentically express their creative visions.
Born and raised in Brooklyn, Rice developed his musical sensibilities amidst the vibrant and diverse soundscape of New York City. Growing up, he was influenced by rock & roll, country, and soul, as well as Brit-pop and shoegaze bands. During the early 2000s, Rice played in several bands that were part of the New York indie rock revival, landing a record deal with Lizard King/WMG.
His experience playing in bands led to working with and being mentored by producers Eddie Kramer (Jimi Hendrix, Led Zeppelin), Gus Van Go (The Beaches, Metric), and later, Youth (Paul McCartney, The Verve). Fascinated by the record-making process, Rice began producing his friends and local musicians in a DIY studio in his family's basement, which grew to host sessions with artists ranging from The Mooney Suzuki to Lenny Kaye. In 2012, he opened Degraw Sound, a recording studio in Gowanus, Brooklyn, which is his home base for working with artists.
Speaking to Relix about their work there together on her most recent album, Nobody Owns You, Joan Osborne described Rice’s style: “He has a very calm and thorough approach to what he does, whether that’s writing, producing, getting an overdub on a track or whatever it is. He’s very centered and calm – you get this feeling that no one’s in a rush and we’re going to take as much time as we need to do this.”
Rice also received praise for his work on “Colors,” from Valerie June’s album The Moon and Stars: Prescriptions for Dreamers. The album reached #1 on the Americana Chart and earned an Americana Award nomination for Album of the Year, with Rice himself receiving a nomination for Producer of the Year. His production style has been described as “Americana through a Brooklyn filter” by Brooklyn Magazine, and Rolling Stone lauded "Colors" for its “innovative blend of banjo, strings, and pop drum loops.”
Always excited to collaborate with up-and-coming artists, he was among the first to hear the potential in The Skins, producing and mixing their first EP – a project that set them on the path to being signed by Rick Rubin. Other notable collaborations include co-producing and mixing The National's version of “Im Glück” for the 50th anniversary of NEU!'s debut album, and producing and mixing The Candles’ album Matter + Spirit, which features Norah Jones on the duet “Move Along”. He has mixed for James Bay, Wyatt Flores, Rachel Platten, Jim Sclavunos (Nick Cave and The Bad Seeds), and Nicole Atkins.
Comfortable collaborating with both new and well-established artists, Rice recently worked with Northern Soul legends The Flirtations, producing, co-writing, and mixing their comeback album Still Sounds Like The Flirtations. After falling in love with their 1969 hit, “Nothing But A Heartache,” Rice sought out the group and helmed the project, which features the Dap King Horns and the song “Memories,” co-written with Stevie Wonder.
In addition to his work as a producer, mixer, and songwriter, Rice has collaborated with pop producers seeking organic sounds for their recordings. He has played guitar on tracks for artists like Meghan Trainor, Ben Platt and the Jonas Brothers, including their Billboard #1 hit “Like It’s Christmas.” As a performer, Rice has toured internationally, opening for Arctic Monkeys, Band of Skulls, The Bravery, Brendan Benson, Steel Train, and Killing Joke.
With extensive experience both in the studio and on the stage, Rice’s work embodies a deep commitment to the music-making process and he is dedicated to helping artists make space for their creativity.
Reddmond Perone – "Tell Me" (P, M, E, MI)
The Wholesome Boys – "Desert Diamonds" (P, M, E) Spotify: Fresh Finds Rock
Kevin Oh – “my girl" (P, M, E, MI)
Greta Keating – "Never My Friend" (P, M, E)
The National/NEU – "Im Glück (Remix)" (P, M, E)
Valerie June – "Colors" (P, E) Album of the Year Nominee, Americana Awards • Producer of the Year, Americana Awards
Wyatt Flores – “Half The Man” (M)
Joan Osborne – "I Should’ve Danced More" (P, M, E, W, G, MI)
The Candles feat. Norah Jones – "Move Along" (P, M, E)
The Flirtations – "Memories" (P, M, E, W, MI) Co-written by Stevie Wonder
Rachel Platten – "Bad Thoughts" (M)
Alesso, Marshmello, James Bay – "Chasing Stars" (M)
Jim Sclavunos & Nicole Atkins – "Strange Weather" (M, E)
Forever Honey – "Twenty-Five" (P, M, E) Spotify: Fresh Finds
GRITS. – "Darlin'" (P, M, E, W)
John David Kent – "Let It Shine" (P, M, E, G)
JC Holt – "Stupider" (P, M, E)
Monograms – "Backwards" (P, M, E)
Queue – "Float Away" (P, M, E) Spotify: Fresh Finds
Olya Sonica – "You Only Live Forever" (P, M, E, W, G)
Ben Rice – "One and Only" (P, M, E, W, G, MI)
Ben Rice – "Autumn Days" (P, M, E, W, G, MI)
P – Producer | M – Mixer | E – Engineer | W – Writer | G – Guitar | MI – Multi-Instrumentalist
Valerie June
The Moon and Stars: Prescriptions for Dreamers
Producer / Engineer
Concord / Fantasy
Americana Awards Album of the Year Nominee
The National / NEU!
NEU! 50! “Im Glück” Remix
Producer / Engineer / Mixer
Groenland Records
Wyatt Flores
Scared of Heights “Half The Man”
Mixer
Island Records
Joan Osborne
Nobody Owns You
Producer / Engineer / Mixer / Songwriter
Womanly Hips Records
Kevin Oh
my girl
Producer / Engineer / Mixer
CAM
The Candles feat. Norah Jones
Matter + Spirit “Move Along”
Producer / Engineer / Mixer
The End Records
Alesso x Marshmello x James Bay
Chasing Stars (Stripped)
Mixer
Astralwerks
Jim Sclavunos & Nicole Atkins
Strange Weather
Engineer / Mixer
Reddmond Perone
Watching From Behind
Producer / Engineer / Mixer
Forever Honey
Pre Mortem High
Producer / Engineer / Mixer
Greta Keating
Labor For Damaged Men
Producer / Engineer / Mixer
Katie Henry
On My Way
Producer / Engineer / Mixer
Ruf Records
Billboard Blues Top 10
The Wholesome Boys
Self-Titled
Producer / Engineer / Mixer / Songwriter
John David Kent
Patina
Producer / Engineer / Mixer
Blackland Records
Monograms
Living Wire
Producer / Engineer / Mixer
PaperCup Music
GRITS.
Darlin’
Producer / Engineer / Mixer / Songwriter
The Skins
Self-Titled
Producer / Engineer / Mixer
Queue
Float Away
Producer / Engineer / Mixer
The Flirtations
Still Sounds Like The Flirtations
Producer / Engineer / Mixer / Songwriter
Reno Bo
Happenings And Other Things
Producer / Engineer
Degraw Sound is a recording studio in Gowanus, Brooklyn, designed and built by producer and mixer Ben Rice as his home base for making records. It allows full bands to play together live in the room and gives solo artists space to track their projects.
Filled with instruments and analog gear from the 1940s to today, the studio reflects Rice’s approach, blending vintage and modern techniques in service of strong songs and committed performances.
