We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Nigel Dean. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Nigel below.
Nigel, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today What’s been the most meaningful project you’ve worked on?
I would say the most meaningful project I’ve worked on thus far was when I worked with my first A-tier artist at the studio – The Shins.
To provide you with some back story:
Growing up I knew I always wanted to pursue a life in music. The moment I started learning my first instrument was the moment that realization came to me. Of course, the probability of earning a sustainable living working in the music industry is low so the amount of doubt I received growing up from peers, friends, and their parents were always ubiquitous. I was fortunate and will always be eternally grateful that my parents were there to support my dream of working in the industry. I honestly don’t know if I would be where I am if I hadn’t had their support from day one. And if they did have doubt, I was never aware of it. But regardless of all the doubt I received growing up, it never dissuaded me from my goal to earn a living in music and work alongside the artists I had admired and idolized growing up.
Now flash forward to my very first days working at Phaser Control Recording Studio (my current place of work). I was just starting my career as an audio engineer and at that point had already worked with a few local artists. Life was already feeling pretty surreal. That is until I got word I was going to be working with an artist I had adored since I was a teenager – The Shins. Then things really started to feel surreal, as if I was living in a dream. One may think they will get to work with some cool artists. potentially even an A-tier artist, but I would have never imagined my first A-tier would be someone whose lyrics I could recite backward.
I remember the day of the session like it was yesterday. Prior to it, I recollect telling myself to not get my hopes up just in case a situation arose where the band had to cancel so I wouldn’t be left disappointed. Then the day happen. I remember the feeling I had the moment I saw James Mercer walk into the studio. It’s actually probably inaccurate for me to describe it as a singular feeling for the emotion I felt was borderline indescribable. But I remember feeling awe, joy, disbelief, and even unworthiness. I remember thinking to myself “What did I do to deserve this?” The emotions though had to be quickly shoved to the side as the situation called for the utmost professionalism and I was about to let my “fanboying” get in the way of the work that needed to be done.
When the job was over and I was comfortable in my home was when I let my feelings return. I remember telling myself how grateful I was to never let all the doubts I had ever experienced growing up prevent me from pursuing my career aspirations. The question I had asked myself earlier on what did I do to deserve this quickly changed to the realization of how I was able to get to the position I was in where I was working with one of my favorite artists. And at the end of my reflection, I walked away with a valuable lesson that I always knew, but now had the proof that was gained from experience. That a hard work ethic alongside a passion would take me to the places I wanted to be in life and not a day goes by I don’t remember.
As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?
To give a brief backstory of myself. I was born in Idaho and have been a musician for the majority of my life. my journey in music began in 5th grade by joining the school’s orchestra as a violin player. My devotion to music began really in 6th grade when I got my first guitar and lessons. From that moment forward I knew I wanted to be a musician for the rest of my life and work in the music industry as my career path. When I graduated high school I enrolled into Boise State University as a musical composition major studying classical guitar, and minoring in piano. I stayed there 2 years and then decided to switch my focus to music production and audio engineering. The moment I decided to switch my focus was the moment that I started planning my move to San Diego. I knew that in order to achieve the goals I had set forth I had to move to a place where the opportunity was much greater than in my tiny hometown. I knew that LA and New York were off the table as I genuinely hate both of those places so I decided to move to the place with the best weather in the country, probably the world. When I moved to San Diego, I sought out an apprenticeship under Patrick Heaney at Phaser Control Recording Studio. I particularly sought him out because of his incredible talent as an engineer and a musician as well as I knew he would share many of the same musical interests that I had. I knew this because like anyone who has an unstoppable ambition, I did my homework. I’m sure you can guess I was thrilled when he accepted me as his apprentice and to this very day he and I our colleagues as well as dear friends to one another.
I always knew I wanted to work in music ever since the day I got my first guitar. Growing up I always thought I’d be in a rock and roll band but it wasn’t until I got into college that I realized that my interest was not just in the musical composition process, but also in the production and engineering side. The turning point for me was when I got to see firsthand someone using music production software to write their music and turn it into something you could listen to. It immediately piqued my interest and led me down the path of purchasing my own and then developing a plan to do whatever it took to become an expert at it.
As of today, I’m a professional music producer and audio engineer at Phaser Control Recording Studio. The services I offer are music production and composition, recording services, mixing, and mastering. Most people who aren’t familiar with the music development process might be familiar with recording music and composing it, but most don’t have any idea what mixing and mastering are. I will do my best to explain what exactly these are.
When it comes to music production my job as the producer is to lead a music project to its best potential, both creatively and technically. I strategize studio time and coach the artist as well as make suggestions and alterations to songs. Most the time I will write the songs but this is entirely dependent on the project. If I’m working with a pop vocalist, it is almost a guarantee that I will be writing the song. However, if I’m working with a band who already has their songs written, then I will instead direct and make suggestions to arrangement as well as make suggestions to changing the way a musician plays a melody, rhythm, or lyric.
As a mixing audio engineer, my job is to balance and adjust every instrument and sound source using tools such as equalization, dynamics processing and audio effects in order to achieve the best and most optimal sonic quality within the music project, also known as the mix or mixdown, hence the term mixing. As a mastering engineer, I use a lot of the same tools but the process is quite different. Mastering is the final stage within the music development process. The purpose of mastering is to once again to balance the sonic elements, but instead of manipulating each individual sound source, rather you consilidate all instrumentation within the project into a singular audio file known as a stereo mix. From there, the goal is to optimize playback across all potential playback systems and media formats. Essentially the goal is to make the song ready for radio, tv, streaming platforms, etc. As a recording engineer my job is to achieve the best sound recording possible. This is achieved first by choosing the perfect room that has been sound treated for recording purposes and then by selecting the best microphone(s) for the project, by placing the microphone(s) in the most optimal place, and by selecting the best EQs, compressors, and other tools needed for the job.
If you were to ask me what sets me apart from others your likely going to get the same response as any other engineer and producer – my signature. Some may say prices that our competitive. Others may say turnaround time. and all these are definitely part of it. But really what sets me apart from everyone else is the ulity that I provide. Like any other artist, a producer and an engineer sculpts and creates. Not all of us use the same techniques and not all of us use the same tools or approach. My signature represents both my technique, my strategy, and my art which when all combined together produces the best and most optimal quality to my clients.
If you ask me what I’m most proud of I would tell you my work ethic. I’m the guy who works 10 hours a day, sleeps 6 hours a night, and I prefer not to waste any time. I’m also a perfectionist, so I won’t stop until I belive with incredible conviction that I’ve produced the best product and sound possible. This is also what I convey to my clients. That when the choose me as their engineer or producer, I won’t stop until I achieve their vision.
Can you share a story from your journey that illustrates your resilience?
Perhaps the best way to describe my resilience is to take you back to when I had just started my position at Phaser. My apprenticeship with Patrick had ended and I was offered by the owner of the studio to make Phaser my home base. The way the studio works is much like a Hair salon or a gym. The owner owns the building and provides stations or a workspace for a fee. This is the same at Phaser. That means I’m responsible for getting my clients. Occasionally the owner will offer me jobs but the majority of the time it’s all on me.
So when I first started I had zero clients. And even when I did start to get clients, there weren’t enough in my clientele list to survive. It was like this for a solid 2 years. I had no choice but to work a second job which was my primary source of income, the studio being nothing more than a side gig essentially. I believe most people would have given up if they had to deal with 2 years of waiting tables, making barely enough money to survive. Being unable to buy groceries some days and receiving nutrition from top ramen or Mcdonalds I think would cause people to have a second thoughts. But not me.
I remember my mother once having a conversation with me about my choice to pursue a career in the music industry. She always supported my ambition but she told me that the likelihood that I would make a good living was very slim. Not impossible, but slim. The odds were not in the average person’s favor. But I’m not average and I told my mother that day I would either succeed, or I would starve to death trying.
Today I’m living comfortably. I never lost hope and my determination and drive led me to where I am today. And the great news is that every year gets better and better.
What’s worked well for you in terms of a source for new clients?
My best source of gaining new clientele has always been word of mouth. People who have worked with me spread my name around and those people then reach out to me. I’ve gained clients through social platforms and other websites, and I’ve spent many nights going to concerts and rehearsals trying to pitch myself to local artists, especially when I was first starting. But nothing compares when it comes to my clients recommending me to their friends and peers.
This is why I take such pride in my work ethic. For to have people recommend you to others indisputably displays the quality of my work as well as provides a testament to the work ethic I cherish so much.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.phasercontrolrecordingstudio.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nigelalxander/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PhaserControl
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/NigelAlxander
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/phaser-control-studio-san-diego
- Other: https://soundbetter.com/profiles/411828-nigel-dean—phaser-control
Image Credits
Jake Plasse