For Spencer Thomson, the studio isn’t just where Moon Taxi records albums — it’s a laboratory. Over the past several years, the guitarist has quietly built a parallel career as a producer, particularly within the reggae and reggae-adjacent scene, sharpening instincts that have fed directly back into Moon Taxi’s evolution.
Early in the band’s career, that wasn’t necessarily the focus. “Back in the day, when we started, we just really didn’t know how to make records,” Thomson admits. “We were kind of a live band for a very long time and focused on that. It was really a realization we had that, ‘Oh man, we need to get our studio recordings up to where we feel like our live show is.’”
That realization sparked a deep dive into production — one that’s since expanded well beyond the band. Thomson has worked closely with artists like Mihali, producing his last record, and collaborated with Tropidelic and Claire Wright, among others. Those relationships weren’t just transactional; they were creative exchanges. In many cases, they led to reciprocal collaborations on Moon Taxi’s new album “Highwave.”
“I’ve grown in production alongside the band,” Thomson says. “It is nice now, knowing that if we have a song idea or we’re ready to make an album, we can do it in-house. We don’t have to start interviewing producers or wonder how that’s going to go. The process can just start.”
That self-sufficiency has been transformative. Rather than waiting for outside validation or direction, Moon Taxi can now chase ideas immediately — capturing inspiration before it cools. “We don’t really have to reach outside the band for much if we don’t want to,” Thomson explains. “We can also totally get it done just the five of us.”
Still, the producer mindset hasn’t made him territorial. In fact, it’s had the opposite effect. “I actually find a lot of joy in when I get to just go be a guitar player on something,” he says. “It’s great experience to kind of be on the other side of the glass… It always kind of opens my mind up a little bit.”
That openness — absorbing ideas from reggae collaborators, watching other producers work, balancing control with curiosity — has subtly reshaped Moon Taxi’s sound. It’s part of what allowed a record like Highwave to feel both expansive and cohesive.
For Thomson, production isn’t about dominance; it’s about perspective. “If I would like something to happen and I don’t know how to do it, I usually just try to figure out how to do it,” he says.
In other words, the same curiosity that pushed Moon Taxi to level up their studio craft now drives Thomson’s work behind the board — and keeps the band’s creative current moving forward.
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