Summary+paper


= = = = Now, in this present day and for the rest of my numbered days I have come to realize that music production has grasped my mind like a child grasping candy. The new perspectives of the fully engaged music industry come directly from the minds of Andrew Berlin and Jason Livermore. As I first entered the glowing establishment that has come to be known as the Blasting Room Studios **™** I found myself pondering whether or not the questions I had debated were worthy of such a brilliant establishment. I soon found that the people inhabiting this place focused on the music, the sheer emotion put into each and every note; they were more than happy to answer my questions with inspiring hues of perspective, experience, and persistence. With every passing moment of the interview I found myself in awe of the amount of patience and wonderful knowledge held within Andrew, Jason Livermore, and Bill Stevenson. This knowledge was not only of how to produce such bands as Flogging Molly, The Descendants, and ALL, but also of how to tune into the band’s subtle signs, and this skill manifests itself within the actual recording. I am so grateful to have had the experience to not only interview, but actually record with Andrew himself. My band found it necessary to begin production of our new album “The Rain is Gone” in early November by recording the self-titled song “The Rain is Gone”. The evidence of our experience lies solely within the recording itself, and what an incredible experience it was. To sit in a room for ten hours recording precisely the same thing over and over, hour after hour is wearing to say the least, but with experience and persistence we made it happen. “What about the terrible bands that come with no experience and waste your time?” I said. “Well, it is really about the music, you see, and if we can produce something phenomenal out of the crappiest performance, then our job here is done…if they are willing to pay, of course haha”, said Andrew. This comment alone fortified the idea in my mind that the money comes second only to the emotion, the music and the production of something truly incredible. “The mix needs to add to the music, without interfering with the song.” Truly the hardest part of the experience must be mastering this technique. With technology just at our fingertips, it seems easy to conclude that a decent recording can be made from a terrible performance, but is this truly going to stick with the listeners for years to come? The final product does not merely lie within the knowledge; it is predominant within the persistence and experience of the producer. I have come to realize that the career in which I strive to achieve is not only about knowing the technology, learning the tricks of the trade in the classroom, but like a jewel within a mountainside the true task lies in finding and learning from mistakes, experiencing new perspectives, and incredible persistence to become what I have always dreamed.
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**//__Response: __//** I sincerely enjoyed working with these fine gentlemen, and I certainly believe that Jason and Andrew's experience is that of persistence, charisma, the will to strive for a dream. If I were to find myself upon the steps of the Blasting Room again, i would undoubtedly fall to the ground with joy and be so absolutely grateful for having such an experience. Working with Andrew on a creation unlike any other I had experienced in my life was the icing on the cake, and I am sure my band mates feel the same way. It is not easy to record, mix, master, and produce a professional sounding recording, but ten hours and eight hundred dollars later we had ourselves an incredible piece of art, all on our own. Now, I know it is not easy to learn how to mix and master, but the more trying task lies in the arms of the technology. Several times throughout our process the microphones were getting crossed, cables were not working, and one time our computer completely rebooted. To have personally found the light in either of these men's hearts is the ultimate personal happiness. To unlock the secrets of Andrew's career is the fabric of miracles and to see into Jason's mind as if some looking glass is profound beyond belief. The questions I had formulated seemed mundane and benign but in the experience of these professionals, they were more than happy to answer them and invested in my personal enjoyment. "From the moment you were born, did you know that music was your true calling?" I said. For me, this question raises other questions and promotes one to ponder the true meaning in life. In my experience I have known from a small age that I would engage myself in music, and possibly even the music industry. It is extremely difficult to find yourself lodged in the time and space of the actual recording process, and even more difficult to actually have the skill to record those in the game. What an immense amount of pressure on the individual to perform, what a giant step for one to take in order to create the sound that millions will hear. To do the best one can is the skill that few realize, and only the lucky may practice. This true persistence manifests itself within the sound, the notes of the music and to truly find that harmony takes an incredible amount of the best in one's ability. I have learned a great deal from these wonderful human beings, but the ultimate lesson comes in finding my true calling and pursuing it, chasing the dream down the road to glory.

Works Cited:

 * Berlin, Andrew "Career Interview". Personal Interview. 20 Jan. 2009.
 * Livermore, Jason "Career Interview". Personal Interview. 20 Jan. 2009