We were lucky to catch up with Bobbi Giel recently and have shared our conversation below.

Bobbi, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. It’s always helpful to hear about times when someone’s had to take a risk – how did they think through the decision, why did they take the risk, and what ended up happening. We’d love to hear about a risk you’ve taken.

I’ve taken two substantial risks so far in my career, and both involved picking up my life and moving to a new city. The first was when I moved to New York City after graduating college. This move was slightly easier than the next one I’d make, mainly because it was only a two hour train ride back home to my family in Connecticut, but it still changed my life in considerable ways. I’ve always struggled with my confidence and being assertive, nevertheless navigating the music industry in New York City gave me the push I needed to improve on those weaknesses. I also gained some of the most genuine connections with people in and out of the music industry. Despite the fact that many of us have moved out of the city in subsequent years, our relationships, whether that be personal or professional, have stayed strong.

After two wonderful and adventurous years in New York City, I had the sudden opportunity to move to Nashville for a job in mastering, which was a facet of the industry I found difficult to break into while in the city. I’m an only child with a very tight knit Italian American family, so the thought of moving a thousand miles away was daunting to say the least. But I knew an opportunity like the one I was given probably wouldn’t come around again, so I took the plunge, and I’m so thankful I did. It’s been six years and I couldn’t imagine being anywhere else.

Bobbi, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

I’ve always been passionate about music. I started taking piano and voice lessons when I was six years old and eventually picked up violin, guitar, bass, and mallet percussion. When it came time to decide what I wanted to do after high school, I knew I wanted to pursue a career in music, but the most obvious options (i.e. music education, composition, and performance) didn’t seem like the right fit for me. It wasn’t until I took a couple of sound recording electives that I realized music production was also a viable option and a sector of the music industry I could potentially thrive in.

In 2015, I earned a Bachelor of Music degree in Music Production and Technology with a concentration in Classical Piano and a minor in Business Administration from The Hartt School at the University of Hartford. Following graduation, I spent two years working at various recording and post-production studios in New York City including MSR Studios (now Sound on Sound Studios in Montclair, New Jersey), the new Atlantic Studios at Atlantic Records, and LVLY Studios.

I then made the move to Nashville in October 2017 and spent four years at Georgetown Masters under the direction of Chief Mastering Engineer Andrew Mendelson. In 2022, I became the Head Mastering Engineer at Welcome to 1979, a multi-faceted, analog-centric studio that provides both digital and vinyl mastering services.

Mastering, at its core, is a quality control process that bridges the creative and manufacturing worlds of music. A mastering engineer makes artistic decisions based on extensive knowledge and understanding of deliverable formats (i.e. how a consumer listens to their music – whether it be on a CD, streaming services, vinyl, etc.). I specialize in digital and vinyl mastering with the latter being what I’m most known for.

An important skill to have as a mastering engineer, aside from our ears and expertise, is the ability to communicate efficiently with our clients. I’ve always been proud of my ability to build strong connections with my clients because I’m first and foremost a musician. I empathize with the deep emotional reverence artists have for their music and my primary goal is to ensure those same emotions are relayed to the listener.

We often hear about learning lessons – but just as important is unlearning lessons. Have you ever had to unlearn a lesson?

When I was getting ready to start my freshman year of college, I asked my mom to take me shopping for new clothes. I knew I was going to be the only woman in my class, so I wanted a wardrobe of plain, neutral colors. Everything needed to be lose fitting – nothing eye catching, nothing that would make me stand out – I wanted to blend in and be almost invisible. I didn’t want who I was as a young woman in a room full of men to be a novelty, and I thought the obvious way around that was to alter the way I dressed.

Over the years, however, I learned to embrace and be proud of my womanhood. My experiences as a woman are unique to what I bring to the table, whether it be in a professional or personal manner. I’ve come to realize that the learning curve to accepting who you are is gradual, and I’ll most likely continue on this inward journey for the rest of my life and career. I still wear plenty of neutral colors, but for no other reason other than the fact that I feel most confident in them, so that’s a positive start.

Is there something you think non-creatives will struggle to understand about your journey as a creative? Maybe you can provide some insight – you never know who might benefit from the enlightenment.

I think I can say with some certainty that I’m considered the “black sheep” of my family. My maternal grandparents, along with many of their cousins and siblings, immigrated to the United States from Italy in the 1950s. There’s a mentality amongst the majority of immigrant families that you need to go to college and get a degree in a stable, practical profession – education, healthcare, finance, etc. So when I expressed my interest in pursuing a career in music, it was met with a lot of skepticism, and rightly so from my family’s perspective. The music industry, or entertainment industry in general, is not a linear profession. It’s unstable, unpredictable, and ever changing.

What my family and I learned together over time, however, is that working in a creative profession can be fulfilling and incredibly rewarding. Creating music, whether it be as an artist or engineer like myself, is a gratifying experience because you’re creating something that brings people joy. Music knows no bounds or borders. The uphill battles and obstacles only make the experience that much more satisfying as well.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://welcometo1979.com/mastering
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bobbigiel
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bobbigiel
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bobbigiel
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/bobbigiel

Image Credits
Madison Thorn, Christopher Morley, and Emily Sterns