Working out of his own studio, Fireside Studios, Wesley Rast is a top call for reggae drums, world percussion, and musician for dance in the greater Philadelphia area, with extensive experience in live drum/percussion tracking, as well as dub remixing and as a music producer.
With over 30 years of professional experience as an orchestral, world, and jazz drummer, percussionist, and studio musician, I have developed an exceptional strength for executing layers and polyrhythm, with a focus on precision and detail. Whether the context is intimate instrumentation or thick orchestration, my trained and seasoned musical impulse produces world class, thoughtful, radio ready recordings and productions. I love using the mixing platform to express musical ideas and aesthetics as an instrumentalist would.
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Languages
- English
3 Reviews
Endorse Wesley Rast
I’ve been working with Wesley Rast and Fireside Studios for the past 8 months and couldn’t be happier with the results so far! What started as a moderate demo project has grown into recording a full album due to the superior results Wesley and Beejay, co-owners of Fireside, have consistently delivered. In addition to the top-notch recording, mixing, and production acumen Wesley provides, I have enlisted him as the drummer for my record. It would be tough to find someone more skilled on both sides of the control board, as an engineer and an instrumentalist. Cant wait to share my finished songs!
Wesley and BJ were incredibly easy to work with. They got me some of the best musicians in the county and we made an incredible song together. Creating this song was one of the best experiences I’ve had in my life recording.I will keep revisiting the studio, and I’m incredibly happy that I was able to find them.
Working with Wesley Rast has provided my projects with consistent professional results. As either a producer or mixer he has standards that push everyone to work harder, which in turn create better sounding final results. Everything project I have worked on with Wesley sounds infinitely better with his contributions and he continues to be the first person I call once a project gets good enough to need that professional polish. - Morgan Kraft (Composer/Producer/Engineer)
Interview with Wesley Rast
Q: What are you working on at the moment?
A: Mixing and producing my reggae band's first album. Soon to be released!
Q: What do you like most about your job?
A: I love being creative. I love finding new and original pathways, while being grounded in tradition and foundational principles.
Q: What was your career path? How long have you been doing this?
A: Right out of school, I started working as a musician, mainly jazz and reggae, and also as a dance accompanist. Throughout the three decades of my career, I have delved extensively into West African and Afro Caribbean folkloric art forms, and I have established myself as a performer, scholar, and teacher of these genres.
Q: How would you describe your style?
A: Laid back, but also intense. I strive for excellence and professionalism in any project, no matter who I'm working with. I don't settle for mediocre.
Q: Can you share one music production tip?
A: Don't cut corners. Be thorough. The devil is in the details.
Q: What do you bring to a song?
A: I bring original ideas and a freshly creative perspective to a song, enriched with lots of musical wisdom and experience playing live and collaborating with tons of different kinds of bands and artists.
Q: What other musicians or music production professionals inspire you?
A: I love the old dub engineers and producers of Jamaica and England - Lee Perry, King Tubby, and Michael Campbell to name a few.
I was the Producer, Mixing Engineer, Drummer, Percussionist in this production
- ProducerContact for pricing
- Mixing EngineerAverage price - $400 per song
- RemixingAverage price - $400 per song
- Live drum trackAverage price - $200 per song
- PercussionAverage price - $200 per song
- Recording StudioAverage price - $700 per day
- Vocal TuningAverage price - $150 per track
Average turnaround for mixing a song would be 2 days. 2-3 revisions allowed. Additional cost for extensive vocal tuning, time alignment, and other editing services. Musician fees extra.
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