Today we’d like to introduce you to Lucas Sagaz
Hi Lucas, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
I started getting involved with music, specifically in terms of creating it, a bit later in life. I only began learning to play an instrument at the age of 17. However, my progress was remarkably fast: just a few months later, I was already part of bands in my hometown, and two years later, I had moved to one of Brazil’s largest capitals, eager to further develop my skills and turn music into a profession. But none of this was planned—I was drawn to music the way metal is drawn to a magnet.
I quickly began working as a sideman for various artists and bands, as well as a session musician. I also dedicated myself to teaching, giving guitar lessons. As a session musician, I developed a deep interest in the art of recording and music production. I started studying and gathering information on my own, but back then, it was difficult to find reliable resources on the subject.
In 2011, a renowned music producer and audio engineer, Cesar Santos, began offering monthly audio workshops, and I had the opportunity to attend. That marked the beginning of my formal studies in this field. A year later, I was accepted into the Audio Engineering and Music Production program at the Universidade de Música Popular Ponto de Partida – Bituca. Over the following years, I divided my time between touring with various artists, teaching, and music production. Gradually, music production took up more of my focus and time.
I soon found myself working at a major studio alongside one of Brazil’s top music producers, Roberto Brant. From him, I learned invaluable lessons about music production, the art of making music, and much more. Working with Roberto opened many doors for me at leading studios and gave me the opportunity to record some of the biggest names in Brazilian music. Alongside my work as a recording engineer, I also began producing and mixing albums and singles for independent artists from Brazil, Portugal, and London.
I continued to study and refine my expertise, and today I am a specialist in mixing and mastering. I have the honor of working with artists from all over Brazil and other countries, bringing my passion for music and audio to every project I take on.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Oh, it certainly wasn’t an easy journey [laughs]. It took a lot of hard work and perseverance. Early in my career as a sideman, I often offered to play for free with artists and bands just to make a name for myself in the industry. For a while, I was literally paying to play [laughs]. It was a tough period, but, in the end, that strategy helped me gain visibility and eventually land gigs that started covering my bills.
As a music producer, the beginning was quite similar. The first album I produced didn’t earn me a cent, but the outcome was so positive that it opened doors for me, and even today, 12 years later, it still brings me clients. I also did plenty of free mixing work, which gave me hands-on experience and, of course, new clients.
In short, nothing came easy. I had the support of my family, who always stood by me and helped me however they could. I am eternally grateful to them for that support because, without it, I wouldn’t have reached where I am today.
I’m also deeply grateful to my mentor, Cesar Santos, who has been and still is my guide in audio, teaching me invaluable lessons that have allowed me to grow in my career. To my great friend Arthur Damasio, with whom I exchange countless experiences about our profession – our conversations always contribute immensely to my professional development. And, of course, to my wife Ana Luiza, for always supporting me!
Ultimately, the journey was challenging, but I was never alone. I’ve always had the support of many people to get to where I am today.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
Well, I’m still an instrumental musician – of course, it’s something that’s tattooed on my soul. However, in recent years, I’ve focused more on music production, mixing, and mastering. I can say that the latter two occupy 80% of my time today. I’m well-known for the results I deliver, for my honesty, and for my technical expertise, as I also teach courses and provide consulting services for mixing and mastering professionals.
I’m very proud to always be remembered by artists and producers, which keeps me constantly working. Recently, I set up a studio in my home, and now 95% of my work is done there. With a lot of effort, I’ve managed to achieve the freedom to work from home, have free time to continue improving my craft, spend time with family and friends, and even get some sleep [laughs]… in short: quality of life!
Can you share something surprising about yourself?
I think there are two things that surprise people about me. The first, as I mentioned earlier, is that music wasn’t part of my plans. It was something that just happened, and up until I was 18, my dream was to become a mechanical engineer [laughs].
The second is about my name, Lucas Sagaz. When I tell people that “Sagaz” isn’t my last name but rather a nickname I was given around 20 years ago, which I adopted as my artistic name or brand, they’re often surprised. Many have known me for years only as “Sagaz,” which in Portuguese means something like clever or sharp [laughs].
Contact Info:
- Website: https://lucassagaz.com
- Instagram: @sagaz.audio
