We recently connected with Jacob Stewart and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, Jacob thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Let’s jump to the end – what do you want to be remembered for?

Nobody talks about how recording and mixing music means you’re constantly leaving legacies, for the artists and yourself. This is why I feel so fulfilled doing this work. In helping others create their legacy, I feel like I’m leaving a positive mark on this Earth. After I’m gone, I’m happy to know there will be hundreds of hours of music, love, happiness, tears, and memories recorded and streamable for as long as digital media stays around. And I hope all the musicians I’ve worked with show their art for generations to come!

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

My name is Jacob, and I’m a producer/engineer under JJStewartAudio LLC. Whatever it takes, I help make songs happen!

When I was a teenager, I picked up a guitar and found the first thing I truly felt passion for. I played everyday and taught myself the basics until I decided to record my first song. But….the song sounded very horrible, haha. After researching why it sounded bad, how I could do it right, and went through the growing pains of learning Pro Tools, I found an even greater passion: music producing and mix engineering. And when I found out I could make a career from helping others through their song-making process, I was in disbelief.

By recording myself, my band, friends, and other independent artists, I’ve found that I’m the most help to clients when it comes to recording, producing, and mixing/mastering. I’ve found that I can serve the entire song-making process, which helps a lot in a time where independent artists have to pay a tracking engineer, producer, mix engineer, mastering engineer, and even ATMOS engineer. I can, and am very happy to, help with all of these at once!

Most of my work comes in the form of preparing and executing mixes. I was trained for seven years under Peter A, Barker, former chief engineer at Interscope and Sony Records, and I’m using this expertise every day to give independent artists a major leg-up in the streaming game. I am proud to combine traditional and modern mix techniques using waveform editing, manual vocal tuning, the newest plugin software, proper gain-staging/headroom, and an ear trained in both heavy metal and pop music!

With credited song streams totaling 1,000,000,000, including credits with Bad Bunny, 50 Cent, Future, Lil Wayne, and Guns N’ Roses, I want to emphasize that my clients’ projects are in good hands. I should mention that I’m also a musician myself! Thus, JJStewartAudio provides a unique service where a fellow artist starts the process with you, but can also deliver everything through final mastered files and Dolby ATMOS version.

I am very proud to help artists bring their ideas to life. Whatever stage of the process I’m hired for, I know it will be done right, and with love. I am here on behalf of 16-year-old Jacob discovering his first passion. For that reason, I want my clients to understand that every job is equally important to me, and will get the passion it deserves. Let’s do it, and let’s do it right!!

Is there something you think non-creatives will struggle to understand about your journey as a creative?

Making the jump from “hobby” to “career” is easy to misinterpret, and undervalue. We’re taught from kindergarten age to pursue a traditional, stable career and many parents encourage you to steer clear from risky creative projects. And in my opinion, this is absolutely valid for those wanting a sustainable lifestyle and family. But in doing so, some people forget that being a creative is also a valid path.

The biggest struggle I’ve had to overcome was unlearning the idea that creative jobs aren’t real jobs. Every moment that you aren’t working, you are most likely consuming art. Who wrote what you’re reading? Who edited and published it? Who scored the music to your favorite movie, and I’m inclined to ask…..who mixed and mastered it?

Everyday I overcome more of my imposter syndrome. It’s hard pill to swallow, but a necessary one. The world needs art, and those artists need somebody to engineer and produce it. We are valid as long as we provide a product or service, and I am proud to do so while also making myself happy.

Can you talk to us about how your side-hustle turned into something more.

Yes, last year my side hustle become my full time business!

In 2010, I began recording my own music for fun. In 2016, I released an EP and began producing my band’s music for fun. But when I made the jump and moved to LA for a studio engineer internship, I realized I had to take things very seriously to make it in such a competitive industry. And this internship gave me the necessary tools to do this on my own.

I’m not a fan of the word “networking” in social/creative jobs, but making friends absolutely helped me bridge the gap from side-job to main-job. Many friends expressed to me that they had ideas ready to come to life. Releasing these projects gave me a portfolio I could stand on, and word of mouth gave me more opportunities for work.

All the while, I also kept a barista job to fill in the gaps for rent. After five years of sticking with it to prove my dedication and education, I was at the right place at the right time. Pen Station Studios in Santa Monica, CA became a new commercial studio, and I was chosen to be the first employee to help! Since Jan 2nd, 2022 I’m very proud to say my career has been music and only music.

All of this to say: if you truly believe in what you are, you cannot give up. Success is when hard work meets opportunity, so put in the work, because most likely an opportunity will find you in the process.

I’d also like to say…..just DO IT. Get started! If you didn’t do it today, or this week, then you better get on it. You don’t have to be perfect. But your dreams won’t come if you don’t go out and get them.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jjstewartaudio/
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/jjstewartaudio
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCPTA8V8PlZ1URpXAITu00NA
• Other: Music Credits https://tinyurl.com/JacobStewartCredits Mixed by Jacob – Spotify Playlist https://tinyurl.com/MixedByJacob

Image Credits
Rachel Okalani, Jamie Kaufman, Sonny Alvarez, Erik Werlin