We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Kevin Wilson. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Kevin below.
Hi Kevin , thanks for joining us today. The first dollar your business earns is always special and we’d love to hear how your brand made its first dollar of revenue.
I got my first client from working at Bad Boy Entertainment, at the time I was the only engineer that would work with a rather difficult client. The client had some pretty big demands when it came to time and how efficient the person working with him should be. Being that I was new to the company at the time when they contracted me I wanted to prove myself. The clients previous engineer quit the day of the session and the studio manager hired me to take of the session. The client was extremely important to the company, he was working on releasing a project and had not released one in a long time and they were counting on this one doing really well. Within the first hour of the session the client was being difficult and really uncooperative with our process. After a little talking and bonding over sports he became comfortable with me and that day we recording four songs. From that day forward I was his go to engineer and the project was completed ahead of schedule. Being his engineer opened doors to the other artist on the label and I became the main engineer at the company. Working with all of the major artist that came in to work eventually becoming the main touring engineer for one of the main music producers
Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.
NYC Audio Engineer Kevin Wilson started his musical journey at the renowned university of SUNY Purchase, receiving his B.A. in Social Science in the Arts and Media. Moving on with his education, Kevin studied the art of Audio Engineering and Music Production at The Institute of Audio Research in 2001. From Intern to Assistant Engineer, Kevin excelled into a position at Sony Studios and then moved straight to Senior Staff Engineer at the infamous and innovative Bad Boy Records / Daddy’s House Recording Studios. Engineering over 50 different albums and single releases from chart topping artist such as Danity Kane, Cheri Dennis and the Notorious BIG. Kevin also played a key role in the production of Sean Puffy Combs “Press Play” album that debuted at number one on the US Billboard Charts in 2006. After 5 years of working with Bad Boys Records, Kevin Wilson was presented with the opportunity to work exclusively with Mario Winans as his Personal Recording Engineer. Touring Germany, Amsterdam and Russia was just the beginning of the miles he traveled while working within the music industry. His time with Mario Winans lead him in garnering a position within Platinum Sound Recording Studios in 2008. This is where Kevin had the chance to work and tour with Grammy Award Winning Artist Wyclef Jean and Jerry Wonda. In 2010, Kevin Wilson returned to Bad Boy Records to work once again with Sean Puffy Combs, Harve Pierre and Mario Winans on the release of “Last Train to Paris”.
His success at Platinum Sound Recording Studios is a staple for upcoming Audio Engineers, Interns and music communities alike. Becoming the main recording and mixing engineer on Busta Rhymes 2012 album “Year of the Dragon and 2013’s hit single “I Wanna Thank you” featuring Q-Tip, solidified the hard work and dedication that Kevin puts forth in every project he commits to. Today Kevin “Kev O” Wilson is embarking on many different musical and entrepreneurial endeavors. Breaking boundaries in sound and excelling in all he does, the future is endless.
How about pivoting – can you share the story of a time you’ve had to pivot?
I am actually in a pivot now, we have recently gone from doing all of our session being in person and in a studio environment to embracing technology and moving to a remote recording service. We have taken the experience of recording in the studio and made it even better with our clients being able to work from the comfort of their own homes or studio environments. We have changed from being just a audio engineering company to also providing education services to aspiring engineers and producers. We have also started a consulting business that help artist work on the talent, from the performance aspect, the marketing and providing them with the connections to the people they will need to move in confidence in the music industry. Embracing this new transition of our business is challenging and exciting as we get to create a brand new way music is created and are a part of the next generation of superstars int he making.
How’d you meet your business partner?
I met my business partner/wife Avita Williams when she reached out to interview me for a school we both attended. It was actually the school that I graduated from to get the training to become an engineer. When I first met her I knew from that moment that she was going to be the one that was not only going to help me run my business but the one I wanted to spend the rest of my life with. She is smart innovative and amazing talented. She helps push our business forward, with her forward thinking she has helped us take our business from a traditional in studio model to the one we are currently working with now. Without her I would be completely lost I am so honored to have such a great business partner and wife
Contact Info:
- Website: SocialHooligans.com
- Instagram: @socialhooligans
- Facebook: Kevin wilson
Image Credits
Wyclef Jean