Meet JDmadethis | Audio Engineer & Producer

We had the good fortune of connecting with JDmadethis and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi JDmadethis, what was your thought process behind starting your own business?
The main reason I wanted to start my own business was the pure benefits of being self-employed. I wanted to create a life for myself that I could do what I love, while also having schedule flexibility that a normal 9-5 wouldn’t. All throughout college while I was studying Communications and History, I knew I did not want a conventional job like the rest of my peers.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I am an audio engineer and music producer. I have recorded and produced beats for over 500 musicians/artists in my tenure so far. I try to set myself apart from others from my work ethic. I constantly would put in 12-14 hour days when I was just getting started at the studio.

I am most proud of simply being able to do what I love. Ever since high school, all I wanted to do was work in music. I wasn’t sure at the time how I was going to make that happen, but eventually it all worked out. I wouldn’t say that it was easy, I just took the right steps to getting better at what I do to make it happen.

An important lesson I learned along the way is a good work-life balance can go a long way, and stop you from becoming insane!

I would like the world to know that as cliche as it is, if you follow your dreams and put the effort in, they may just really come true. That is how you create the life you want to live.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
If my best friend was visiting the Pittsburgh area, there is a pretty nice selection of things to do!

One thing I would have to have on the schedule is a stop at Fiori’s Pizzeria. Absolutely the best pizza around!

As far as the nightlife, most people in Pittsburgh love going out to what we call The Southside Flats, or East Carson Street. East Carson is an awesome street lined up with a bunch of different bars, clubs, and restaurants. I believe East Carson has the most bars per capita in the whole country. It is definitely a sight to see on a Friday/Saturday night in Pittsburgh.

If it was winter time, you would have to take your friend to Seven Springs. Seven Springs is our awesome ski resort located about an hour outside of the city. Even if you do not snowboard or ski, there is always snow tubing which is super fun.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I couldn’t agree more with the premise that no one truly makes it on their own. There is always others that deserve to be credited along the way. For me, I would mention a few people. I owe the world to my cousin Juan Carlos Suarez for first introducing me to Logic Pro X when I was in middle school. That was truly my first real step into producing my own music. A second person I would like to credit as a huge source of inspiration and mentorship for me is my friend Rae Vaan. Rae Vaan took me under his wing as a teenager and helped teach me a lot about making beats, recording, and how the music industry works in general.

The last person I would like to mention, and the most influential in my story is producer & engineer E. Dan of ID Labs Studios. In 2018 when a studio room opened up in his studio, he allowed me and my friend Garrett Hunter to move our equipment into the studio and start working their full time. E. Dan gave us professional advice and largely lead by example, showing us how a true record producer and engineer conducts themselves. I owe so much to him.

Website: www.jdmadethis.com

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Image Credits
Photo credits: Alec Smith ThatDudePics