My First Weeks - Posted on 2014-02-10 by Brenden Mendez

I could use the expression: "I came into this world like a newborn baby" to describe my first weeks in the studio, but its hardly enough to explain the way I really felt. Unlike a newborn, I actually knew what I was getting myself into. How far it would go, I could not forsee. Shortly after walking into the studio on my first day, we started working with a local artist who was making a remix to a song that's popular on the radio these days. Within minutes of watching my mentor, Triv, at work, I was amazed at what was unfolding before my eyes. Instantly I knew this was the right path for me, and that I had finally made the right choice.

While watching him do the recording on vocals, my attention was grabbed by the huge patchbay to my left with all sorts of racks that I had never seen in person before. To my amazement I had actualy heard of one of the racks, which was the "Avalon Compressor". With a simple question to Triv aboout it he was able to answer me about it's functions, while leaving no confusion in my mind. Now that he has cleared up all my questions, as well as introduced me to new tricks for vocals all within the first few hours, I felt very fortunate to be in that position. This left me feeling very hopeful that my time here was going to be exciting and very progressive for the next 6 months. Within the first day I was able to connect with 3 local artists, who were all very great and out-going. To my astonishment, they were all very helpful in giving any advice, and giving me a sort of direction to look towards. One statement that my other mentor, John, had said, and I quote: "If you support the scene, then the scene will support you". I felt the lightbulb go off in my head as the epiphany arised inside of my brain. It was one of the most simplistic ways of putting it, but its always better to be short, sweet, and to the point. 

Before starting this program, or starting at the stuio, I was fairly hesitant at the fact that I may join the "wrong" studio because we're not all apart of the same "scene". After just a short week, it is easily noted that where you're at really doesnt matter. The entire basis of all this, the program, is it to learn the fundementals, expand your knowledge, and to make some connections. This is all done to ensure that you will take it further than you could have ever initially anticipated. In the end though, it all comes down to you, the individual, and what you're going to make out of it. Nobody is going to do any of the work for you, or tell you what steps you need to take in any "magical order" that will work 100% of the time. Life simply does not work that way, and my mentors made it very clear that there's no exceptions to that in music! No matter your situation, you control the outcome, whether you like it or not. An individual's creativity, determination, and self-motivation is where it all boils down to. I say where is not important because in the end, were all going the same way: TO THE TOP!