Dave Parkin: Trusting Your Instincts

Twenty-five years ago, Dave Parkin opened Blackbird Sound Studio in Perth, Western Australia, an independent recording studio that he own’s and manages. Since then, he’s been working in the music industry, picking up awards along the way—including 14 WAMI Producer of the Year wins and an ARIA-winning song—plus a handful of nominations. Dave’s had numerous songs chart in the ARIA rankings and a few tracks in the Triple J Hottest 100, with one reaching #2 and several others making the top 10.

Beyond the accolades, one of the most rewarding parts of his career has been working closely with bands such as Jebediah, South Summit, Old Mervs, Great Gable, and Spacey Jane, to name a few, on song structure, arrangement, and helping shape their sound. He’s had the privilege of contributing to the launch of many successful artists, both independent and signed to record labels, guiding them through the creative process and bringing their music to life.

Despite all that, Dave has kept a pretty low-key online presence and hasn’t relied much on advertising— he’s always preferred to let the music speak for itself, and people find him through the work he’s done. More than anything, Dave loves what he does and feels lucky to have built a career around it. These days, he’s found a better balance between work and family, trading the long, late hours of his 20s for a more sustainable routine. Making music is still his passion, but so is spending time with his wife and kids.

IN THIS EPISODE, YOU’LL LEARN:

• Getting started with running a studio
• How to find good bands to trust you with working on their music
• Being open to experimentation
• Dealing with impostor syndrome
• How to create clarity with effects
• Automating effects during the tracking stage
• When to use reverb vs. delay
• Creating movement in a mix through sidechained effects
• Distorting drums
• His trick for tracking big, fat snare sounds

To learn more about Dave Parkin, visit: http://www.blackbirdstudio.com.au/

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