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Issue #51
by L. Swift and Jeff McQ
If there’s anyone who demonstrates the kind of commitment and dedication it takes to make it in the music industry, it’s recent Recording Connection graduate Bruce Fugett.
A lifelong musician, Bruce is a singer and multi-instrumentalist who has mastered guitar, banjo, keyboard and cello. Seeing the potential in the Seattle music scene (which he calls a “breeding ground of creativity”), he relocated to Seattle from southern Ohio just to become part of the scene. And since enrolling in the Recording Connection to apprentice with Mark Naron at Fastback Studios, he’s wasted no time in making the most of his new-found on-the-job experience and industry connections. Now recently graduated from the program, Bruce has partnered with another Recording Connection grad to start their own music production company, is producing yet another Recording Connection graduate in the studio (a hip-hop artist named Blak Pope, and is paving his own way as an up-and-coming music producer and artist.
Bruce recently checked in with us to talk about his experiences with the Recording Connection, what he’s doing now, and give his advice for other up-and-comers breaking into the industry.
RRF: Tell us about your experiences apprenticing with Mark Naron at Fastback. Any good memories or experiences you can share?
Bruce Fugett: Learning from Mark Naron at Fastback Studios here in Seattle has been a true blessing. Not only has he shown me the fundamentals of recording and music production, but he has also taught me many valuable lessons about people and the music industry.
One of my favorite things about being at Fastback Studios is something that we call the “Fastback Sessions.” Once a month, we bring a band into the studio to record a few songs, but we also bring about 15-20 guests into the live room to watch the performance. Best of all, we film the entire thing and release the video and audio online for free.
RRF: What’s your area of focus? Live sound, audio engineering, music production or a medley of all three? What are you doing with the skills you’ve gained?
Bruce: My main area of focus is music production and audio engineering. Being a lifelong musician, I do a fair amount of recording my own music, but I also have created a music production company called Cosmic Wave Productions with another Recording Connection graduate, Carlos Baca. We are still in the early stages of development, but we have big plans on what we ultimately want to do with this company.
RRF: Did Recording Connection help get you on the path you want to be on? If so, how?
Bruce: Yes, The Recording Connection definitely helped me, in more ways than one. Firstly, it helped me develop the knowledge and tools that I need to create great music. Secondly, it got me into a real studio! I didn’t have to sit in a classroom, and I got the hands-on experience that I needed to help me learn what I wanted to learn. And lastly, the Recording Connection has allowed me to come into contact with so many amazing people. Almost every artist and producer that I collaborate and work with has been the direct result of enrolling in the program, so I’m incredibly thankful for that.
RRF: What projects are you working on now? What projects have you recently wrapped?
Bruce: Currently I’m working on producing a few songs for hip-hop artist Blak Pope, as well as a few songs with Spanish hip-hop artist Nelson Guzman. And of course, I am always recording my own music, which is usually a mixture of Electronic/Rock/Chillwave. My most recent project was a music video for a song that I made called “Moments (ft Cakoir)” which is available to watch on YouTube and available for download on iTunes.
RRF: Did you have misconceptions about the way the industry works when you started your apprenticeship?
Bruce: I think the main misconception that I had when I started was that “making music is hard.” What I have realized is that even though there may be challenges that one faces when making music, with the right tools and supportive people, anything is possible.
RRF: What do you think it takes to make it now that you’re more well-versed and have built some experience?
Bruce: I think the main thing that it takes to make it is dedication. Being a success in this industry is not something that comes overnight for most people, and it requires a lot of hard work and perseverance.
RRF: Have your dreams and goals changed or become more refined since you went through the Recording Connection program?
Bruce: Yes, my dreams have changed—and by changed, I mean to say that they have expanded. I used to dream about being a successful musician, but now I dream of being a successful musician and music producer. One thing that I have learned is that this industry is all about the friendships and the connections that you make along the way.
RRF: Have any advice for newbies who are just starting out?
Bruce: My advice for anyone starting out in this field is to remember to have fun. I find that the more I get caught up in the “business” side of the music industry, the less fulfilled I ultimately feel. When I remember that the reason I started on this path was that music is one of the things in life that brings me great joy, not only do I feel more fulfilled, but I actually have more fun and feel more creative and productive, which in turn, makes me more successful.
You can check out Mark Naron’s Fastback Sessions on YouTube here. Also, be sure to check out Bruce’s recent work in the “Apprentice Media” section below!
Joined by powerhouse marketing duo, Lisa Roy and Robbie Clyne, Brian had a fantastic time connecting with our many friends and mentors at the world’s largest music merchant expo. Exciting opportunities and potential partnerships were discussed with the professionals at DTS, Focusrite, Native Instruments, Audio-Technica, Daisy Rock, Waves, Universal Audio and Music Connection Magazine as well as many bona fide industry heavyweights including: Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis, Eddie Kramer, Al Schmitt, Elliot Scheiner, Mike Clink, Sylvia Massy, Ross Hogarth, Michael Boddicker, Geoff Emerick, Michael Beinhorn and Carmen Rizzo.
On Thursday, Brian and Lisa attended the exclusive DTS Party. What a fantastic evening of music, laughter and great conversation! On Friday, Brian had the distinct pleasure of meeting and discussing our up-and-coming sponsorship at The Recording Academy® Producers & Engineers Wing® GRAMMY® Week Celebration at Village Recording Studios. This year’s event will honor the prolific, multi-platinum Grammy-award winning musician, producer and guitarist Nile Rodgers.
Just in! Brian just announced another great from the world of recording is coming on board as a Recording Connection mentor, this time from the amazing Trilogy Studios in San Francisco. More on this next week!
“I believe CASA Schools provides a cutting-edge approach to culinary education. Real world experience is what students need. With the number of students enrolling in traditional culinary schools, the ratio of students to instructors is being stretched to the point of reduced efficiency. One can learn from books, but real experience is gained through hands-on work.”
— Daniel Fitzgerald, Culinary Arts Instructor at Los Angeles Unified School District 2000-Present, Former Sous Chef at the Marriott Marquis, New York City
Spend a few minutes talking with Radio Connection mentor Sean “The Rabbi” Tyszler, and it doesn’t take long before you realize he doesn’t just love radio—he loves music. Especially rock.
“My dad was always a music fan,” Sean recalls. “He used to have this big set of headphones that were big back in the late ’70s. He used to play “Stairway to Heaven” by Led Zeppelin for me when I was younger…and every time that the drum started kicking, there was a smile on my face. I don’t know, I guess I just was influenced at a young age.”
Sean’s interests in rock music began to expand as he grew up, ranging from metal acts like Metallica, Guns n’ Roses and Poison to alternative sounds like R.E.M. and U2, and then to the bands of the Seattle grunge movement like Pearl Jam and Nirvana. By the time he was in high school, he knew he wanted to be in radio. “I was sure there were perks involved, so I could go to concerts and meet these rock stars,” he jokes.
Sean’s interest led him to a ground-floor opportunity at K-Rock in New York (the early radio home of Howard Stern), which ultimately grew into a full-time job, and was where Sean got his on-air nickname, The Rabbi. “I’m an orthodox Jewish guy,” he says. “I went in for an interview wearing a yarmulke…the program director at that time [Steve Kingston] was wondering what this rabbi was lurking around here for!”
Today, Sean works at WMMR 93.3-FM in Philadelphia (the station slogan is appropriately, “Everything that Rocks!”), where he is involved in music direction and programming during the week and hosts his own DJ slot on Sunday nights. This puts him in a great position to mentor Radio Connection students, giving them exposure to multiple aspects of the radio business. Counting his early bosses as his own mentors, Sean enjoys helping others get their start in radio. “[It’s] honestly very rewarding,” he says. “The fact that you made a connection of someone actually in the industry is really good… Just getting the foot in the door and seeing other people thrive is rewarding to me.”
Among the rising stars he sees among his apprentices? “Kevin Britton was really good. I actually saw him again over the weekend even though he finished his course. Kevin Britton is very proactive—I mean, I really think the kid has ability…I’m working with this girl now, Liz Faux. She’s very enthusiastic, and she’s been catching on pretty quickly.”
As for finding a niche on-the-air, Sean keeps his advice for other students fairly simple. “It’s more of just being yourself, and showing that you’re not some guy who’s prerecorded [or] who’s broadcasting from Los Angeles, [but who is] actually physically there in the studio taking calls… I just act like myself, like I’m very more music focused talking about the bands, what they’re doing. I’m just a music fan…I’m just being me.”
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Approximately six months ago, Michael Ilumin was living in Austin and considering going to grad school for further study in his current field–nursing. Then, he thought about his what he really wanted to do, to be an electronic music producer.
“Recording Connection just happened to be in the back of my mind. I’ve seen their ads a few years back, and I thought it was great that I’d get actual studio learning and I know the importance of that because in my current profession with nursing I’ve had the experience of learning from textbooks and classroom-based institutions and actually being in the professional world. I’ve come to realize if you really want to learn something and master your craft, then you have to do it on the job.”
So Michael kept his nursing job and enrolled in Recording Connection. He was matched up with mentor Nick Joswick at 5th Street Studios in Austin, TX, whom Michael says is “One of the best in the business I tell you!”
Over the next few months, Nick helped Michael move beyond mixing-in-the-box to something that provided him with a larger scope. Speaking of his time in the studio, he says:
“I feel like that’s where the human element comes in at the music, because of the live aspect. You know music is a shared experience and I think another thing that contributed to me starting the program was that I was making music at home and very I’m fascinated about how to make things sound the way they do. What was missing was the human element and collaborating with other people who enjoyed what I did. In the studio, I have that around me.”
Michael’s experience as an apprentice was the very thing he needed to make the next major step on his journey–move to Los Angeles.
Using nursing as a means to open doors for himself, he made the move to L.A. and landed work locally as a cardio-thoracic intensive care unit nurse!
“The Recording Connection helped me with this decision. A lot of what we do right now in Austin is rock n’ roll. Austin is a great city for live music where I’ve been lucky to work with such talented artists and overall great people. I can see myself continuing what I’ve learned back in Austin and I’m bringing that to my work in LA. I think LA is going to provide me with more opportunities for electronic music, which is what I’m really passionate about.”
Michael Ilumin, who goes by the electro-music moniker, Nuumod, says he’s looking forward to “learning from the best and becoming one of the best engineers and electronic music producers in LA!”
And…
He’s scouting for singers for a few of his tracks. Send him an email for more information.
Hear a couple of Nuumod’s tracks below!
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