We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Adam Fogel a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Adam, appreciate you joining us today. So, let’s start with a hypothetical – what would you change about the educational system?

I believe theres too much emphasis on going to university and not enough support for students to explore other options that wont enslave them to a predatory student loan for the rest of their lives. I think there needs to be more emphasis on our community colleges and trades schools. I also wish that I was prepared better in high-school for taxes, basic budgeting and overall citizen participation in my local municipality and politics. I honestly think that our english classes in school should teach how to read legalese so we understand the terms and conditions of all of these apps we blindly sign up for. Theres so much I could say, and a lot I could explain based off my own personal experience. Overall I think college can be an amazing experience for those who know what they want to study and strive for. It can also be a grave mistake for students who don’t have a clear major in mind.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

I love supporting talented people. Whether that’s in live sound or the recording studio, I have honor of lifting the voices and talents of musicians singers and speakers. I started my audio journey like most, as a DJ throwing parties for friends and strangers to bring smiles and joy. Eventually, I learned about the gear needed to perform and reinforce an audio system. As I learned more and more I realized how much I enjoy meeting people, and supporting the talents of the people that I met in the diverse city of San Francisco and the overall Bay Area. As I worked in audio, I fell more and more in love with sound physics. It’s one of the only artistic mediums that physically touches each and every one of us; vibrating bones and blood to create epic and emotional moments. Eventually, I invested in my own recording studio which I’ve been running for almost four years now. The recording studio business I manage is a place for talented individuals to get their best performances recorded, mixed and mastered. I help new artists create a release roadmap and artists branding. I create a space for vulnerability and respectful criticism. The work I do brings the best out of my clients so they can have the utmost confidence in the songs they release. I also ensure a timely and efficient process so that my clients make the most of their time with me. When recording, its important for my clients to feel that they can express their ideas with room to create and grow without worrying about the technical aspects that hold back creativity. Im the most proud of a session when an artists comes out of the vocal booth with an excited smile for what we just created. Magic happens when we work together to create new harmonies or melodies expanded beyond what was thought possible. As a former band member and singer, I love working with singers on their melodies, harmonies and overall vocal delivery. Im especially proud of my work with Jamey Williams and Mikayla Antoinette on the song, “Grown Pains” out on all streaming platforms. Mikayla and I worked together on the background and harmony on this song to create an ethereal atmosphere that fills the whole song. The way we did it was a bit unorthodox, as we simply looped her recording track over a loop of the instrumental which led to many many layers of her voice that I then arranged into the rest of the track that we hear. I like to describe it as a walk through a meadow during spring time. This atmosphere lays the ground work for the vulnerable rap lyrics that set the overall tone of the track by Jamey. One of my favorite projects I’ve ever worked on thus-far.

Can you talk to us about how you funded your business?

I am forever grateful to Sweetwater for having 0% financing on their credit card. That plus a lot of bargain hunting over the years led me to have the high quality gear that I have today. Eventually, I signed up for a business bank account and got a credit card with them, and have been managing my finances separately from my personal, but my initial investments came from cash flowing, saving, and credit cards with low interest rates. I spread my credit spending so that over time i accumulated what I need. Over the years, I’ve increased my credit limit and maintained a healthy credit score while locking in the cashflow for my business so that I can cashflow for new gear. I also prioritized buying higher quality gear that will last me a lifetime.

Where do you think you get most of your clients from?

Spreading my reach by having multiple listings on platforms such as Peerspace, Google, Yelp and Social Media. Word of mouth is extremely appreciated and helpful, but so is having listing on event hosting platforms. I also manage my own website so new clients I meet in person can access my portfolio, pricing and contact info through a simple QR code on the back of my business card.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://fogelsounds.com
• Instagram: fogelsoundstudios
• Facebook: Fogel Sound Studios
• Linkedin: AdamFogel
• Yelp: Fogel Sound Studios

Image Credits

Fire Shots Media & Daniel Something