Daily Inspiration: Meet Carlos Castro

Today we’d like to introduce you to Carlos Castro.

Hi Carlos, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
My journey began when I was 16 years old. A friend of mine took me to a professional recording studio where I got to see first hand how the production of a song was put together. I was in awe by the ideas that were literally being pulled out of the ether and by the end of the day it was pretty much done. From that moment on I knew that this was the path I wanted to pursue in my life. Later on, I was able to get an entry job at this same studio and I slowly began learning the ropes on music production and engineering. When I graduated from high school, I went on to study Audio Engineering at a school in Florida, at that point in time and against all odds I was able to land a job with producer and engineer Bruce Swedien. Back in the early 1990’s Bruce was considered one of the top five engineers in the world and he became my mentor for close to four years. I view my time with Bruce as one of the most intense and insightful times in my life. To this day, Bruce is still considered an eminence in my industry. After the Northridge earthquake of 1994, Bruce decided to move to the East Coast and I decided to stay in Los Angeles. I worked at different commercial studios back then until I was able to build, from the ground up, a professional recording studio I currently own called Watersound Studios. This is the place from which I do the majority of my music production and engineering work at.

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?
It hasn’t been an easy journey, that’s for sure. The massive changes that the industry has gone thru since I began my career have been quite intense. These days, technology has democratized the way in which music can be created anywhere and at any time. This being said, this has allowed me to showcase my experience and expertise over the years by being able to shape my own sonic personality and thus capture an Analog sound that is geared towards an Audiophile aesthetic. In terms of Production I am champion of acoustic music and of performances that are able to elevate the artistic nature of the artists and the bands that I get to work with.

I still make use of Analog tape in my work as I feel it offers a sonic texture and beauty that is wonderful for certain types of projects and artists.

I also feel that AI is a challenge that all work related areas will be affected by from this point forward and because of this, music that embraces and showcases the flaws of human beings will continue to resonate (and connect) with an audience.

Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I am a music Producer and engineer with 33 years of experience in this industry. I have been fortunate to have been nominated 13 times for the Latin Grammys and have worked with artists such as: Luis Miguel, Placido Domingo, Shawn Colvin, Shaila Dúrcal, Selena Gómez, Demi Lovato, Molotov, Marco Antonio Solís, Aleks Syntek, Ana Torroja, Gian Marco, Jenni Rivera, Asja, Robben Ford, Nicho Hinojosa, Jumbo, Alicia Villareal, Pedro Fernandez to name a few.

I am also known as someone who cares very deeply about the aestheic of sound. The albums and singles that I’ve worked on carry with them a particular sonic stamp that I strive to create on each project. This is no different than a tailor making a custom suit or dress, every time I work with an artist or band I look to find a unique sound that will distinguish them from the rest.

I am most proud of an album that I recently finished producing and engineering for a new female artist whose name is Elyan, who is signed to ADA/ Warner Music. The album was recorded and mixed entirely using Analog tape coupled with an incredible group of musicians such as John Thomas (who has played with Bruce Hornsby for 25 years) (he played keys and was also music arranger on some of the songs); Angel Durán (Incredible guitar player and was also music arranger on some of these songs); Karthik Suresh (Amazing Bass Player) and Martín Flores (Drummer extraordinaire who played with Jenny Rivera and Joan Sebastian). Vocal arrangements and direction on this album were shaped by Latin Grammy Award winner Edgar Cortázar. The team behind this album is fierce and noteworthy.

I believe that my experience of 33 years along with the ability of being 100% bilingual in both English and Spanish has allowed me to have a unique perspective on both the culture and the approach of making music.

My web-site: www.carloscastro.com has many links and audio samples of the work that I’ve done over the last three decades. You can also find me on Instagram, my handle name is Watersoundpro

If you had to, what characteristic of yours would you give the most credit to?
Tenacity and an extreme level of focus in all that I do. I consider myself a determined individual with integrity in the work and the life that I lead.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.carloscastro.com
• Instagram: Watersoundpro
• Other: e-mail: carlos@carloscastro.com; Threads: Watersoundpro

Image Credits
Main Photo: Héctor Mancilla
Additional Photos: Oscar Elizondo (Elizondo Media Services)