Jesse Hardiek

Production | Mixing |

Jesse Hardiek on SoundBetter

Kutless, Veridia, Honor & Glory, LowFye50, Verlorener, Bad Plans

Want your project to hit hard on streaming? With over 500 projects under my belt I can help you not only make great, lasting music, but have it be competitive on all platforms.

Click the 'Contact' above to get in touch. Looking forward to hearing from you.

Interview with Jesse Hardiek

  1. Q: What are you working on at the moment?

  2. A: Working on new music with LowFye50 and new Bad Plans always.

  3. Q: Analog or digital and why?

  4. A: Digital. Simplicity.

  5. Q: What's your 'promise' to your clients?

  6. A: Transparency. I do my best to make sure clients know what's going on with their music at all times, and if someone is unsure about a process or something my door is always open for questions.

  7. Q: What do you like most about your job?

  8. A: I love finishing songs. Nothing beats playing back that final master when everything is done for me.

  9. Q: What questions do customers most commonly ask you? What's your answer?

  10. A: Q: "Can you make me sound like ___?" A: "Are you ___?"

  11. Q: What questions do you ask prospective clients?

  12. A: What are your goals with this music?

  13. Q: What advice do you have for a customer looking to hire a provider like you?

  14. A: Make sure you love the song before you have it mixed. No amount of mixing will make you fall in love with a song you don't currently like.

  15. Q: If you were on a desert island and could take just 5 pieces of gear, what would they be?

  16. A: An Apollo Twin and four SM7b's

  17. Q: What was your career path? How long have you been doing this?

  18. A: I've been doing mixing/mastering full-time for 4 years now, but been in music on the touring side since I was 14 (a long time ago).

  19. Q: Which artist would you like to work with and why?

  20. A: HEALTH because their music rules.

  21. Q: Can you share one music production tip?

  22. A: Don't update your computer/software in the middle of a project!!!

  23. Q: What type of music do you usually work on?

  24. A: Rock/Metal/Alternative, and occasionally pop.

  25. Q: What's your strongest skill?

  26. A: Vocals. Vocals are so so important (it's the only instrument almost everyone is born with), and unfortunately if the vocal isn't compelling then it doesn't matter how sick your guitar tones are.

  27. Q: What do you bring to a song?

  28. A: As an artist myself, I understand that artists live with a song weeks, months, and sometimes years before it ever makes it to production/mixing. While I can never be more dedicated to a song than the artist, I really try to treat each project with the importance I would my own music during the short time that I'm involved on any given project.

  29. Q: What's your typical work process?

  30. A: It entirely depends on the project, but one thing I do regardless of my involvement with a project is start with references. Usually I'll have an artist send me a playlist of some songs that they currently like (whether they pertain to the project or not is up to them). Not only does this help get everyone on the same page, but I've found a lot of cool music that I wouldn't normally listen to by doing this.

  31. Q: Tell us about your studio setup.

  32. A: For production and tracking my studio features a live-room, vocal booth, and control room. I have inputs for a rhythm section and three monitor mixes, which gives me enough flexibility to track a small band. On the mixing front, I'm entirely in the box. I like to keep things simple.

  33. Q: What other musicians or music production professionals inspire you?

  34. A: Too many to name. Anyone who is focused on making incredible, lasting music is inspiring to me.

  35. Q: Describe the most common type of work you do for your clients.

  36. A: I mainly mix and produce, but offer a variety of services outside of that to help get your song finished.

Gear Highlights
  • Pro Tools
  • Universal Audio
  • Kali Audio
  • Stam Audio
  • Nerual DSP
  • Shure
  • PRS
  • Fender
  • Music-Man
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