Daniel Lanois Is More Than Just A Legendary Producer

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Daniel Lanois Marthe Amanda Vannebo/Courtesy of the artist hide caption

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Marthe Amanda Vannebo/Courtesy of the artist

Daniel Lanois

Marthe Amanda Vannebo/Courtesy of the artist

It's not every day you get to sit down with a musical genius. Daniel Lanois has worked on some of the most beloved albums of the last 40 years: Peter Gabriel's So; U2's The Joshua Tree and Achtung Baby; Bob Dylan's Time Out of Mind. Most producers would die happy to have touched the controls on just one of these records.

But Lanois is not just a producer. He's also an artist in his own right. His new album, Heavy Sun, focuses on his love of gospel music; during a time that's been filled with so much despair, it's the kind of album that can interject a little hope, a little light, into our lives.

When I connected with Lanois for this interview, he was in his Toronto studio, just out of sight, playing piano. It says a little bit about his tireless work ethic that he'd be sneaking in a chance to lay down another track. He'll share stories about the new album, and we'll look back on some classic albums he helped make.