Today we’d like to introduce you to Brendan Duffey.
Hi Brendan, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
I was born and raised in Davis, California, and grew up skateboarding and playing music. After graduating from high school, I started recording bands and working in local studios. After a few years doing live sound and studio recording, I attended Chico State, where I graduated with a degree in Recording Arts. After a short stint working at Sylvia Massy’s studio, I moved to São Paulo, Brazil to marry my college girlfriend. After a few months, I got a job at one of the largest and most successful recording studios in the country, where I began doing records with many of the biggest Brazilian artists.
After two years at this studio, I quit and opened up my own large-scale facility, Norcal Studios. During the ten years the facility was opened we recorded some of the largest and most successful bands, advertising campaigns, and film soundtracks. After my two sons were born my wife and I sold the facility and moved to Davis, CA. I opened Brendan Duffey Audio, a mixing and mastering facility while also teaching advanced audio courses at American River College. After a seven-year stint in CA, my wife and I purchased a farm property in Jupiter, Florida, and I opened a purpose-built mixing and mastering facility to better host my clients while providing a more private and serene location.
I am a Grammy award-winning engineer, with 16 total nominations and multiple RIAA certified Gold/Platinum/2xPlatinum records. I have multiple awards in film and advertising and am currently completing a master’s degree at The Berklee College of Music in Music Business. I have worked with artists such as Bruce Dickinson (Iron Maiden), Devin Townsend, 50 Cent, Milton Nascimento, Sheryl Crow and many more.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
Moving between multiple countries, locations, houses, jobs, and studios has made my life interesting but far from smooth. From opening a major recording facility at 26 years old to giving up a solid job and relocating my family to another state to once again be full-time in music production has made life busy and interesting. After all of these years, I couldn’t imagine not confronting these types of struggles as they are what drive me and provide me with the life, family, and career I have.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
These days, I am a full-time mixing and mastering engineer. For many years, I also produced full time but these days I prefer being on the side of post-production where I feel I bring more to the table. I really enjoy putting the last touches on a creative project that many have put months or even years into. I am most proud of the fact that I have created a diverse musical career in which I get to work on multiple genres from countries all around the world. One day I may work on Japanese reggae, then Brazilian Forro, and then American Death Metal. This diversity in music keeps my work and life interesting and allows me to make musical friends throughout the globe.
Do you have any advice for those looking to network or find a mentor?
Create a small and solid network of friends and colleagues that can grow together. My biggest opportunities, fallbacks, and feedback comes from a small and dedicated group of individuals who are all like-minded and are truly happy for one another.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.brendanduffeyaudio.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/brendan_duffey_audio/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/brendan.duffey1
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/feed/
Image Credits
BDA-ELENA: Alex Elena
