Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Sebastian Hadl. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Sebastian, appreciate you joining us today. How did you learn to do what you do? Knowing what you know now, what could you have done to speed up your learning process? What skills do you think were most essential? What obstacles stood in the way of learning more?

I was introduced to the wonders of the music world early on in my childhood years. Growing up in a family with a rich musical background allowed me to become immersed and intrigued by it on a much deeper level from the very start. Before I became a Music Producer and a Recording & Mixing Engineer, I had to start from the bottom. In this case, this meant learning an instrument.

I was originally a classically trained Pianist, When I was 6, my Grandfather, who is also a musician and a composer, began teaching me how to play Piano. For years, I would practice and practice until I eventually started exploring other areas of the musical world. When I was in my teenage years, I’d start writing and producing my first songs. In the beginning, I just had GarageBand and a simple MIDI Keyboard that I borrowed from my Dad. At that time, most of my songs were just Piano chords and melodies I played out on the Keyboard. As I practiced my songwriting skills, soon I’d start leaning into the art of production itself more and more.

I would experiment with synths, plug-ins, loops, samplers and transitioned into Logic Pro and Pro Tools as well. As years went by, I was lucky enough to get first professional opportunities as a Songwriter and Producer for smaller local Artists. Through those, I got to be at recording sessions in professional studios which proved to be an exceptional and motivating experience. The more time I spent in the studios, the more curious I got and I decided I want to learn how to record and operate a recording studio myself. I would spend every day in the studio with my Father who is also a Producer & Recording Engineer. He’d teach me every single technique and detail I was interested in until I was allowed to start assisting and helping.

Over the time, I started recording and working in the studio myself, collaborating with Artists, producing records as well as diving into mixing. With each project, I grew more and more confident that Production and Engineering is an endeavor I want to keep pursuing as my career. Ultimately, this led me to study at the prestigious Berklee College of Music and receive Bachelor’s Degree in Music Production & Engineering and Contemporary Writing & Production.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

I’m a New York based Music Producer, Recording and Mixing Engineer and I love working with inspired Artists who wish to take their music to the next level. The majority of the most special projects I get to be a part of originate most often from the simplest ideas or even phone voice memos, it’s always such a transforming journey getting from that point to the final master for both me and the Artist. Whenever we begin working on a new song, EP or an Album, my absolute main focus is to provide the most comfortable environment for the Artist so they can feel safe and free expressing their genuine musical ideas, thoughts and to connect on a more personal level as collaborators. In the end, creating music is a team effort that requires real human connection which opens up room for new ideas and brings out the best from both the Producer and the Artist.

What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?

For me personally, the most rewarding feeling in the process of collaborating with musicians and artists is getting to see their reactions and joy from witnessing the transformation of their ideas into fully fleshed out projects. Seeing that the Artist you have been working with for the past couple of months on a record is so excited and passionate about their new song they are about to share with the world is a one-of-a-kind feeling that never gets old. As a producer, receiving this kind of emotional feedback is the most valuable thing.

Looking back, are there any resources you wish you knew about earlier in your creative journey?

I believe that nowadays, there’s many more technological resources available for aspiring Producers and Engineers than ever before. When I started my journey, I would mostly rely on information I would gather from my peers and the rest was mostly me in front of my computer, trying out various things until I eventually got it right. However, over the years I would stumble upon and learn about some amazing resources that helped me elevate my skill set in critical ways. For example, as a Mixer, educational websites like PureMix or Mix With The Masters proved to be a great resource where you get to “shadow” top-tier Mixers and Producers do their thing, take notes and apply some of the techniques in your own workflow. In addition, I consistently use SoundGym for sharpening my critical ear training through various exercises and practices. As a mixing engineer, ears are your most valuable tool and you need to keep it in the best shape possible.

Contact Info:

• Website: http://sebastianhadl.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sebastianhadl/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sebastian.hadl/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sebastianhadl/
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/megawalle_eth

Image Credits
Sean Uminski, Amir Halevi, Benedikt Renc