Jeremy Costa on SoundBetter

Another member of your creative team with an objective ear and open-minded perspective; not just a technician. Whether it's a full-on production, mixing or simply mastering, my approach is always collaborative and inclusive; I'm an artist above all else.

I'm a Montreal-born multidisciplinary artist, producer and sound engineer.

My strongest asset is my role as a collaborator in creative problem-solving. It's all about working together.

This approach has led to collaborations leading to industry awards such as the 2019 ECMA Electronic Recording of the Year and renowned clients such as Pinterest and Tokidos.

My diverse portfolio and varied skill-set has helped me hone in on the foundations of who I am; merging the mindset of a contemporary artist with that of an innovative audio engineer.

Tell me about your project and how I can help, through the 'Contact' button above.

Credits

4 Reviews

Endorse Jeremy Costa

by Omar M.
Worked with Jeremy on getting my album mastered. Jeremy went out of his way to understand the vision of the project and was responsive to feedback. Despite being given a small deadline Jeremy made sure he would give the final product on time. He also made the effort of researching my already released songs to understand the true artist vision I was trying to convey.
by Subbasstian F.
I asked Jeremy for his Mastering Service on my Remix Album. He took this challenge with 10 Tracks by 10 Producers with excellence and made a consistent listening experience on the highest level out of it. Superb service with an open ear for every wish and detail.
by Dave Hurlow
Jeremy is a total pro & a joy to work with. Excellent communication, very considerate and, most importantly, the final product sounds incredible!
by Nug Chompah
Jeremy was professional, communicative and generally just a pleasure to work with. My tunes are all the better for having crossed his desk, the mastering job he did brought out the best in them. Thanks!

Interview with Jeremy Costa

Q: Analog or digital and why?
A: Why not both? I believe in tools and brains. That being said, I have a very nice desk full of analog mastering equipment. I love this gear and feel like the results I get are unmatched in the digital realm. However, more importantly, they are inspiring to work with - creating better results, faster.
Q: What's your 'promise' to your clients?
A: I am an obsessive creator. I put my whole heart into my work because this is what I love. With everything I have, I promise to try and understand your work in order to make it feel how you imagined. If I don't feel I am succeeding or able to get you there, I promise to say so and recommend another service provider.
Q: What do you like most about your job?
A: When I create work with other artists, I discover and develop ideas that I would have likely never stumbled upon alone. The need to respond to their idea incites a kind of inspiration that is difficult to describe. The collaboration IS the source of so much creativity and thus increases my depth of knowledge and skill set. This has been true in mastering just as much as production, and this is what keeps me hooked.
Q: What was your career path? How long have you been doing this?
A: I've been producing music for 13 years. Music has been my 'favorite thing' since I can ever remember, and I played bass in my first band when I was 12. Eventually, I decided I wanted to make some version of electronic music, and I began learning to produce and mix. It all started out of passion and obsession. Eventually, I worked with other artists and discovered my know-how and creative sense was heightened by the need to respond to other ideas instead of create my own. Although I have been mixing, producing and mastering for others since 2015, I officially opened my business, Backward Clock Sound, in 2019.
Q: Which artist would you like to work with and why?
A: I would love to work with Bjork. I believe she is a living legend. Her willingness to adapt and change is so inspiring. She seems to always seek out the latest technology and embrace it - making it hers.
Q: Can you share one music production tip?
A: Try to focus on the feeling or story you want to create. Even if it's as simple as a 5 minute drone, don't imagine the kind of bass EQ you need, imagine what you want your drone to feel like, and use that to guide your process.
Q: What's your strongest skill?
A: My strongest skill is my ability to connect with art in the context of collaboration. Creative problem-solving - working together to figure out exactly what the work needs in order to express the intended message or emotion. In other words, my ability to respond to an idea, adapt and contribute to it. Every other technical detail falls into place afterwards. With the access to amazing tools and tutorials, I believe that technical know-how is no longer the most important part of this job.
Q: What's your typical work process?
A: Unless I have a strong relationship with my collaborator already, I typically begin with a call or an exchange of emails oriented around getting to know and understand the person I'm working with and what they are intending to achieve with their creation. This personal element, to me, serves to create a human link that nurtures the creative process. If I have a mix idea that is different from the demo or if I have constructive criticism about the work, both myself and the collaborator will be more comfortable to push these boundaries if we establish a trusting connection.
Q: Tell us about your studio setup.
A: My studio is equipped to handle all stages of production. With an isolated mic booth and a great selection of instruments, amps, synthesizers and microphones, creating sound is limitless. That being said, the room and desk are optimized for mastering. My listening position and monitoring system is designed for this very detailed and nuanced process. The beauty of a mastering oriented listening position and toolkit is the quality of my reference is on point and caters to every other stage of the process.
Q: What other musicians or music production professionals inspire you?
A: The list is vast but off the top of my head, inspirations include: Simon Posford, Frank Zappa, Damon Albarn, Dr Dre, George Clinton, Bjork, Andy Wallace... I could go on but I'll stop there
Q: Describe the most common type of work you do for your clients.
A: My day-to-day sees a lot of mastering. My studio is optimized for this process, and so is my selection of analog processors. The other half of my work is a mix between producing and mixing for artists of all styles, making sound design and music for projects like podcasts or video based media and the occasional audio post-production gig. With mastering as my "baseline", I'm very happy with this kind of variety because it keeps things interesting. From a production and creation point of view, it also keeps me from falling into any kind of 'routine' or predictable sound. This is especially important for mixing in my opinion.