Jacob Gago on SoundBetter

GRAMMY-nominated music producer, mixing engineer, and songwriter based in Los Angeles. Major label credits include Anitta (Funk Generation) and Normani (Dopamine) via Warner, Interscope, Republic, and Atlantic. Sync placements on Netflix, Apple TV+, Hulu, and ABC's The Rookie. Specializing in Pop, Hip Hop, R&B, Afrobeat, and EDM. Radio-ready production, mixing, and mastering worldwide.

Jacob Gago is a GRAMMY-nominated music producer, mixing engineer, and songwriter based in Los Angeles, CA. He has produced for Grammy-winning artists on major labels including Warner Music Group, Interscope Records, Republic Records, and Atlantic Records, with recent credits featuring Anitta (Funk Generation) and Normani (Dopamine).

His music has been synced on major networks and streaming platforms including Netflix (Uglies), Apple TV+ (LOOT), Hulu (Royal Rules of Ohio), and ABC's The Rookie.

Specializing in Pop, Hip Hop, R&B, Afrobeat, EDM, and Trap, Jacob delivers radio-ready production, professional mixing, and mastering for artists and labels worldwide. He's a multi-instrumentalist who plays piano, bass, drums, guitar, and ukulele — bringing a songwriter's sensibility and a producer's precision to every record.

Services offered: full music production, mixing, mastering, songwriting, topline writing, live drum tracking, keyboards/synth programming, and sound design. Whether you're an independent artist, major label, sync supervisor, or fellow producer, Jacob brings major-label quality on every project — no matter the budget.

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Credits

Endorse Jacob Gago2 Reviews

by Fred Miller
Verified (Client)
Just did a couple of masters for Jacob. Great guy but even greater music. I hope that I get lucky enough to continue working with his stuff!
by Wanalog Studios
Verified (Client)
This is the first time working with Jacob, and we must say.... wow!! this track is FIRE!! . We are very very impressed with the quality, and highly recommend Jacob if you need EDM Productions, Remixes and more!!

Interview with Jacob Gago

Q: Tell us about a project you worked on you are especially proud of and why. What was your role?
A: Contributing production on Anitta's Funk Generation album was a highlight — a global project with a massive visual and sonic identity. Landing syncs on ABC's The Rookie, Apple TV+'s LOOT, Netflix's Uglies, and Hulu's Royal Rules of Ohio has also been huge. Every placement is a reminder that records made in the studio can end up scoring real moments in people's lives.
Q: Is there anyone on SoundBetter you know and would recommend to your clients?
A: SoundBetter has an incredible roster. Happy to make intros when a project calls for a specialist outside my lane — vocalists, session musicians, mastering engineers, and more.
Q: What questions do customers most commonly ask you? What's your answer?
A: "How many revisions do I get?" I work until the record is right — within reason and within scope. "How long will it take?" Typically 2–3 days for mixing/mastering, 1–2 weeks for full production, depending on the project. "Do you share stems?" Yes, clean, labeled stems with every delivery.
Q: What's the biggest misconception about what you do?
A: That great production is about gear. It's not. Great production is about taste, arrangement, and the ability to serve the song. You can make a hit on a laptop if your ears and your ideas are sharp.
Q: What questions do you ask prospective clients?
A: What's the story behind the song? Who's the artist you're chasing sonically? What platform is this for — streaming, sync, an album? What's the deadline and the budget range? Those four questions unlock almost everything else.
Q: What advice do you have for a customer looking to hire a provider like you?
A: Have a clear reference track or mood, know your deadline, and share the rough vision up front. The more I understand where you want to go, the faster we get there. And don't stress about sending 'unfinished' ideas — some of the best records start as voice memos.
Q: If you were on a desert island and could take just 5 pieces of gear, what would they be?
A: A laptop with Pro Tools and Logic, a pair of Neumann headphones, a solid audio interface, a versatile condenser mic, and a MIDI keyboard. With that setup you can make a hit record anywhere.
Q: What was your career path? How long have you been doing this?
A: I've been producing and engineering professionally for over a decade. Along the way I've built relationships with major labels (Warner, Interscope, Republic, Atlantic), landed syncs on Netflix, Apple TV+, Hulu, and ABC, and earned a GRAMMY nomination. I also run a YouTube channel and mentor producers 1-on-1, which keeps me plugged into where the craft is heading.
Q: How would you describe your style?
A: Clean, modern, and emotionally dialed in. I blend polished major-label production with the grit and personality that makes a record feel human. Pop hooks, Hip Hop pocket, R&B warmth, Afrobeat/EDM energy — whatever the genre, I focus on making the listener feel something.
Q: Which artist would you like to work with and why?
A: Right now I'd love to work with artists pushing the edge of Pop and R&B — The Weeknd, SZA, Doja Cat, Tyla. Anyone chasing a sound rather than a formula.
Q: What's your strongest skill?
A: Making records that translate. I know what a song needs to compete on radio, streaming playlists, and TV/film sync — from the melody and arrangement down to the final master. That instinct comes from years of working on major label releases and sync placements.
Q: What's your typical work process?
A: Every project starts with a short call or message to understand the vision, references, and deadline. From there I share a clear timeline and deliverables list. For production: I build the beat or session, send a rough, incorporate feedback, and deliver stems + a mastered final. For mixing: I work through detailed revisions until the record hits every reference target. Communication is constant, files are organized, and everything is delivered on time.
Q: Tell us about your studio setup.
A: A professional Los Angeles-based production and mixing setup built around a hybrid workflow — Pro Tools, Logic Pro, and Ableton Live with a curated mix of analog outboard and in-the-box processing. Calibrated monitoring for mix translation across headphones, cars, and club systems. Built for delivering radio-ready records, broadcast-ready sync stems, and label-quality mixes.
Q: What other musicians or music production professionals inspire you?
A: I draw inspiration from producers who push sonic boundaries while still serving the song — Pharrell, Max Martin, Metro Boomin, Finneas, and Jack Antonoff. In mixing, I'm constantly learning from engineers like Serban Ghenea and Manny Marroquin.
Q: What's your 'promise' to your clients?
A: Major-label quality on every record — no matter the budget.
Q: What do you bring to a song?
A: GRAMMY-nominated production experience, strong melodic instincts, and mixes that are ready for radio, streaming, and sync. I help artists finish songs that compete at the top level.
Q: Describe the most common type of work you do for your clients.
A: Full music production, mixing, mastering, and songwriting — primarily in Pop, Hip Hop, R&B, Afrobeat, and EDM — for major label artists, independent artists, and sync placements in TV and film.
Q: What are you working on at the moment?
A: Producing and mixing for major label artists, sync placements for networks like Netflix, Apple TV+, Hulu, and ABC, and mentoring the next generation of producers 1-on-1.
Q: Analog or digital and why?
A: Doesn't matter. A hit doesn't care if its analog or digital. Thats why.
Q: What do you like most about your job?
A: Living my passion and the flexibility.
Q: Can you share one music production tip?
A: Its not about the gear. Instead of spending money on gear spend money on your brain.
Q: What type of music do you usually work on?
A: Pop, Hip Hop and Electronic Dance Music (EDM).