Peter Katis

American musician and producer

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Peter Katis

Katis in 2016

Background information
Born| April 1966 (age 58)
New York City, United States
Genres| Alternative rock, indie rock
Occupation(s)| Record producer, audio engineer, mixer, musician
Years active| 1990–present
Formerly of| The Philistines Jr.
Website| Tarquin Studios

Musical artist

Peter Katis is an American Grammy Award-winning record producer, audio engineer, mixer, and musician.

Katis is best known for working with alternative and indie rock bands. He works primarily out of his own residential studio, Tarquin Studios, in Bridgeport, Connecticut.

## Personal life

[edit]

Peter Katis was born in New York City in April 1966. He is the eldest son of Dr. Lauma Katis and Dr. James Katis, both psychiatrists. His brothers are Tom and Tarquin.

Katis attended New Canaan Country School and Greenwich High School, both in Connecticut. He graduated from the University of Vermont having majored in Visual Arts and minored in English. He also attended and then taught studio production classes at SUNY Purchase in New York.

Katis lives in Fairfield, Connecticut, with his wife, Ann Risen Katis, and their son, Will.

## Music career

[edit]

Peter Katis's music career began in the late 1980s with The Philistines Jr., an experimental pop band composed of Katis (vocals, guitar, keyboards), his brother Tarquin Katis (vocals, bass), and their friend Adam Pierce (drums). The band's first gig was an opening spot for Phish in front of a sparse crowd on the campus of the University of Vermont.[1]

The Philistines Jr.'s early albums - Greenwich, CT (1991) and The Continuing Struggle of The Philistines Jr. (1993)—received critical acclaim and charted on college radio stations across North America. The band also received frequent airplay from John Peel on his BBC Radio 1 program. Upon hearing their first album, Peel telephoned the band "just to say how much he liked the record" and invited them to record a Peel Session in London. The band completed three Peel Sessions and concurrent UK tours.[2]

Subsequent albums by The Philistines Jr. include The Sinking of the S.S. Danehower (1996), Analog vs. Digital -or- We Don't Get The Respect We Deserve in Today's Scientific Community (2000), If A Band Plays in the Woods...? (2010), If a Lot of Bands Play in the Woods...? (2011), and "Help!" (2019).

Over time, Katis has also participated in a number of musical side projects, including The Zambonis, The Happiest Guys in the World, The Pants, and James Kochalka Superstar.

## Music production career

[edit]

While recording songs for his own band in an ad-hoc studio set up in his parents' basement, Katis realized he had an affinity for production. "My favorite part of being a musician was producing a record," said Katis.[3]

In 1989 he began taking continuing education classes at SUNY Purchase in studio production, which further developed his recording skills. Katis then worked as an intern, an assistant, and then as an engineer in various recording studios in New York City. As his career progressed, Katis began being asked by his friends in other bands—including Mommyheads, Oneida, Guster, and Mercury Rev—to help record their albums.

By 1998, Katis's demand as a producer, audio engineer, and mixer had grown to the point where he needed a dedicated production space. He bought a 7,000 square foot Victorian home in Bridgeport, Connecticut and transformed it into Tarquin Studios, a residence and recording studio for musicians. Katis has since worked with dozens of artists (see Associated Acts and Discography) at Tarquin Studios.[4]

In 2017, Katis and Chris Frantz of Talking Heads launched a concert series for emerging artists at The Fairfield Theater Company.[5]

### Death Cab for Cutie

[edit]

Katis produced Death Cab for Cutie's The Blue EP (2019). The video for the song Blue Bloods,[6] was filmed at Tarquin Studios.[7][8][9]

### Frightened Rabbit

[edit]

Katis produced Frightened Rabbit's 2008 breakthrough album The Midnight Organ Fight, as well as the 2010 follow-up The Winter of Mixed Drinks. To celebrate the 10-year anniversary of TMOF, Frightened Rabbit released Tiny Changes: A Celebration of Frightened Rabbit's Midnight Organ Fight. Katis's own band, The Philistine's Jr., contributed to the album by covering the song "Bright Pink Bookmark". The album, released in 2019, has also become a tribute to Frightened Rabbit's lead singer Scott Hutchison.[10][11]

### Gang of Youths

[edit]

Katis mixed The Positions (2015) and Go Farther in Lightness (2017) for the Australian band Gang of Youths. The former album debited at No. 5 on the ARIA Albums Chart and was nominated for 5 ARIA Music Awards. The latter album debuted at No. 1 on the ARIA Albums Chart and was nominated for 8 ARIA Music Awards, winning four: Album of the Year, Best Group, Best Rock Album, and Producer of the Year.[12]

Katis's band, The Philistine's Jr., opened for Gang of Youths on several west coast dates of their 2018 American tour.

### Interpol

[edit]

Katis also has a long-standing relationship with Interpol. He recorded and mixed the band's critically acclaimed[13] debut album Turn on the Bright Lights (2002), followed by Antics (2004). He also worked with lead singer Paul Banks on Julian Plenti is... Skyscraper (2009), Julian Plenti Lives... (2012), and Banks (2012).

### The National

[edit]

Katis has worked with The National on eight of their albums: Sad Songs for Dirty Lovers (2003), Cherry Tree (2004), Alligator (2005), Boxer (2007), High Violet (2010), Trouble Will Find Me (2013), Sleep Well Beast (2017), and  I Am Easy to Find (2019). Trouble Will Find Me received a Grammy Award nomination for Best Alternative Music Album. Sleep Well Beast received the Grammy Award for Best Alternative Music Album.[14] Katis co-produced and mixed the album.

Illustrating his close personal connection to the band, the cover of Boxer features a photo of The National playing at Katis's wedding reception.

## Discography

[edit]

Year  | Title  | Artist  | Credits

|
|
|

2019  | Help! | The Philistine's Jr.  | Lyrics, Performer, Producer, Engineer, Mixing
The Blue EP | Death Cab for Cutie | Producer, Engineer, Mixing
Tiny Changes: A Celebration of Frightened Rabbit's Midnight Organ Fight | Frightened Rabbit | Producer, Guitar, Keyboards, Engineer, Mixing, Recording
I Am Easy To Find | The National | Mixing
Natural, Everyday Degradation | Remo Drive | Engineer, Mixing
Problems | The Get Up Kids | Producer, Engineer, Mixing  |
Ruthless | The Moth and The Flame | Performer, Producer, Engineer, Mixing
Bobbie Gentry's The Delta Sweete Revisited | Mercury Rev | Mixing
2018  | Bottle It In | Kurt Vile | Producer
Before The Sun Goes Down | The New Respects | Mixing
On the Corner Where You Live | The Paper Kites | Producer, Engineer, Mixing
Lost Friends | Middle Kids | Mixing
2017  | The World We Built | The Wild Reeds | Producer, Engineer, Mixing
Go Farther In Lightness | Gang of Youths | Mixing
Hammock | Hammock | Mixing
Only the Lonely | Colony House | Additional Production, Engineer, Mixing
Near to the Wild Heart of Life | Japandroids | Mixing, Additional Production, Mixing
So Numb | Sannhet | Producer, Engineer, Mixing
Sleep Well Beast | The National | Producer, Mixing
There Is No Love in Fluorescent Light | Stars | Producer, Engineer, Mixing, Instrumentation
2016  | This Is Your Life | Augustines | Producer, Mixing
Synthia | The Jezabels | Mixing
It's Not About the Witches | T.O.L.D. | Mixing
Everything and Nothing | Hammock | Mixing
Arms | Bell X1 | Mixing
And Then Like Lions | Blind Pilot | Mixing
2015  | You're Going to Make It | Mates of State | Mixing
The Positions | Gang of Youths | Mixing
Then Came the Morning | The Lone Bellow | Mixing
Jackrabbit | San Fermin | Producer, Engineer, Mixing
B'lieve I'm Goin Down... | Kurt Vile | Mixing
After It All | Delta Rae | Producer, Engineer, Mixing, Instrumentation
2014  | Youth Culture Forever | PAWS | Mixing
Ruckers Hill | Husky Gawenda / Husky | Mixing
Nobody Wants to Be Here and Nobody Wants to Leave | The Twilight Sad | Additional Production, Mixing
Honeyblood | Honeyblood | Producer, Engineer, Mixing, Electronic Percussion
Augustines | Augustines | Producer, Engineer, Mixing, Instrumentation
2013  | Trouble Will Find Me | The National | Mixing
The Hunger Games: Catching Fire – Original Motion Picture Soundtrack |  | Mixing
Let's Be Still | The Head and the Heart | Additional Production, Engineer, Mixing, Instrumentation
Hummingbird | Local Natives | Mixing
Chop Chop | Bell X1 | Producer, Engineer, Mixing
Breach | The Kissaway Trail | Producer, Engineer, Mixing, Guitar, Synthesizer
2012  | Traveler | Trey Anastasio | Producer, Engineer, Mixing, Vocals, String Arrangements, Instrumentation
Tramp | Sharon Van Etten | Engineer, Mixing
Shallow Bed | Dry the River | Producer, Engineer, Mixing
Live: England vs. France | Mice Parade | Mixing
Julian Plenti Lives | Paul Banks | Producer, Mixing, Instrumentation
Five Minute Major (In D Minor) | The Zambonis | Engineer, Mixing
Circles Around the Sun | Dispatch | Producer, Engineer
Banks | Paul Banks | Producer, Engineer, Mixing, Instrumentation
Animal Joy | Shearwater | Guest Artist, Producer, Engineer, Mixing
2011  | We Bought a Zoo [Original Soundtrack] | Jónsi | Producer
Prisoner | The Jezabels | Mixing
Outside | Tapes 'n Tapes | Additional Production, Engineer, Mixing
Mountaintops | Mates of State | Engineer
In the Pit of the Stomach | We Were Promised Jetpacks | Additional Production, Mixing
Fire Needs Air | Dazzled Kid  | Mixing
Deserter's Songs: Instrumental | Mercury Rev | Engineer, Mixing
2010  | What It Means to Be Left-Handed | Mice Parade | Engineer, Mixing
The Winter of Mixed Drinks | Frightened Rabbit | Additional Production, Engineer, Mixing, Instrumentation
Sleep Mountain | The Kissaway Trail | Producer, Mixing
Let's Go Coconuts! | The Macaroons  | Engineer
How to Train Your Dragon: Music from the Motion Picture | John Powell | Drum Engineering, Percussion Engineer
High Violet | The National | Producer, Engineer, Mixing
Going the Distance |  | Producer
Go | Jónsi | Producer, Engineer
Everything Under the Sun | Jukebox the Ghost | Producer, Engineer, Mixing
Easy Wonderful | Guster | Engineer, Mixing
2009  | Up End Atom: A Tribute to Atom & His Package |  | Producer, Engineer
These Four Walls | We Were Promised Jetpacks | Producer, Various Instruments, Engineer, Mixing, Instrumentation
Strict Joy | The Swell Season | Producer, ARP Synthesizer, Percussion, Performer, Featured Artist
Silver Starling | Silver Starling | Mixing
Reservoir | Fanfarlo | Producer, Engineer, Mixing, Instrumentation
Love, Hate and Then There's You | The Von Bondies | Engineer, Audio Engineer
Julian Plenti Is... Skyscraper | Paul Banks / Julian Plenti | Producer, Engineer, Mixing, Additional Music
Dark Was the Night: Red Hot Compilation |  | Engineer, Mixing
Ciao My Shining Star: The Songs of Mark Mulcahy | Mark Mulcahy | Producer
2008  | Up with the Sun | Titles  | ARP Synthesizer
Teeth Lost, Hearts Won | The Grates | Producer, Engineer, Mixing, Guitar, Keyboards
Summer Palace | Sunny Day Sets Fire | Producer, Mixing
Secrets Are Sinister | Longwave | Producer, Engineer, Audio Engineer, Mixing
Re-Arrange Us | Mates of State | Producer, Engineer, Mixing, Guitar, Vocals (Background), Bass
Heavenly Bender | Sam Champion  | Mixing
Fight on the Ice | The Zambonis | Composer
Elephant Shell | Tokyo Police Club | Producer, Mixing
DeLeon | DeLeon | Engineer
A Skin, A Night & The Virginia EP | The National | Engineer, Mixing
5 Zusammen Verschwinden | Karpatenhund  | Mixing
2007  | Mice Parade | Mice Parade | Assistant Engineer
Marginalia | Nurse & Soldier  | Producer, Engineer, Mixing
I'll Follow You | Oakley Hall | Engineer, Mixing
Fourteen Autumns & Fifteen Winters | The Twilight Sad | Mixing
Boxer | The National | Producer, Engineer, Mixing
Anjula | Anjula Prasad  | Mixing
2006  | Tremors | Humanzi | Producer, Mixing
Spread Your Evil Wings and Fly | James Kochalka Superstar | Composer
Peoples | HiM | Engineer
Gravity Won't Get You High | The Grates | Mixing
Diet Pills & Magazines | Humanzi | Mixing
Catastrophe Keeps Us Together | Rainer Maria | Producer, Engineer, Mixing
19-20-20 | The Grates | Mixing
2005  | Trilateral Commission | Jimi Tunnell | Assistant Engineer
Tree City | Robbers on High Street | Producer, Engineer, Mixing
The Loyal | Tiger Lou | Mixing
The Loving Sounds of Static | Mobius Band | Producer, Mixing
The Golden Republic | The Golden Republic | Producer, Engineer, Audio Engineer, Audio Production
Our Most Beloved | James Kochalka Superstar | Producer, Main Personnel
Nights Wave EP | Mice Parade | Mixing, Overdubs
Lit Up | The National | Engineer, Mixing
Hanukkah Rocks | The LeeVees | Producer, Engineer, Mixing, Guitar, Instrumentation
DoublePlays: All Is Dream/Deserter's Songs | Mercury Rev | Engineer
City vs. Country | Mobius Band | Engineer, Mixing, Audio Production
C'mere | Interpol | Engineer, Mixing
Bem-Vinda Vontade | Mice Parade | Engineer, Audio Engineer, Mixing, Overdubs
Alligator | The National | Producer, Engineer, Audio Engineer, Mixing, Audio Production, Vocals
2004  | The O.C. Mix 2 |  | Engineer
My Body: The Pistol | Les Baton Rouge  | Producer, Engineer
Matador at Fifteen |  | Engineer
Lightning and the Sun | Katy Mae  | Engineer, Keyboards
Life of the Party [EP] | Longwave | Mixing
Fine Lines | Robbers on High Street | Engineer
Cherry Tree | The National | Engineer
Antics | Interpol | Engineer, Audio Engineer, Mixing
Aghast Agape | The Prosaics  | Producer, Engineer, Audio Engineer, Audio Production
2003  | Yes New York |  | Engineer
Wild Card | Jim Allen  | Engineer
The Instinct | Denali | Producer, Engineer, Mixing, Mastering
The Black EP | Interpol | Engineer, Mixing
Stars at Noon | Sea Ray  | Engineer, Mixing
Sad Songs for Dirty Lovers | The National | Producer, Engineer, Mixing
Maybe This Christmas Too? |  | Producer, Engineer, Mixing
Heather | Satanicide | Engineer, Audio Engineer
A Winter's Night: The Best of Nettwerk Christmas Albums |  | Producer, Engineer, Mixing
2002  | Turn on the Bright Lights | Interpol | Engineer, Mixing
Pushbutton Parfait | Raymond Scott Orchestrette | Engineer, Mastering
On a Wire | The Get Up Kids | Engineer, Mixing
MTV Road Rules: Don't Make Me Pull This Thing Over, Vol. 1 |  | Mixing
Interpol | Interpol | Engineer, Mixing
For the Kids [Nettwerk] |  | Producer, Engineer, Vocals (Background), Instrumentation
Each One Teach One | Oneida | Engineer, Mixing
Atheists, Reconsider | Liars / Oneida  | Engineer
All Roads Lead to Salzburg | Mice Parade | Engineer, Mixing, Overdubs
2001  | The Operating Theater | Brian Dewan | Engineer, Mixing
The Ghost of Fashion | Clem Snide | Mixing
Mokoondi | Mice Parade | Engineer, Mixing, Overdub Engineer
I Blame You | Michael Shelley | Mixing, Recorder
Elza | Elza  | Producer, Engineer, Mixing, Instrumentation
Don't Trust Whitey | James Kochalka Superstar | Producer, Mixing, Mastering, Recording
Anthem of the Moon | Oneida | Engineer, Mixing
Analog vs. Digital | The Philistines Jr.  | Producer, Vocals, Guitar, Keyboards, Artwork, Composer
All Is Dream | Mercury Rev | Engineer
2000  | Ur-Klang Search | The Dylan Group  | Engineer
Steel Rod | Oneida | Mixing
Put-Outs Sing the Hits | Put-Outs  | Mixing
Now Is the Time: Live at the Knitting Factory | Alex Blake | Engineer, Pre-Mastering Engineer
Kiss Without Makeup | Franklin Bruno | Engineer, Mixing
Eat Crow | Pants  | Producer, Engineer, Mastering, Various Instruments, Layout Design
Come on Everybody Let's Rock | Oneida | Mixing
1999  | Ramda | Mice Parade | Engineer
More Adventures in Lying Down | The Dylan Group  | Engineer
Enemy Hogs | Oneida | Engineer, Mixing
1998  | Welcome to the Jungle | Jim Rome  | Composer
Too Many Movies | Michael Shelley | Engineer
The True Meaning of Boodleybaye | Mice Parade | Engineer
Survival of the Illest: Live from 125 NYC |  | Digital Editing
Heartdrops | The Heartdrops  | Engineer
Dreams Gone Sour | The Absolute Zeros  | Producer, Recorder
Deserter's Songs | Mercury Rev | Engineer
After the Morning | Katie McMahon | Engineer
1997  | Show & Tell: A Stormy Remembrance of TV Themes |  | Engineer
Pop Pie |  | Producer, Engineer
Play-Off Fever! | The Zambonis | Engineer
Monkey vs. Robot | James Kochalka Superstar | Producer, Engineer, Various Instruments, Vocals (Background), Layout Design
Half Empty | Michael Shelley | Producer, Engineer, Mixing
Dylan Group & H.I.M. | The Dylan Group  | Engineer
Cradle the Balls | Satanicide  |
1996  | The Sinking of the S.S. Danehower | The Philistines Jr.  | Lyrics, Performer, Producer, Engineer, Mixing
Resonance Found at the Core of a Bubble |  | Engineer
Happiest Guys in the World | Happiest Guys in the World  | Engineer, Mixing
After School Special | Iris  | Engineer
100% Hockey...and Other Stuff | The Zambonis | Engineer, Illustrations, Artwork
1995  | Thumper | Thumper  | Engineer, Audio Engineer
The True Story | James Kochalka Superstar | Producer, Engineer
Bingham's Hole | The Mommyheads  | Producer
1st Bubble Core Records Sampler |  | Engineer
1994  | When the Doves Cry: The Music of Prince | Bob Belden | Assistant Engineer
1993  | The Continuing Struggle of The Philistine's Jr. | The Philistine's Jr.  | Lyrics, Performer, Producer, Engineer, Mixing
1991  | Greenwich, CT | The Philistine's Jr.  | Lyrics, Performer, Producer, Engineer, Mixing

[15]

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "Peter Katis and Phish: "You Can Have Fun Without Being Silly"". Jambands.com. Archived from the original on 14 September 2014. Retrieved 2 March 2018.
2. ^ "The Philistines Jr". Tarquinrecords.com. Archived from the original on 2 March 2018. Retrieved 2 March 2018.
3. ^ "Pater Katis on the Magic of Tarquin Studios - Take Magazine". thetakemagazine.com. 6 November 2017. Archived from the original on 2 March 2018. Retrieved 2 March 2018.
4. ^ "Tarquin Studios". Tarquinrecords.com. Retrieved 24 January 2021.
5. ^ "Fairfield Theatre Company hosts Emerging Artist concert series". fairfield-sun.com. 19 April 2017. Archived from the original on 2 March 2018. Retrieved 2 March 2018.
6. ^ "Death Cab for Cutie - Blue Bloods (Studio Video) - YouTube". www.youtube.com. Archived from the original on 23 September 2019. Retrieved 17 January 2022.
7. ^ "Death Cab for Cutie Announce 'The Blue EP,' Release New Song "Kids in '99"". Spin.com. 30 July 2019. Retrieved 24 January 2021.
8. ^ Grow, Kory (30 July 2019). "Hear Death Cab for Cutie Pay Tribute to Victims of Pipeline Explosion on New Song 'Kids in '99'". Rollingstone.com. Retrieved 24 January 2021.
9. ^ Desk, TV News. "Death Cab for Cutie Releases THE BLUE EP". BroadwayWorld.com. Retrieved 24 January 2021. `{{cite web}}`: `|last=` has generic name (help)
10. ^ "Various Artists: Tiny Changes: A Celebration of Frightened Rabbit's 'The Midnight Organ Fight'". Pitchfork.com. Retrieved 24 January 2021.
11. ^ "Exclusive: Frightened Rabbit's Grant Hutchison Shares Tiny Changes Album Notes". Pastemagazine.com. 10 July 2019. Retrieved 24 January 2021.
12. ^ Cooper, Nathanael (28 November 2017). "ARIA Awards 2017 winners: A gang of youths takes over, with some shock losses". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 24 January 2021.
13. ^ "Interpol: Turn On the Bright Lights Album Review - Pitchfork". pitchfork.com. Archived from the original on 24 August 2017. Retrieved 2 March 2018.
14. ^ "The National Win Best Alt. Music Album". grammy.com. 28 January 2018. Archived from the original on 2 March 2018. Retrieved 2 March 2018.
15. ^ "Peter Katis | Credits". AllMusic. Retrieved 24 January 2021.

## External links

[edit]

* Tarquin Studios website

Authority control databases: Artists |

* MusicBrainz

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