We’re looking forward to introducing you to Warren Pettey. Check out our conversation below.
Hi Warren, thank you so much for taking time out of your busy day to share your story, experiences and insights with our readers. Let’s jump right in with an interesting one: What is a normal day like for you right now?
Most days start in my home studio in LA. I mix, produce, or engineer music – most of the time for records and occasionally for film. It’s a mix of creative and technical work that keeps things interesting. At night, I’m usually out gigging around town, either with other artists or working on my own material. I love the balance between studio work and live performance.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
I’m Warren Pettey — a musician and producer based in Los Angeles. I strive for versatility, balancing studio work with live performance and blending musicality with technique. This past year, I’ve had the pleasure of working on some exciting projects, including engineering for Tony Succar’s Grammy-winning album “Alma, Corazón y Salsa” and recording for various films and shows with Bleeding Fingers, Hans Zimmer’s company. I’ve also enjoyed toured internationally, both under my own name and as a sideman. I enjoy moving between genres and mediums, always striving to create work that feels genuine yet forward-thinking.
Amazing, so let’s take a moment to go back in time. Who taught you the most about work?
Tony Succar taught me more about work than almost anyone else. I started out interning for him remotely in 2020, and he had this way of intentionally assigning tasks that challenged your weaknesses. He pushed all of us to step outside our comfort zones, learn skills beyond our usual roles and careers, and to think like entrepreneurs, even when working on someone else’s project. He always emphasized the importance of building your own brand and staying creatively active, no matter what the gig was. That mindset stuck with me in all areas of the music industry.
What fear has held you back the most in your life?
The fear that’s held me back the most has been around identity — both creatively and professionally. I’ve always valued versatility, but at times it’s made me afraid to fully commit to one artistic lane out of fear of being boxed in. That mindset, while it’s helped me work as a sideman in many settings, has also made it hard to develop and release my own work. There’s always been a tension between technical skill — which takes years to develop — and creativity, which can easily get overshadowed, along with the raw, imperfect side of making art. On top of that, I’ve never been totally comfortable with self-promotion and putting myself out there which makes things like social media, a huge hurdle. It’s something I’m still improving.
So a lot of these questions go deep, but if you are open to it, we’ve got a few more questions that we’d love to get your take on. What are the biggest lies your industry tells itself?
One of the biggest lies the industry tells itself is that talent alone is enough. The truth is, relationships, timing, persistence, luck, and appearance often play just as big a role — if not bigger, especially here in LA. It creates this myth that if you’re not “making it,” you’re not good enough, when really there are tons of brilliant artists and engineers who don’t get the recognition they deserve. It also downplays how much emotional and mental energy goes into sustaining a creative career — like it’s all passion and inspiration, when it’s often a grind behind the scenes.
Okay, so let’s keep going with one more question that means a lot to us: When do you feel most at peace?
In a musical context, I feel most at peace when I’m making music with friends in a beautiful, low-pressure environment — somewhere away from the deadlines, budgets, and expectations. There’s something special about creating just for the sake of it, without trying to fit into a specific lane or pleasing a certain audience. No reason for the project other than the joy of making it. Those moments remind me why I fell in love with music in the first place.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.warrenpettey.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/warrenpettey/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/petteywarren
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@warrenpettey
Image Credits
Mike Perez Media
