We recently connected with Yang Liu and have shared our conversation below.

Yang, appreciate you joining us today. When did you first know you wanted to pursue a creative/artistic path professionally?

The first time I really knew was back in my first year in SCA. I had always loved movies and music, but I didn’t connect that passion to a career until I started working on a small project of my own. I remember recording little sounds—like footsteps, doors closing, even messing around with my dog’s collar jingling—and dropping them into a short film I was editing. Suddenly the picture felt alive in a way it hadn’t before.

Later, when I started to work on more student productions, that feeling only intensified. I was in the mix, shaping dialogue, Foley, and ambience, and I realized: this is it. This is the place where my creative instincts and technical problem-solving come together. It wasn’t just fun anymore—it felt like a language I wanted to master. That was the moment I knew sound design and mixing wasn’t just something I enjoyed—it was the career I wanted to build.

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’m a recording engineer, sound designer and re-recording mixer with a passion for shaping how stories are experienced through sound. I grew up fascinated by films and music, but it wasn’t until I started experimenting with recording and editing sound that I realized how deeply it can transform an audience’s connection to a story. That curiosity eventually led me to pursue formal training at USC’s School of Cinematic Arts, where I’ve been able to refine my craft on a wide range of productions.

The kind of work I provide spans sound design, dialogue editing, Foley, ADR, music recording and final mixing. At the core, my job is about problem-solving: making dialogue clear when production sound is messy, creating textures that elevate a scene’s emotion, or mixing layers so they support the story rather than distract from it. What sets me apart is my balance of technical precision with a creative, story-first approach. I see sound not just as background, but as a narrative force that can shape how people feel without them even realizing it.

I’m most proud of the collaborative relationships I’ve built through this work. Some of my most rewarding projects have been when a director or editor tells me the mix helped the story come alive in ways they hadn’t imagined. For me, that’s the goal every time: to help storytellers find the emotional impact they’re reaching for, and to make audiences feel fully immersed.

If there’s one thing I’d want potential clients or collaborators to know, it’s that I approach every project with the same mindset: listen closely, problem-solve creatively, and always put the story first. That philosophy is what drives my work and what I hope defines my career moving forward.

What do you think is the goal or mission that drives your creative journey?

Yes — my mission is to use sound to deepen emotional storytelling. I’ve always been fascinated by the way audiences can be guided, moved, or unsettled by what they hear, often without realizing why. My goal is to create work where sound doesn’t just support the visuals, but adds its own layer of meaning and resonance.

On a practical level, that means I’m driven to keep growing as both a technician and an artist. I want to master the craft so that when I sit down with a director or a team, I can translate their vision into a sonic experience that feels authentic, immersive, and emotionally true. Long term, I want my work to contribute to stories that matter — stories that entertain, inspire, or open up new perspectives.

What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?

For me, the most rewarding aspect is seeing how the work connects with people on an emotional level. As a sound designer and mixer, my work often isn’t noticed directly, but it’s felt. When a scene suddenly comes alive, when dialogue feels clear and intimate, or when a sound choice makes an audience lean in without realizing why—that’s the payoff.

I also find the collaborative process incredibly rewarding. Every project is a chance to step into someone else’s story, to translate their vision into sound, and to discover creative solutions together. That mix of artistry, problem-solving, and teamwork is what keeps me inspired and reminds me why I chose this path.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://coral-roadrunner-gdzm.squarespace.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/yaaang.liiiu?igsh=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ%3D%3D&utm_source=qr
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/yang-liu-509028282
• Other: Sound Reel:
  https://vimeo.com/1117960219