Meet Ryan Abbot | Certified Audio Engineer & Music Producer.

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

Hi Ryan, why did you pursue a creative career?
I pursued a creative career path as it was always the most comfortable for me. I always had it in my mind that I would be working with music in some shape or form. Even if it meant being behind the scenes of the actual industry, I knew that music was what I wanted to do. There were obvious obstacles that come with a creative career but nothing else seems to be a good fit.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
I sand apart from others as I am professional and take the time to ensure that what I release under my name is of quality and is actually what the artist wants. I make sure that who I work personally, I support 100%. I find it can be a waste to work on projects that I don’t have a true desire to work on just to pay bills/lock in a client. Artistry and passion are the forefront of what drives me to further myself and be better.

Whats interesting about myself when it comes to discovering I wanted to do audio engineering is that, I knew what it was and what it entitled, but had no idea that a name and career were attached to it.

I remember spending hours on Audacity (a very basic Digital Audio Workstation) as a young teen trying to record my own music, failing, setting up a different way, failing again and getting frustrated with the results. I spent years trying to do things independently and without proper training. After taking time to find out what audio engineering was and what it entailed I was shocked that I hadn’t found this before. It was all the things I wanted to do, with a title and career attached to it.

The next step was finding a school environment to get the formal training and knowledge I was lacking. I wound up attending an online school called “Recording Radio and Film Connection” and was able to mentor at a Studio called “Platinum Shop Productions” in Elmira, NY where I became chief audio engineer after completing my coursework.

One of the largest hurdles that I had to face right out of school was a lack of client base. Living in a small, rural area of PA/NY right on boarder made finding clients more difficult than expected. Finding ways to network inside the small music scene in Elmira was one of the only ways I was able to more forward and progress. The other challenge is pricing a Professional studio for an economically depressed area, finding a middle ground and using a sliding scale worked in our favor when push came to shove.

I’ve learned a lot over the years as far as what moves work, and what moves don’t work for me personally. The music industry is full of different and constantly shifting ideas on what works and what is “standard”. Navigating through this has allowed me insight on what I need to pursue to further my career in the areas I want it to grow in.

What I truly want people to understand about my brand and story is that I will never commit to something that doesn’t fuel that creative drive in me. If you’re looking for your typical in and out studio session with no artistic vision, you’ll want to look elsewhere. I exist to create something larger than myself.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
I really enjoy finding wonderful places to eat. As a Vegan it tends to be difficult to find food on occasion, so being able to find a good spot is always on the top of the list. Blue Sushi and Sake grill on 16th st is a wonderful place offering vegan fair. Another great place to stop and try is Kahlo’s in Denver. Enjoying Mexican food in a spot dedicated to Frida Kahlo is always a great time. I also love a good hike, I tend to favor Estes when I can make it out there or Glenwood Springs. As a majority of Colorado can agree, there are some great dispensaries here in Denver and Kaya is always a personal favorite. The Denver Art Museum or the Museum of Natural Science are other personal favorites as they continually offer rotating installations and planned right, it can make a wonderful date.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
Both my mother and father for their continued support. My Partner Jay, for always being there when things get rough.

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Image Credits
@kateelainephotos outdoor image @platinumshopproductions studio image