Today we’d like to introduce you to Michael Pepe.
Hi Michael, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I’m a record producer, mixer and songwriter based in Los Angeles. I started as a lot of producers do; I was playing in bands in my early teen years. Mostly punk bands at the time. Playing Blink-182 and Ramones songs and trying to write our own versions of those songs. The band I was playing in at about 15 years old attempted to record a record and the process didn’t go well to be honest. I thought, well I could do this better!
So I bought an eight-track recorder and we made a record in the garage where we practiced. I recorded it all, produced it, mixed it. I had a blast and so did the band! Shortly after we were playing shows around our hometown and the bands we were playing with saw we had a CD for sale (it was 2000). They thought that was the coolest thing and would ask how we did it, who we did it with, etc. I told them, well – I did! So I started taking my eight-track to their garages and practice spaces and making their records. I fell in love instantly with this role and learned this is what a ‘record producer’ was. I became obsessed and continue to be. After high school, I went to an academy for recording arts and production. Mostly enough to make me dangerous in thinking I knew what I was doing.
After that, I returned to my hometown and did a lengthy internship where I started to get some opportunities to work in actual label sessions and with my own client base, I was slowly building. I networked a lot and rose through the ranks in my hometown. I eventually started working on records in LA through some common connections and it finally made sense to move here over five years ago when I felt as though I was established enough to carry a client base here in LA!
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?
No, definitely far from a smooth road haha. It never is and never will be. Where’s the fun in that!? The fruits of your labor, passion and hard work are much more appreciated through the hard times. If this was easy everyone would do it and work for themselves. It’s an incredibly competitive industry and everyone has a strong opinion. Whether it be on a small scale or large scale. Learning how to navigate that and succeed with it while holding your own in a room and against others is critical. It’d also something that you simply cannot execute every time and with that come hardships and learning experiences.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I’m a record producer who specializes in the rock/alternative genre. I’m most proud of my 15 years long career so far, with 10 of that working solely for myself.
What do you like best about our city? What do you like least?
Best…definitely the diversity and being an epicenter of arts, creativity and music! The least…what everyone probably says to this question: the godforsaken traffic, haha.
Contact Info:
- Email: [email protected]
- Instagram: @mikepepemusic
- Twitter: @mikepepemusic
