I help artist transform the demos sitting on their computer into a something that they feel confident sharing with the world! You know the potential your music holds, and I am here to help you make sure it sounds and feels the best it can!
My name is Graham Achen. I have had a lifelong love of music and the sonic choices that artists make to invoke
certain emotions. My love of Producing and Mixing has come from the realization that how a track and mix is crafted sonically, greatly impacts the final product. I work mainly with newer artists who, have lots of music and ideas they want to complete and release, but struggle to get a sound they are satisfied with. Wether its songwriting, producing, mixing, a track cleanup or a vocal fix I can help you craft the sound you know is there! If you have great sonic ideas for your sound but don't know where to start, message me and we can get you to your goals!
Send me a note through the contact button above.
Interview with Graham Achen
Q: What are you working on at the moment?
A: Working on finding clients I love to work with to work with for the long term!
Q: Analog or digital and why?
A: Digital! I love the creative flow and how fast everything is in Digital. For me mixing and creativity is all about workflow. I want to get that split second idea into my DAW as quickly as possibly and keep being creative. For that reason I love digital.
Q: What's your 'promise' to your clients?
A: I promise that we can get your demo to a track you are proud to release to the world!
Q: What do you like most about your job?
A: I love creating a song or a sound that is exactly what someone was thinking in their head when they came to me!
Q: What's the biggest misconception about what you do?
A: I do not master tracks/ increase the loudness. I think there is a lot of confusion from artists, especially newer ones that mastering/ mixing is just turning up your balance and slapping a limiter onto it. I do not just turn everything up, I make it sit well together.
Q: What questions do you ask prospective clients?
A: What is your goal with this song & release? What are 3-5 tracks you want this Mix to sound inspired by? Do you have anything specifically you want me to do, or do you want me to take full creative freedom with this mix?
Q: What advice do you have for a customer looking to hire a provider like you?
A: As long as you have an open mind and passion for your art, we can get the job done!
Q: If you were on a desert island and could take just 5 pieces of gear, what would they be?
A: Berydynamic DT 990 Pro, Apple m1 Laptop, M-Audio Midi Keyboard, MRX Talk-box, Focusrite Audio Interface
Q: What was your career path? How long have you been doing this?
A: I have been making music for around 7 years. Been focused on Production and Mixing for the last 2/3 years!T
Q: Which artist would you like to work with and why?
A: I would love to work with Frank Ocean because of his voice. Frank has one of my favorite voices of all time and I would love to create something where he sings similarly, but over electronic production. I love electronic music with beautiful vocals and I think his would be perfect for it.
Q: Can you share one music production tip?
A: Sound Selection is Key! The biggest difference between a song that sounds professional and one that sounds like a demo is sound selection!
Q: What type of music do you usually work on?
A: Hip Hop, Pop, Indie Pop
Q: What's your strongest skill?
A: My Strongest Skill is the ability to turn an artists idea or feeling they want to express through their music into a something that sounds like what they are feeling.
Q: What other musicians or music production professionals inspire you?
A: Mike Dean, Jaron & J Dilla. Mike Dean always has incredible mixes & production that sound other worldly. Jarons synth work and sound design is insane and makes me love synthesizers even more than I already do. Dilla's beats and samples just have such an organic flow to them, its hard to tell they were even sampled they sound so smooth.
Q: Describe the most common type of work you do for your clients.
A: I get raw, unmixed stems from my clients, clean them up and do a full mix for them. I then revise a few times to their liking.
Allow 2 Major Mix Revisions (Change style, feel of track) Allow 3-4 Small Revisions ( Balance, Reverb Amount, EQ)
- Beyerdynamic DT 990 Pro
- Apple m1 max laptop & Monitor
- M-Audio 49 Key Midi Keyboard
