# John Hill (record producer)
**John Hill** is an American record producer and songwriter known for his work in alternative rock and pop, best known for producing [Cage the Elephant](https://www.edgepedia.org/cage-the-elephant)'s album *Social Cues* (2019), which won the [Grammy Award for Best Rock Album](https://www.edgepedia.org/grammy-award-for-best-rock-album) at the 62nd Annual Grammy Awards.[1](https://www.grammy.com/artists/john-hill/11804/) He has written and produced songs for artists including Shakira, Santigold, Florence + the Machine, Fall Out Boy, Bleachers, Eminem, Pink, Christina Aguilera, and Jay-Z.[2](https://www.houstonchronicle.com/life/columnists/hoffman/article/Houston-producer-scales-Grammy-hill-6071054.php) • [3](https://www.threee.com/client/john-hill/)
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Grammy wins | 1 win, 3 nominations; Best Rock Album for Cage the Elephant's *Social Cues* at the 62nd Annual Grammy Awards (2020)[1](https://www.grammy.com/artists/john-hill/11804/) |
| Producer of the Year | Nominated in the Non-Classical category at both the 57th (2015) and 62nd (2020) Grammy Awards[1](https://www.grammy.com/artists/john-hill/11804/) |
| Best Rock Song nomination | "What Kind of Man" (Florence + the Machine), credited to John Hill, Tom Hull, and Florence Welch, at the 58th Annual Grammy Awards[1](https://www.grammy.com/artists/john-hill/11804/) |
| Origin | Grew up in Houston, Texas; at age 12 his guitar teacher took him and his cousin Hunter Perrin to ZZ Top's recording studio, which turned him toward engineering and production[2](https://www.houstonchronicle.com/life/columnists/hoffman/article/Houston-producer-scales-Grammy-hill-6071054.php) |
| Career scale | 858 total credits, including 339 production credits and 249 co-written tracks[4](https://readdork.com/credits/john-hill) |
## Early life and start in music
Hill grew up in Houston and originally wanted to perform, playing bass with the goal of fronting a rock band. When he was 12, his guitar teacher took him and his cousin, the guitarist Hunter Perrin, to [ZZ Top](https://www.edgepedia.org/zz-top)'s recording studio. Hill later said the visit changed his direction: "That seemed more interesting to me than playing in a band. Plus, I have stage fright." He began producing songs on a borrowed 8-track recorder in his family garage with Perrin, then moved to Los Angeles and started his career as an engineer and producer.[2](https://www.houstonchronicle.com/life/columnists/hoffman/article/Houston-producer-scales-Grammy-hill-6071054.php)
## Production and songwriting career
Hill's credits span pop, rock, and hip-hop. His songwriting catalog is heaviest with [Santigold](https://www.edgepedia.org/santigold), at 17 tracks, and Shakira, at 16, followed by Phantogram, Bleachers, Carly Rae Jepsen, and Pink Sweat$.[4](https://readdork.com/credits/john-hill) He contributed additional production to Shakira's album *She Wolf* on [Epic Records](https://www.edgepedia.org/epic-records) and co-wrote and produced [Lykke Li](https://www.edgepedia.org/lykke-li)'s "Breaking It Up" (John Hill Remix) for Atlantic.[3](https://www.threee.com/client/john-hill/) On the rock side, he is credited as a producer on Florence + the Machine's *How Big, How Blue, How Beautiful* (2015), Phantogram's *Three* (2016), and Bleachers' *Strange Desire* (2014), where he worked on 11 songs.[5](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/john-hill-mn0003105586) • [4](https://readdork.com/credits/john-hill) He also co-wrote Fall Out Boy's "My Songs Know What You Did in the Dark (Light Em Up)" and contributed to the band's album *Save Rock and Roll* (2013).[6](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/john-hill-mn0001000899)
**Cage the Elephant.** Hill's most prominent album credit is *Social Cues* (2019), Cage the Elephant's fifth album, which he produced in full and which won Best Rock Album at the 62nd Annual Grammy Awards.[1](https://www.grammy.com/artists/john-hill/11804/) He returned as producer for the band's 2024 releases *[Neon Pill](https://www.edgepedia.org/neon-pill)* and *Metaverse*.[5](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/john-hill-mn0003105586)
## Grammy recognition
Hill's first Grammy nomination came at the 57th Annual Grammy Awards in 2015, when he was up for Producer of the Year, Non-Classical; the award went to [Max Martin](https://www.edgepedia.org/max-martin).[2](https://www.houstonchronicle.com/life/columnists/hoffman/article/Houston-producer-scales-Grammy-hill-6071054.php) • [1](https://www.grammy.com/artists/john-hill/11804/) At the 58th ceremony he was nominated for Best Rock Song as one of the writers of "What Kind of Man" by Florence + the Machine, alongside Tom Hull and [Florence Welch](https://www.edgepedia.org/florence-welch).[1](https://www.grammy.com/artists/john-hill/11804/) At the 62nd ceremony in 2020 he won Best Rock Album for *Social Cues* and was again nominated for Producer of the Year, Non-Classical, in a field that included [Jack Antonoff](https://www.edgepedia.org/jack-antonoff), Dan Auerbach, Finneas, and Ricky Reed.[1](https://www.grammy.com/artists/john-hill/11804/) • [7](https://time.com/5769715/grammys-winners-2020/)
## Recent work
Hill has remained active as a co-writer and producer across contemporary pop and alternative acts. Recent credits include [Damiano David](https://www.edgepedia.org/damiano-david)'s "Tangerine (feat. d4vd)" and "Voices" from *FUNNY little FEARS* (Sony Music Italy), BENEE's "Vegas" and "What", several Phantogram singles including "Earthshaker" and "Move In Silence (feat. Big Boi)", Carly Rae Jepsen's "Something Tragic" and "That's Just Me" from *[Day and Night](https://www.edgepedia.org/day-and-night-carly-rae-jepsen-album)*, and tracks for Ravyn Lenae, Spacey Jane, Suki Waterhouse, and [Alessi Rose](https://www.edgepedia.org/alessi-rose).[3](https://www.threee.com/client/john-hill/) In 2025 he was credited on seven tracks by seven different artists, including BENEE's "Vegas", Damiano David's "Tangerine", BoyWithUke's "Runaway", and Eyedress's "Occasional Stoner".[8](https://readdork.com/credits/john-hill/year/2025)
## References
1. [John Hill: All Grammy Awards and Nominations, Recording Academy](https://www.grammy.com/artists/john-hill/11804/)
2. [Ken Hoffman, "Houston producer scales Grammy hill", Houston Chronicle (2015)](https://www.houstonchronicle.com/life/columnists/hoffman/article/Houston-producer-scales-Grammy-hill-6071054.php)
3. [John Hill: Biography and Selected Discography, Threee](https://www.threee.com/client/john-hill/)
4. [John Hill: Credits, Dork](https://readdork.com/credits/john-hill)
5. [John Hill: Biography, Discography, AllMusic](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/john-hill-mn0003105586)
6. [John Hill: Credits, AllMusic (mn0001000899)](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/john-hill-mn0001000899)
7. [See All the Winners of the 2020 Grammy Awards, TIME](https://time.com/5769715/grammys-winners-2020/)
8. [John Hill: 2025 credits, Dork](https://readdork.com/credits/john-hill/year/2025)
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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Arts and culture › Music › Musicians and ensembles › Individual musical biographies › Songwriters and record producers › Record producers › Contemporary producers*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Sep 19, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Edited: Sep 19, 2026; Oct 11, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Last review: Oct 25, 2026*
*Copyright 2026 EdgeChat AI, a subsidiary of Biostate AI.*
License: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license