Today we’d like to introduce you to Jen Kraus.
Hi Jen, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
I was introduced to audio engineering as a session vocalist. I was being hired to do things like voiceover, toplining (writing melody and lyrics on otherwise finished tracks), singing background vocals and laying down improvised vocals for producers to make samples. As soon as I entered the studio I wanted to know how all the gear worked. A year or so later when I had a big personal life change, I decided to just go for it and I went to SAE to study audio. My first audio engineering jobs were working as a systems tech at a dance club, a recording engineer at a studio and a rigger at a production company, all based in Brooklyn. I started developing my own clients in the studio and found a really fun niche recording live music videos. Over the pandemic I had to pivot and I mixed sound for short films, a radio play, and a cooking show. When the world reopened all I wanted to do was be surrounded by loud music and lots of people so I moved to Los Angeles and went 100% into live sound mixing and haven’t turned back. I spent two years getting hundreds of local shows under my belt and then transitioned to touring life. I spend a little over half my time on the road now forever learning more about sound and the art of mixing.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
It’s been smooth in terms of being able to find work. I am really fortunate that I’ve been met more often with kindness and help than gatekeeping or unethical business practices, although that did happen. Chasing down payment after work has been delivered is an unfortunate struggle that most freelancers have to deal with, especially when you’re starting out. I used to have one day every few months or so when I would go around to all the clubs and people I worked for that owed me money and get in their face until someone brought me my check.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I’d like to be known for amazing sound and positive energy. Since I have a background in vocal technique and have been a singer my entire life I absolutely love supporting an artist’s vocal performance. If I’m doing my job well, my technical choices like microphone preferences and audio processing in addition to bringing calm and attuned energy to their rehearsals and soundchecks creates safety and confidence for a singer. Artists usually need to be vulnerable in some respect when they are performing. I’m proud of creating an environment that allow them to stop worrying about how they sound and let go fully into the emotion of the music.
Is there anything else you’d like to share with our readers?
I started this career at 33. I was worried about being too old. I was worried about being treated differently because there’s so few women in the field. I was worried I didn’t have the talent. Thankfully I ignored all of that and now I feel like I’m on a path towards being really great at something I love. If you’re wondering if you should investigate that thing you’re curious about or you want to find something that really lights you up- take this as your sign and do it.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: @visitorsound
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jenniferkrausla/
