We recently connected with Jake Rodriguez and have shared our conversation below.
Alright, Jake thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. When did you first know you wanted to pursue a creative/artistic path professionally?
I was about 15 years old, and my band “Funk Force,” saved up just enough money to record some original music in a “real” recording studio in Chicago. So we loaded the cars with our instruments and took the 90 minute drive to suburban Chicago.
Once there, we loaded all our instruments into the studio and set everything up. The engineer/owner, Jerry Soto of “Soto Sound Studio,” set up mics and plugged in instruments as we started rehearsing our songs. I was ABSOLUTELY fascinated by all the equipment, the mics, the amps, the mixing board… oh the large mixing console looked so cool and intimidating at the same time…. but I LOVED it. And after hearing our songs being played back in the studio, thru the loud speakers, I was floored at how professional our songs sounded.
I knew right then and there that if the band didn’t make it, I wanted to learn how to work in a recording studio, maybe even own my own studio…. and here I am 42 years later, a recording studio owner. But I actually owned my first recording studio in 1996, when I was in Minneapolis, playing with another band, trying “make it.” I was 32 years old, 17 years after my first recording studio experience. Over the last 25 years, I’ve owned 3 different studios, and started 2 different record labels.
The labels and those previous 3 studios are gone, but what we’ve got now is the BEST studio I’ve ever had, with the best staff, artists, collaborators…. let’s just say we have a GREAT studio and team,
But the dream started 42 years ago…
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
Being in so many bands, when I was young, and seeing them all end, miserably, I knew that working in recording studios, and developing artists, would satisfy my need to be musically, and technically creative.
So, in 1990, I attended The Recording Workshop in Chillicothe, OH, and in 1991, Columbia College, in Chicago, IL, both for Recording Engineering. I then headed back to Minneapolis to put my newly learned skills to use. It was while I was back in Minneapolis that things really started to take off for me,
In 2000, after a brief stint in A&R/Artist development for Sony/Epic Records, I began doing engineering and producing for OarFin Records (Angel Beach Studios) in Minneapolis. And in 2005, I formed Urban Grooves Productions (UGP), in conjunction with FS Studios/Records, in St. Paul, and A440 Studios, in Minneapolis. It was at these 2 studios that I really perfected my vocal producing/arranging and music producing “chops” and was instrumental in securing three artists with publishing, development, and artist label deals.
I believe my creativity working with vocalist, and helping them to develop vocal arrangements, add harmonies, and just the right amount of vocal adlibs is a “niche” that I REALLY love to “live” in. this is where I feel most creative, while producing records in my studio in Austin.
In 2010, UGP, relocated to Austin, Texas. By 2012, UGP created, “Music Recording Production Technology” (MRPT). It started as an After-School program, with High School students. The students in the MRPT program were assigned to write, record, arrange and produce an original song (with my teaching, help, and tutelage). They also shot/edited a music video, uploaded it to YouTube and got over 25K views and over 1,000 digital downloads via iTunes and Amazon.
Since then, I have implemented the MRPT program into 3 more schools in Austin, 2 in Round Rock, and 1 in Lockhart. This program is continuing to grow!
UGP and Takeoff Terminal Studios (our newest partner, as of 11/2018) has continued to record, produce, and develop songs for Austin-based and National recording artists.
UGP has expanded its sphere of operation and now offers artist consultation services, marketing, promotion, artist branding, podcasting, social media integration & upgrade, photography, music video, EPK, event planning/hosting, and many more different strategic ways to increase an artist’s online presence.
We’re a lean, mean, dream team, dedicated to recording, producing, editing, and delivering top-notch musical and industry products to a wide range of client,
What do you think is the goal or mission that drives your creative journey?
I feel so fortunate that I get to make a living doing what I love to do!
But I feel that it is also VERY important and that we, “creatives,” bare a HUGE responsibility to leave a fruitful legacy for the future generations of “creatives.”. This is a BIG factor that drives me to be my VERY best, EVERYDAY!
I have accumulated so much knowledge about the the creative, technical, relational, and business sides of the music industry that I feel compelled to share with young artists, that are eager to learn. I consult with lots of young artists in my studio, trying to get an idea of their short/long term goals, and try to help them set goals and expectations for themselves to achieve.
I also share knowledge about their content; how to protect it, monetize it, and share it,
I try to be a resource for these “creatives'” and help them in any way I can.
What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?
Again,I feel so fortunate that I get to make a living doing what I love to do!
The creative “release” of writing a song, or completing a lyric, or hearing the final “Master” with an artist, and watching their face light up, or their eyes well with tears… These are some of the MOST rewarding aspects of what I do…
I’ve never been one for chasing money and fame, or accolades and awards, although I have a few…. This is not what motivates me. But putting BEAUTIFUl music into the universe, knowing that this music, that I helped create can change someone’s mood, or consciousness,
This UNIVERSAL language of music, that crosses ALL barriers: race, religion, gender, age, and social-economic status, can have an affect on EVERYONE. Nothing else in this world has that type of power. But with this power comes responsibility, and I, for one, take that responsibility VERY seriously.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://takeoffterminal.studio/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/takeoffterminalstudios/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TakeoffTerminalStudios/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jakebnimblerodriguez/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/jake_b_nimble
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCPLPj6Qb7U9di54kL8z7hcg
Image Credits
I own all of these pics