Hidden Gems: Meet Justin Eckerd of Nameless Faceless Recording Studio

Today we’d like to introduce you to Justin Eckerd.

Hi Justin, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
My producer name is BLKMRKT. I grew up traveling a lot throughout the east coast and midwest and got to experience a lot of different perspectives by region. I had an inclination toward music at a young age and I was a somewhat introverted kid, so it was a language I felt was all my own. My first instrument was guitar and I learned it very quickly. Guitar was definitely a gateway to my experience in music production. I started making beats on my computer around 13 using FL Studio and started recording friends to those beats not knowing what I was doing at all. I remember grabbing my dad’s USB computer mic, a hanger and some socks to make a pop filter. The recordings sounded like trash (lol). During that time, I was also playing at a large church, starting out in the youth band then moving to the main church with extremely talented musicians that pushed me to become better. It was in that church that I found my love for recording, learning live sound first then transferring that knowledge to studio production and engineering. Fast forward to 2008, I started attending WKU and found friends with mutual interests that I started recording. I always affirmed that I would open a studio and make it so I could make music full time and in 2016, I opened my first commercial studio. Since then, I’ve grown a list of over 200 clients and produced close to 300 songs for local and industry artists. I also spent 12 years in the army national guard and separated in 2018.

I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey has been a fairly smooth road?
Definitely hasn’t been a smooth road, but I took lessons from every situation which helped me learn who I was and wanted to be. When I told people I wanted to open a studio, I experienced a lot of rejection. I quickly learned you can’t tell everyone your plans (lol). Being in the army definitely slowed the process down too. I deployed in 2010 and learned the importance of life, time and time spent with those close. After coming back from deployment, I tried going back to college but my mind was always on my dreams. I finally became fed up with how I was living, others telling me how to live and my own insecurity, so in 2016 I opened my first studio and haven’t looked back since. I started with one room, a tiny desk and simple setup. With the support of the music community, I was able to go from 1 room to 2 rooms, more equipment, more engineers then finally to the space I’m in now. During the time of getting into the new location, I found my wife, well she found me. Mary is a Dj and producer and one of the most supportive and loving individuals in my life. Us having music in common has made our relationship and recent marriage amazing. I would say the biggest obstacle was myself and seems to be in every great man’s journey.

As you know, we’re big fans of Nameless Faceless Recording Studio. For our readers who might not be as familiar, what can you tell them about the brand?
I am a music producer and recording studio owner. Most of my days are spent recording, mixing and mastering and even producing songs for other artists. I’ve heard from clients that what sets me apart is how genuine and professional I am. I truly love everyone and love music so much. My production style has been said to be different as well. I’m proud of the name I’ve built across Kentucky, which definitely wasn’t accomplished alone. I’m proud of the impact my studio has been able to make in the community and I’m proud of what the studio is becoming. The studio is open to the public, we offer recording, mixing, mastering, music production, a comfortable space to work and good vibes always. You can see the studio and inquire about services on my website and social media.

We all have a different way of looking at and defining success. How do you define success?
First, The true measure of a man is how he treats someone who can do him absolutely no good – Samuel Johnson. This is how I would define success. It’s about who you know in this industry and building relationships. Treat others with respect, and remain unchanged and unmoved even if they don’t reciprocate. Second, focusing on your strengths. Find what you are good at or study what you know you’d be good at and pursue it. Third is happiness. Pursue it and protect it at all costs, even if that means making major sacrifices that hurt momentarily but will bring peace in the future.

Contact Info:

• Email: nfrecl@gmail.com
• Website: www.nfrecords.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/blkmrkttheengineer/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/justin.nfrecords
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/blkmrktp
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCRwObjlSUJ1mRroEO82FEZg