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

AONAH, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. When did you first know you wanted to pursue a creative/artistic path professionally?

I’ve been involved with music for as long as I can remember. I started playing guitar when I was about 5 years old however I’m left handed so I always had to have my teacher switch the strings around on a right handed guitar. That same teacher had a full drum set and a bass guitar so I started playing with those. Guitar practice quickly turned into band practice and I think that was when I realized I wanted to create music for the rest of my life. As time went on I was introduced to electronic music around middle school and was really interested in creating it and learning how it was made. A couple of virus filled/crashed family computers later and I finally got my own and was fully able to dive into music production. I’ve been producing music on my laptop ever since and I honestly can’t imagine myself doing anything else.

AONAH, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

My name is AONAH, I am a music producer, audio engineer, and sound designer. I started freelancing around 2016 when I was recording friends in college dorms in Atlanta but later that year moved to Savannah and started doing the same thing. Eventually I opened up my own home studio to locals and other college students. Once I graduated, I headed back to Atlanta and really started pushing my freelancing, working at studios around the city, mixing, mastering, and recording before finding something that works for me. Since then I’ve been able to work with a lot of artists that I’ve looked up to and listen to on a regular basis. It’s a surreal feeling when people you respect and look up to treat you with the same respect after working together and building a genuine relationship. I feel like a lot of times people might come in and just do a job but to really sit down with an artist and develop an ear for that specific person or group is so much more rewarding than just getting the job done. That being said, it’s always nice seeing the work you put in receive positive feedback/praise especially when people are letting you know that the production or engineering is done well. A lot of the time engineers and producers might be an afterthought in people’s minds but when we do get our flowers, it makes the work that much more rewarding and fulfilling. If there’s anything I want people to take away from sessions with me, it’s that I’m passionate about creating music and have so much love and respect for the process as much as the end result.

Is there mission driving your creative journey?

I’ve always had this drive to learn about the things I enjoy, whether it be music, television/movies, cars, jewelry…etc. I think part of the reason I like making music so much is because of how different it can be. Songs might start off as basic ideas but can eventually turn into incredible works of art that can mean so many different things to so many different people. That ability to create something that invokes different feelings in people is so sacred. The escape that music can provide is another reason I create. When I was younger music was always something that helped me unplug from day to day life. It was able to take me out of where I was physically and transport me somewhere completely different. I make music to learn more about myself and to really help others do the same. I’m able to fully express myself in a way I feel like traditionally I wouldn’t be able to. Music is really many many things to me, but why I make music fluctuates a lot, all I know is that I have to continue making it to really feel like myself.

What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?

For me, the process of creating is a rewarding aspect in itself as it is expression. However in a more traditional sense, I think finishing a record or piece of art and being proud of your work is the most rewarding part of creating. To sit back and – in my case – listen to what I just worked on and be satisfied with what I hear regardless of commercial success is just as fulfilling. Some songs will be stuck on repeat in my headphones after finishing them and that’s when I feel like I get the most fulfilment. Often times we want to be somewhat detached from our works so feelings don’t get hurt if the reception isn’t positive, but to make something that you enjoy regardless of other’s opinions. is truly rewarding.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/aonah_/
• Other: https://soundcloud.com/aonah

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