Daily Inspiration: Meet Carmen Rizzo

Today we’d like to introduce you to Carmen Rizzo.

Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
I grew up in Walnut Creek, California, in a musical household—my mother was a piano teacher, church organist, and choir director. I started playing drums in bands as a kid, but my first real dream was baseball. I wanted to be a professional player, but by the time I was 18, I knew that path wasn’t going to happen.

I enrolled in a one-year recording school in San Francisco, where I was probably the least likely to succeed. At 19, with $1,000 in savings and everything I owned packed into my car, I drove to Los Angeles to pursue music—this time from the technical side, focusing on production and engineering.

I got my start at Westlake Studios in Hollywood, working as a janitor in the mornings and a runner during the day. After about a year, I became an assistant engineer, and over the next few years worked my way through various studios across the city before eventually going independent.

Over time, I contributed to albums by artists including Seal, Coldplay, Michael Jackson, Alanis Morissette, Ryuichi Sakamoto, Paul Oakenfold, A.R. Rahman, Pete Townshend, and Dhani Harrison, and collaborated with producers such as Trevor Horn, Rob Cavallo, and David Foster. That journey led to two GRAMMY nominations and three JUNO nominations.

Along the way, I’ve also had the opportunity to lecture and share my perspective on music, creativity, and technology—including a TEDx talk and many masterclasses all over the world.

For the past four years, I’ve been based in Prague, where I’ve built a new creative chapter focusing more on Europe. My studio is in a former monastery—once home to nuns—which feels like a fitting environment for the more reflective, immersive work I’m creating now.

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?
I believe the universe gives you signs, subtle directions on where to go and what to do next. You just have to be open enough to see them and trust them.

Moving to Europe was definitely a challenge. I had to sell almost everything I owned, keep only the core of my studio, and start over in a completely new country. I didn’t speak the language, had to adapt to a different culture and currency, and build an entirely new community from scratch.

But in the end, it was one of the best decisions I’ve ever made.

Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I guess I can say i am record producer/ artist/musician/ engineer and technologist. Looking back on my career, I feel incredibly grateful for the range of music I’ve been part of. I’ve had the opportunity to work across vastly different worlds—from artists like Ryuichi Sakamoto, Seal to Michael Jackson, to Coldplay. Those experiences shaped me in a deep way.
That said, the lane I’m in now creating eclectic, globally influenced electronic world music which has been the most rewarding. There’s something profoundly meaningful about bringing together different cultures in a way that feels natural, respectful, and beautiful.
Whether it’s working with Tuvan throat singing, Bulgarian choirs, or experimental church organ, I feel like I’ve found my niche through these kinds of collaborations. It’s where everything I’ve learned over the years comes together and where the music feels the most honest to who I am.

Is there anything else you’d like to share with our readers?
One thing that’s stayed with me over the years is that not everything is meant to last forever. Once you truly accept that, life becomes a little easier to navigate. That mindset really helped when I moved to Prague embracing the uncertainty and the challenges that came with it.

Another important shift for me has been moving toward a more minimal lifestyle. Letting go of excess both physically and mentally, created space for clarity and growth and evaluation .

At this point in my life, my lifestyle is priceless. That’s how I measure success now, and it has very little to do with money.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://Www.carmenrizzo.com
• Instagram: @carmenrizzo

Image Credits
Photo by: Zuzana Machackova