I think the purpose of a recording engineer is to make an artist comfortable so they can perform at their best. It’s also to capture the artist’s sound, whether it be acoustic or electronic, at a very high quality level that serves as a base for their project going forward. One way I’m doing this is by offering remote recording! I bring a professional, compact recording rig and some nice microphones to your house or rehearsal space, where you feel most at home and comfortable, and we get some great sounds from there. I think the ability to record this way can make for a really creative environment, and it can save the artist money by offsetting studio costs! Of course, there are times when it’s useful to be in a bigger room, but either way, I believe when artists feel less pressure, they’re more likely to feel loose and less bottled up, putting them in a better place to create.
What is the role of a mixing engineer?
Firstly, from an artist’s perspective, the role of a mixing engineer, in its simplest form, may be to make sure their project sounds good in a variety of listening environments and translates well across them. It is someone who, probably through technical ability, can ensure a piece of music is balanced, clear, and energetic in what it’s trying to convey. I think when an artist makes a piece of music, they are being very vulnerable and very deliberate. With art that someone, or multiple people, have worked on very hard emotionally, physically, and possibly spiritually, the last thing they would want is to feel like someone else is taking their project to a place they do not want it to go. Where is this song trying to take itself? Where does the artist want it to end up? By thinking about mixing and production from this point of view, I think someone has a better chance of making something that is true to themselves as an artist and more unique because of it.
What does community mean to me?
Building community for me goes back to respecting the intention, and trusting the ideas of each and every artist. They know their music best, and have certainly spent more time than me thinking about where they want it to go. Listening to, and supporting someone’s creative vision, no matter their background or identity or gender, is what I believe will make the best art, and foster the best relationship between the engineer and the artist. There’s so much great music out there that’s waiting to be sung, or played, or written, but hasn’t had the chance yet. I hope to help realize some of that music and art by uplifting voices in my community that have been classically underrepresented, or those that haven’t had the financial means to pay for an expensive studio. If your project has met financial limitations, or you are seeking a way into recording your music, please inquire about flexible rates.
I see my engineering as a way to be reparative towards communities that have historically not had equal access to, or unsafe access to the music industry, and I hope to make safe and non-extractive spaces in creative settings.
When I think about it, all the music that I cherish and love the most, is often a blend of genres and people, the whole being greater than the sum of its parts. I believe a diverse set of voices contribute to a smarter and more understanding community.
Engineered by Luke Anderson 