Episode 313

Brendan Dekora: Understanding an Artist’s Vision

Brendan Dekora is a Los Angeles-based mixing engineer and producer whose two-decade climb through top studios like EastWest culminated in a full-time engineering post for Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross, earning him a Grammy for his work on Pixar's Soul score. His credits also include Foo Fighters' Concrete and Gold, Steven Wilson's Hand. Cannot. Erase., Billy Idol, Danzig, Muse, and Deafheaven. He now mixes and produces independently from his home studio, focused on rock and art-rock artists.

IN THIS EPISODE YOU’LL LEARN:

The two questions he asks every client before touching a single fader
What he does when a client hands him references that contradict each other
How to pick the right reference tracks
Why "I don't want to sound like anyone else" is the hardest brief he gets
How he decides whether to keep a "wrong" sound in a mix or fix it
Why he considers "putting his own stamp on everything" a mistake, not a selling point
Working with Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross on Nine Inch Nails tracks and film scores
How he balances his own creative instincts against what the artist is actually asking for

To learn more about Brendan Dekora, visit: https://www.brendandekora.com/

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