Do It Together: Steve Albini

Filmed around February 2011 at Electrical Audio Studios in Chicago.

Do It Together is an independent project about DIY music based in Amsterdam, The Netherlads.

Steve Albini is an American musician, record producer, audio engineer, and music journalist. He was a member of Big Black, Rapeman, and Flour, and is a member of Shellac. He is the founder, owner and principal engineer of Electrical Audio, a recording studio complex in Chicago.

Find out more about Steve Albini at

This Interview was filmed for the DIT documentary, initially the concept was to create a compilation of interviews about DIY music around the world to explain how DIY works nowadays and to give an insight for younger musicians that could perhaps help them to choose their own road, this movie played in almost every possible venue that would be interested in having it and took many forms, depending on the requirements of the event or venue.

but the idea was to also upload all of the interviews in full, thereby giving the option for everyone to see all of the great ideas and stories. Finally after many years we can put some time into re-editing all of the interviews to upload them separately, I hope you like it.

Currently we're filming livestreaming concerts at the independent venue called OCCII in Amsterdam, and other music videos & political interviews with a new project called Bad Vibes.

Alek Riquelme / Interview, Directing & Editing
Shawnecee Schneider / Camera
Steve Albini / Audio Recording
Daan Duurland / Audio Restoration

[mypremiumpage]

Hello Otis. I am married to Steve Albini. Thank you for making such a thoughtful and informed tribute. It means more to me than you can imagine. You should; check out Robbie Fulks entire catalogue. In particular Let’s Kill Saturday Night, Couples In Trouble, Georgia Hard & his tribute to Michael Jackson. The song “God ISn’t Real” may be the reason he isn’t better known. Or “F**ck This Town” about Nashville. Also fun fact: Robbie taught Tina Fey guitar!

[thomashobson]

Thank God there are so many cut aways of Steve's shoes.

[Headwyres]

Rest in Peace, Steve. Your methods in recording those prolific albums will be remembered forever....

[gillihansmobilewelding]

I think it's really sweet that you let your kid run the camera.

[eliljehorn]

2 years later I doscover this....better late than never. Great perspectives.

[sonofslop]

Crazy how a 38-minute Albini interview has only 900 views. Great work.

[phnigra]

Rest in peace Steve Albini
So sad to see all of the legends leave this world
Respect 💙

[TheKentuckyNightmare]

Sound arguments, opinions, and predictions, reasoned from first principles. As true today as it all was 13 years ago. What a life he gave us. ❤

[keykiyox]

He says a right thing about govenment and subsidies and all. I dearly miss him, who was DIY person from beginning to end, yet being a respected expert of what he does.

[michaellynn]

He’s a smart dude, he rubs some people the wrong way but with him there’s no BS. This is how he thinks, this is how he operates and that’s that. We are lucky to live in the times we do but also unlucky, we are so lucky in our ability to access music, you pretty much get music from any artist or band whether it’s on Spotify, YouTube, or some other platform. You can be exposed to some band in another country who’s recorded a livestream, no album, no record label just their music, that is awesome. The negative is still mostly what non music people hear as ‘music’ is the stuff on radio, in movies, in ads and that’s still overwhelmingly commercial crap. It’s about as memorable and meaningful as your last dump, it’s a product usually associated with an image. It’s written, produced and recorded with the goal of selling, not creating something that means something, that’s created because someone wanted to express themselves, someone feels something tell a story or just fun. Where the creation is purely for the song, the music, not we will appeal to the lowest common denominator and look to sell tens of thousands. It’s like McDonald’s vs a top restaurant, one you get cheap, mass produced ‘food’ the other you’re getting something of quality, that’s for those that appreciate the food. I just want to see more independent bands and artists, who write their own music, who can do it live, real musicians. Don’t have to be talented, punk was not full of virtuosos but it was real, that’s the key, it’s real music whether it’s someone bashing out three chords or someone going Steve Vai, long as it’s real, made for the music, not as a product. A good song resonates with you, makes you feel something, it touches something inside you, sometimes you don’t know why but you hear it and you connect. Will those in the popular charts be remembered in 50yrs? I doubt it but every day a kid hears the Beatles or led zeppelin or buddy holly or black flag or muddy waters or Bach for the first time and it resonates with them, that’s what real music does. It’s almost timeless.

[davej]

I had a chance to meet and study with Steve. It was many years ago taking classes at a local - Chicago - trade school, Music Industry Workshop. I recall my impression that he was one of the 'nice guys' in the business. Smart, Knowledgeable, intelligent. I regret not spending more time and getting to know him more. DaveJ

[FOREGNBDY]

I've always appreciated Steve's materialist perspectives on the music industry and diy finances.

[arsenije_wav]

I love his harsh, brash and honest approach to anything in life. And I love that he thrives within the same crowd that is repulsed by him dropping the R word in this video.

[jereatsdrywall]

I don’t what it is about Albini but I could listen to him lecture about the menu at Waffle House and be mesmerized

[Chuck-Bob]

We turned down a quarter mil of Mercury/Polygram's money, in 1990, because they wanted us to change all our lyrics. I'd love to be making a living with my guitar, but I'd do it again. I agree, Mr. Albini.

[yrstrulymc]

these philosophies are so important for people to see. myself included. awesome they are so well documented

[devolucionario]

We need more people like Steve Albini, missing him already 🖤

[kooale]

Relatively uninformed fan here. This was a lovely production & conversation. Informative, occasionally hilarious, even teary – the bits about record storeS brings back so many fine memories of fantastic store clerks everywhere sharing with customers. Thanks bands, stores, clerks, musicians, Albini et al for all the great stuff. What’s life without it? Rest in peace brother. Kerosene!

[jeffriley]

What a compassionate, unexpectted sweet smart perspective

[KyleGushue]

Didn't know Steve wore anything but his mechanics coveralls in the studio.