Today we’d like to introduce you to Renzell Rudolph.
Renzell, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
I was born and raised in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and my journey into music started early. At 12 years old, I was already playing piano recitals smack in the middle of Northridge Mall. That was my first taste of performing publicly, and I loved it. By the time I reached middle school, I knew I wanted to be part of the school band—music had already locked itself into my life. I picked up the saxophone and played in every jazz band and concert ensemble I could through high school. Music became my way of expression, and I poured everything I had into it.
By senior year, thanks to my brother Aaron Whitelaw, I had a small studio set up in our basement. That space became my sanctuary. I spent hours experimenting with sounds, teaching myself the ropes of production, and realizing that I wanted to go deeper into music—not just playing it, but creating it. That dream took me to Columbia College in Chicago.
Moving to Chicago was a turning point. Within my first week at Columbia, I met some of the people who would become like family to me—artists like theMIND and Sean Deaux. We were just a bunch of passionate kids who went to class during the day and recorded music all night. We’d hit open mics, freestyle in cyphers outside the dorms, and constantly share ideas. It was in those moments I began to understand just how much talent lived in Chicago. The city quickly became more than just a place to study—it became home.
But something inside me was craving more. I loved Columbia, but I realized I needed a program that dove deeper into the technical side of audio. So I made a tough decision: I left Columbia and enrolled at Tribeca Flashpoint, a school focused specifically on recording arts. For two years, I immersed myself in audio engineering, learning everything I could about the craft.
Even while I was studying, I was building. I turned my living room into a makeshift studio, charging $20 an hour for sessions while also working with my collective on our next mixtape. Those early sessions taught me everything about client work, consistency, and creative collaboration. By the time I graduated, I knew I couldn’t go back to working a regular job. I was all in.
I landed an internship at Pressure Point Studios in Chicago and started running full-time sessions out of my house. That’s where something special happened—I recorded Chance the Rapper’s first project, 10Day, right there in that living room. That project gave me a real foothold in the Chicago scene and opened the door to working with more artists. I connected with the SaveMoney crew and ended up recording early projects for Joey Purp, Towkio, and KAMI.
By 2014, the Chicago music scene was on fire. Everyone was putting out some of the most groundbreaking music in the country, and it felt like I was right in the middle of it. THEMpeople, my collective, was putting out collaborative tapes on Soundcloud w/ theMIND , Via Rosa, Gyasi Kamau, Sebastian Francis and Sean Deaux. I met Mick Jenkins through my sister Via Rosa—we made a song for her album, and from there, everything clicked. That connection turned into a long-running collaboration, and it wasn’t long before I was working with other artists like Smino, Noname, femdot., Jean Deaux, and Saba Pivot.
Over time, I developed a sound that blends genres naturally—pulling from hip-hop, soul, jazz, and electronic to create something distinct. My work started reaching further and resonating with people beyond the city, across the country, and eventually across the world.
In 2022, I hit a major milestone: I opened Studio SHAPES, my own creative recording space in Chicago. It’s more than just a studio—it’s a place where artists come to experiment, refine their sound, and feel at home. SHAPES is a reflection of everything I’ve learned and built over the years, and it represents my commitment to pushing boundaries and supporting other artists on their journey.
Today, I’m proud to be part of Chicago’s music legacy and excited for what’s next. My mission has always been to shape sound, elevate voices, and help create something lasting—and that’s exactly what I plan to keep doing.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
It definitely hasn’t been a smooth road. One of my earliest struggles was just trying to become a better artist. Back then, I didn’t have the tools we take for granted today—no YouTube tutorials, no online communities, and no mentors showing me the ropes. I was figuring things out on my own, day by day. I’d spend hours reading audio engineering books, then go back and listen to old sessions, trying new mixing techniques and learning through trial and error. Every tweak, every failed attempt—it was all part of the process of leveling up my craft.
Another big challenge came with learning how to work within a group. We were more than just collaborators—we were family. But even with that closeness, working together wasn’t always easy. Everyone had different schedules, different visions of what success looked like, and different creative styles. It took real communication and trust to navigate those differences and stay aligned. That experience taught me a lot about leadership, patience, and what it really means to build something as a team.
Most recently, my biggest challenge has been finding the right space to open my own studio—somewhere outside my home that could serve as a true creative hub here in Chicago. It’s not easy to find a place where you can make music 24/7 and host events without running into noise complaints or restrictions. At one point, I got a storefront and started building it out completely on my own. That process made something clear: if I really wanted to bring this vision to life, I couldn’t do it by myself. I needed to build a team—people who shared the same passion and who could help shape the space into something bigger than just a studio. Big s/o to my team, Luis Leal as studio manger , Rhome as Head of Media , Galaxy Francis , Immy , Cam, Dae, Moyana, Icy, BentheG and so many others as we continue to grow. So That was a turning point.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I’m a producer and engineer, but at my core, I’m a jazz musician. That background shapes everything I do. I’ve been working in Logic Pro for nearly two decades, and over that time, I’ve developed a sound rooted in hip-hop but layered with the textures and soul of jazz. My passion is bringing artists’ stories to life—sonically crafting landscapes where they feel safe to be vulnerable and tell their truths.
As a producer, I believe my strength lies in knowing how to use every resource—musical, technical, and emotional—to guide a record to its highest potential. One of the productions I’m most proud of is from theMIND’s debut release, SummerCamp. The song is called “Mercury Rising.” That record was a turning point for me—not just technically, but creatively.
It all started with three simple chords on a sine wave and me beatboxing into the computer mic. From there, I began layering in textures—foley sounds like gravel crunching and recorded footsteps, the kinds of details that give the track its life and atmosphere. For the first time, I felt like I was able to translate exactly what was in my head into the music. I brought in Carter Lang on keys, Knox Fortune for additional background vocals, Nico Segal on trumpet, and Sylvie Grace on cello. Everyone brought their own magic, and I had the space to guide it all sonically. It was one of the few times I felt fully in control of the sound while also deeply trusted by the artist—my brother, theMIND.
That’s what sets me apart: I don’t just make beats—I build relationships. I create spaces for artists to explore, to feel heard, and to push boundaries with me. It’s more than music. It’s about connection, trust, and translating emotion into sound.
The crisis has affected us all in different ways. How has it affected you and any important lessons or epiphanies you can share with us?
During the COVID lockdowns, I started to really see the void that existed in Chicago’s creative scene. It became clear how much we were missing—not just in terms of resources, but in community, support, and access. There was no central hub where artists could come together, share ideas, or feel truly heard. When the world went quiet, many of us felt disconnected and unsure of how—or where—to keep creating. That moment stuck with me.
It was then that the idea for my own studio started to take shape. I wanted to build something more than just a place to record. I wanted to create a space that artists could lean on, even when everything else feels uncertain. That’s how Studio SHAPES was born—a creative sanctuary rooted in collaboration, vulnerability, and artistic freedom. My mission was simple: to provide a platform where artists can not only make music, but grow, connect, and feel part of something bigger. Because when the world goes silent, our voices—and our community—matter more than ever.
Pricing:
- ORIGINAL PRODUCTION – STARTING at $650
- EXECUTIVE PRODUCTION – $350
- MIXING SESSION – $100/HR
- PRODUCTION SESSION – $175/HR
- CONSULTANTING/CURATION – $75/hr
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.studioshapeschicago.com
- Instagram: https://instagram.com/renzell.wav
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@studioshapeschi
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/studio-shapes-chicago?utm_campaign=www_business_share_popup&utm_medium=copy_link&utm_source=(direct)
Image Credits
Personal Photo – Alexander Jibaja @ruff_genius
Additional Photos – Rhome of League Ready Agency @leaguereadyagency
