Paul Boutin

Sound engineer and vocal producer

1995–present

Early career[edit]

Paul Boutin (born 1970 in Paris) studied biological engineering in France before moving to the United States in 1991. He attended Berklee College of Music in Boston where he specialized in music production and sound engineering.


In 1995, Paul Boutin went to Los Angeles and worked as assistant engineer at Paramount and Sound Chambers Studios. He was finally hired at Record Plant Studios and became assistant of confirmed engineers Humberto Gatica and Brad Gilderman.


At Record Plant, Paul Boutin was involved in recording/mixing sessions for Liza Minnelli[4] then Celine Dion and Babyface, more specifically for the album Falling Into You[5] (including contributions to singles "All By Myself" and "Because You Loved Me"), the Waiting to Exhale soundtrack and Babyface’s solo record The Day.[6]


In 1996, Kenneth "Babyface" Edmonds opened his own private studio “Brandon’s Way Recording” in Los Angeles where Paul Boutin joined him.

Selected discography: 1990s and 2000s[edit]

Albums and singles[edit]

At Brandon’s Way, Paul Boutin worked on major projects that earned multiple RIAA certifications and Grammy nominations. Among those certified/nominated projects, here is a selection of records[2] with significant involvement by Paul Boutin (recording and/or mixing) :

2011 : , Twenty by Boyz II Men and The Letter by Avant including first single "Kiss Goodbye"

Fly on the Wall

2011 : by Anthony Hamilton nominated for “Best R&B Album”[7] and including Billboard Adult R&B #1 single "Pray For Me", also nominated for “Best R&B song”.[21]

Back to Love

2012 : by Alicia Keys. This gold album won a Grammy Award in 2013 (Best R&B Album). Paul Boutin also earned a TEC Award nomination for his work on this record.[22]

Girl on Fire

2013 : and Yours Truly by Ariana Grande (certified platinum) including the second single "Baby I"

Christmas Kisses

2013 : by Celine Dion

Loved Me Back To Life

2014 : by Toni Braxton and Babyface. Paul Boutin engineered and mixed the whole Grammy winning album including Billboard Adult R&B #1 single "Hurt You".[23]

Love, Marriage & Divorce

2014 : Forever Yours by , Game Changer by Johnny Gill and Beautiful (Platinum Edition) by Jessica Mauboy including "Can I Get A Moment?" (certified gold in Australia)[24]

Smokie Norful

2014 : by Barbra Streisand (certified platinum) with the co-engineering of the duets with Babyface (2), John Legend, Stevie Wonder, Lionel Richie and Blake Shelton

Partners

2014 : by Colbie Caillat (including the platinum single "Try") and Aretha Franklin Sings The Great Diva Classics

Gypsy Heart

2015 : by Jordin Sparks, Nine by Samantha Jade and Free TC by Ty Dolla Sign (certified gold)

Right Here, Right Now

2015 : by Babyface

Return of the Tender Lover

2016 : Timeless by After 7 including the Billboard Adult R&B #3 single "Runnin' Out"

2017 :

Johnny Mathis Sings The Great New American Songbook

2018 : by Toni Braxton including the Billboard Adult R&B#1 single "Long as I Live" co-written, engineered and mixed by Paul Boutin. The song earned two Grammy nominations (Best R&B Song, Best R&B Performance)[20] in 2018 and won the NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Song (Traditional)[25] in 2019.

Sex and Cigarettes

2018 : by Jessie J

This Christmas Day

2019 : "" by Brandy and Daniel Caesar, the duet is included on the albums B7 and Case Study 01.

Love Again

2020 : Love Always Wins by and Spell My Name by Toni Braxton including Billboard Adult R&B #1 single "Do It".

Kem

on Discogs

Paul Boutin

on Allmusic

Paul Boutin