Keith Richards describes producer Andrew Watt as a “breath of fresh air and a kick up the ass” following the release of The Rolling Stones’ new album, Foreign Tongues.
The guitarist for the band says Watt can be “impetuous” but notes this trait was exactly what the group required while recording the previous album, Hackney Diamonds.
Speaking to The Guardian, Richards explained that Mick Jagger has been very prolific lately. This activity is one reason the new record arrived so quickly, because Jagger won’t stop working. The momentum from Hackney Diamonds carried over into this project without a break. Richards and Jagger gave each other a wry look and decided to keep pushing forward because they had enough material to do so.
Richards credits Watt, who is 35 years old, for their current creative synergy. The producer has already worked with Paul McCartney, Elton John, Iggy Pop, Lady Gaga, and Miley Cyrus.
“He knows his stuff musically and technically, and he doesn’t put up with any bullshit – he just gets on with it,” Richards said. “So I found him very easy to work with. He’s a bit impetuous at times, but then so what?”
When asked if Watt has ever given him a talking to, Richards replied, “No. But he may have given somebody a talking-to.”
Paul McCartney made similar comments about Watt earlier this year. He told MOJO, “I came away from the first session thinking, ‘Well, I like him, but he’s a bit pushy.”
In a 2025 interview with And The Writer Is…, Watt spoke about his intense approach to production. He said: “I’m so detail-oriented in my mixing process and production process. There’s not a thing in, like, a millisecond of any of my records that I don’t know exactly what it is and what it’s doing and why it’s there. So mixing the record is a very intense process for me.”
He added, “Once it’s out, I’d never listen to it again. If I did listen to it, I would want to change 100 things.”
What it means
For musicians like Richards, working with a producer like Watt means handing over control to someone who demands perfection. The artist does not get to linger on a bad take. Watt knows the technical requirements and will not accept excuses. This dynamic forces the band to finish songs quickly and efficiently, which explains the rapid turnaround time for the new Stones album.
The Rolling Stones’ new album, Foreign Tongues, lands on 10 July. Find out more via The Rolling Stones website.
