Welcome to the website of Dr. Dr. phil. Jan Herbst
I am a Reader in Music Production at the University of Huddersfield, with a distinguished career as a researcher, educator, and practitioner in music production and popular music studies. My work bridges academia and industry, exploring themes such as the interplay of creativity and technology, the cultural significance of music production, and the evolution of popular music genres, particularly rock and metal.
With a portfolio that includes over 50 peer-reviewed publications, 10 books, and several funded research projects, I am dedicated to advancing the field through both theoretical and empirical insights and practical applications. My teaching philosophy centres on research-informed practice and fostering intellectual curiosity, equipping students with the skills and perspectives necessary for success in today’s creative industries.
This website offers an overview of my academic journey, publications, and ongoing projects. I invite you to explore my work and connect to collaborate on innovative ideas in research on music and sound.
(profile on university website)
Jan’s current major, book-length projects:
Heaviness in Metal Music Production (HiMMP)
A 4-year project funded by the Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC), 2020-2024 (with Dr Mark Mynett)
This project delves into the essence of 'heaviness' in metal music, examining how it is sonically crafted and defined by leading producers. By collaborating with eight renowned metal producers, HiMMP explores how heaviness is created sonically, how leading metal producers define it, and how they meticulously control its various aspects when mixing recordings. The research aims to establish an empirically grounded framework of heaviness, contributing valuable insights to both academic discourse and industry practice.
(project website)
Extreme Metal Vocals (EMV): Musical Expression, Technique, and Cultural Meaning
A 3-year project funded by the European Union, 2022-2025 (with Dr Eric Smialek)
This research addresses the underexplored area of vocal techniques in extreme metal genres. The project synthesises linguistic, acoustical, historical, and musicological studies to understand how transgression is musically communicated. Methods include reception studies of verbal descriptions, spectrographic analyses, and music information retrieval, aiming to offer unique insights into the appeal and cultural significance of extreme metal vocals.
(project website)
Songwriting Camps in the 21st Century (SC21)
A 3-year project funded by the Arts and Humanities Research Council and the German Research Foundation, 2023-2026 (with Prof Michael Ahlers & Dr Simon Barber)
This pioneering research project investigates the collaborative processes within songwriting camps in the UK and Germany. It explores the roles of convenors and participants, the interplay of various skill sets, and the organisational structures of both offline and online camps. By conducting qualitative interviews and ethnographic fieldwork, SC21 aims to develop a systematic model of modern songwriting camps, shedding light on their creative, social, and economic contexts.
(project website)
Jan’s latest book publications:
Jan’s forthcoming book publications: