Today we’d like to introduce you to Jon Graber.
Jon, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
I got started recording like most people I think, out of necessity. I grew up playing in punk and ska punk bands in New York and thought the amount of money that people were charging to record was, “ridiculous”. In hindsight, it was more than fair. So, I bought a Tascam 4 track cassette recorder and started making terrible recordings for no money.
Somewhere in my parent’s house, probably in the basement, I’m certain, there’s a box of terrible cassette recordings of my high school punk bands and awful Rancid covers. Eventually, I’d saved up enough to buy an eMac Computer and a Presonus Firebox. It came with a copy of a recording software called, Cubase.
I toured a lot, went to school, played shows and honed my craft. I interned at a recording studio in New York City called Pulse, under the chief engineer Chris Davies. He and I grew up together and he was, and still is, amazing. He taught me a ton about making records and how to make people feel comfortable while recording. I worked hard, I got coffees, I repainted the bathrooms and the kitchen at the facility and was eventually made an Assistant. I was promptly fired when a client called me an intern and I played a game of solitaire on the recording console while they recorded.
From there I decided to try to go at it as a freelancer. I opened and subsequently closed, two studios of my own on the east coast before deciding to make the jump to LA. Half of my family are from Pomona, I’d been visiting my whole life, so on a particularly snowy New York day, my wife and I decided to just book a flight and a storage unit. The first year or so were pretty rough. I had clients, but I was still trying to figure out how to make it work. Eventually, I was made a staff engineer at a Post Production studio, working mainly on syndicated television. While I was grateful for the work, I was really unhappy not making music. After a couple of years and with the support of my family, I made the decision to go back to freelance audio engineering and producing.
Luckily, somehow, it clicked and I’ve been able to sustain a career without a boss for serval years now. I tour with bands, mixing them live and often when we’re done with that, we head to my studio in the valley and make a record together.
I feel so lucky honestly. Most listeners to music don’t really know what I do, but I’m cool with that. I get to capture the moments that make long car rides bearable, or first dances meaningful. It such an amazing calling and I can’t imagine doing anything else.
Has it been a smooth road?
I have to say, I’ve been really lucky. The obstacles along the way were way more personal than professional. I was a pretty heavy drug user and alcoholic for a while. I never noticed how that really impeded my work until I got clean and sober a few years ago. Since then though, life and work all seem much easier.
So, as you know, we’re impressed with Splendor 2 – tell our readers more, for example what you’re most proud of and what sets you apart from others.
I’m a recording engineer. I work mainly out of a studio called Splendor 2 that I operate within a somewhat larger facility called Matter Music. It’s a pretty wild space. Two big live rooms, tons of cool gear. If I specialize in anything, I think it’s getting a performance out of the artists that I’m working with. I often think the best take to get from the artist is the first or second, anything past that, the energy never seems right to me. Cultivating an environment that is conducive to being creative and vulnerable is key. I love records that sound like the performances were just for you. The intimacy of a great take is what I strive for while producing.
This year has been incredible honestly. My assistant and I were invited to make a record for a band we love at Capitol Records in Hollywood, which has been a dream of mine. There are a few other exciting things coming up as well, that I can’t wait to share with everyone.
Let’s touch on your thoughts about our city – what do you like the most and least?
I love Los Angeles. Specifically, I love my neighborhood, Hollywood. It’s grimy and kind of gross, but it’s funky and feels spontaneous. I love the embrace of outdoor space. Restaurants with outdoor seating are pretty sparse where I’m from. I love Griffith Park. I love walking around on the Strip.
I don’t love DTLA, but I’m trying, but honestly, the thing I like least about our city is how we treat our homeless population. We can do better, I know we can. There is tremendous wealth available in Los Angeles. There should be better, safer options for those who believe sleeping on the street is the best this city can offer them.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: @jgrabesrules
Image Credit:
Matthew Fitzpatrick
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