Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Josh Gray. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Josh, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today What do you think it takes to be successful?
Success in a monetary sense, attaining financial security/wealth takes consistency and dedication. As cliche as that may sound, in my experience, the more I’ve worked, the more money I’ve made, it’s that simple. The more time I’ve spent on improving my craft instills the confidence in me to conduct my business how I see fit. Success is also subjective. Me personally, I haven’t made millions off of my talents (yet) so to certain people that might not be viewed as successful. However, I view my story as a success because I’ve been able to become a full time musician at this point in life, which has been a dream of mine since I started a career in music.
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 currently manage a recording facility in Culver City, CA. I also work with youth, teaching them music production and songwriting. I am a self taught audio engineer, producer, & songwriter and I provide all these services to artists on all levels. I think what sets me apart from other engineers and producers is that I have a studio in a prime location and am able to schedule my own bookings. My interpersonal skills allow me to build a great rapport with my clients and gain their trust for their creative visions. I have yet to put on a full marketing campaign for my services, aside from light social media marketing, so a lot of my clientele is word of mouth. I’ve been able to retain clients due to my dedication to providing them with quality recordings. I’m also one to share knowledge that I have gained. I have empowered former clients to learn the craft for themselves by hosting engineering workshops. I got into music as a teen growing up in Evanston, IL. I started making beats and writing songs on GarageBand. During my junior year in college at SIUC, I linked with some classmates, we formed a group and put out multiple projects and music videos. It was during this time I realized I had a real passion for making music. We eventually disbanded as time wore on but I’m forever grateful for that experience. I continued to explore my production style, making beats on FL Studio, and engineering/mixing tracks on Mixcraft. I was a media major and our communications building had state of the art recording equipment and computer labs with Pro Tools. I took a music business class my senior year which further sparked my interest. After I finished school, I spent 6 months living in New Jersey with my sister and her husband at the time. They had a recording setup which they allowed me to utilize while living rent free. I was working on Logic Pro, making beats and recording songs which led to me releasing another project. That time spent in Jersey really allowed me to lock in for hours at a time and learn different techniques when it came to recording and mixing. My life completely changed when I moved to Los Angeles and was introduced to my mentor through my eldest sister. The studio I currently manage today is where I got my start as an intern for my mentor’s production company. In an instant, I was engulfed in this world of entertainment, networking with some notable figures in the industry all while pursuing my ambitions. Having access to this facility enabled me to spend countless hours doing research on how to use Pro Tools for recording and mixing. I was initially doing this to apply these techniques to my own music and as I improved, it evolved into me providing this service for other talent. in 2019 I appeared on episode 1 of Netflix’s Rhythm + Flow and I thought my time had finally. come. I went in to the competition with high hopes and was disappointed when I did not advance. It was still a great opportunity for exposure which lead to an appearance on a popular LA radio station Real 92.3. The next couple of years were a huge transition period for me. Obviously the pandemic had a huge impact on social gatherings and employment ; I had decided to quit my job and pursue music full time. I also came to the conclusion that I had more longevity as an engineer/producer rather than as an artist. I started to take on more clients for recording and mixing services and did less recording of my own material. From the time I was 16 years old, I had this dream of being the next superstar and everything that comes with being a major recording artist. I never imagined I’d be in the position I am in today and being fully content with it. I’d say that is what I’m most proud of. I’ve been able to adapt and I have also embraced my journey, my story. I believe I am a successful entrepreneur. I haven’t gotten all the notoriety and made all the money in the world but I wake up everyday and am able to do what I love doing.
How’d you build such a strong reputation within your market?
The testimony of people I’ve had the pleasure of working with. In business, your reputation is built upon the quality of service you provide and the review of people who have accessed your services. My mindset is to be of service and I think the customer is always right, in most cases. When it comes to engineering and mixing, most of my clients trust my ear and my creativity. Knowing that, I still communicate with the artist during sessions to make sure the desired goal is achieved. I’ve always been open to constructive criticism and ways to improve my process. I think my clients appreciate my humility and my attention to detail.
Can you share a story from your journey that illustrates your resilience?
I’m 31 years old and I’ve been making music, trying to make a name for myself in the industry since I was 16 years old. That’s 15 years of pursuing a dream and I have no intention of letting up. I still have yet to scratch the surface of the success I envisioned for myself. From the time I started making my own music, I had my share of doubters and detractors. In the face of all those No’s, I knew in my heart that this is what I really wanted to do. You set your intentions, work toward your goals and the universe begins working things in your favor. I realize I’m blessed and fortunate to have been in certain rooms and positions but at the same time, while I’m not entitled to any of it, I expected to be in these situations and they have come naturally to me. It all starts with an unwavering belief in yourself. I never went to school to be an audio engineer or producer but the internet has a wealth of knowledge. If I can spend 6-8 hours a day locked into a studio doing research, learning new concepts, then anyone can. Hard work beats talent when talent doesn’t work hard is one of the truest statements that have resonated with my journey.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: @joshgray___
- Facebook: Facebook.com/joshgrayyy
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joshua-gray-41007759
- Twitter: @joshgray___
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/jog715
Image Credits
@j3shoots