Rising Stars: Meet Yash Kapoor of Hollywood Los Angeles

Today we’d like to introduce you to Yash Kapoor.

Yash, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
I started out like a lot of people during the lockdown — stuck at home, trying to make sense of an uncertain time. For me, that turned into a deep dive into music production. I had always been obsessed with Michael Jackson growing up, and the more I learned about the paths of Quincy Jones and Charlie Puth, the more I found myself drawn to Berklee. Once I realized they had both studied there, it gave me a clear direction. I knew that’s where I wanted to go.

During that time, I consumed every resource I could get my hands on. From Coursera and LinkedIn Learning to MasterClass, Mix with the Masters, Udemy, YouTube, and Twitch streams from Kenny Beats, Nick Mira, and Timbaland — I was all in. I learned production, mixing, mastering, beat-making, and sound design. I watched plugin tutorials, read manuals, studied workflows, and explored multiple DAWs. What started as curiosity quickly became a full-time commitment to the craft.

By the time I arrived at Berklee, I had already built a strong foundation. I was comfortable with Logic, Ableton, Pro Tools, and FL Studio, so my coursework wasn’t about learning everything from scratch — it was about refining what I knew and filling in the gaps. Classes like harmony, ear training, and music theory gave structure to what I had been doing intuitively. Once I was accepted into the Music Production and Engineering major, I had the chance to really connect with my professors and learn not just techniques, but the philosophy behind their work. That mentorship gave me clarity on how to apply my skills more intentionally and professionally.

Working in Berklee’s studios — tracking bands, managing live sessions, and learning on analog consoles — took everything to the next level. It taught me how to collaborate, lead sessions, communicate ideas clearly, and most importantly, trust my ears and instincts.

Since then, the journey has been non-stop. I’ve recorded and mixed hip-hop crews in Mumbai, scored indie films, mixed layered jazz-funk duets with over 200 tracks, and worked live sound gigs for churches in LA. I’ve interned at Melrose Sound and Light Sonic Division, where I was fortunate to observe and assist seasoned engineers in action. Each experience has only reinforced that this is what I’m meant to do.

Now I’m based in Los Angeles, working freelance, constantly building my reel and refining my sound. My website hosts a curated playlist of my credits — as a recording engineer, producer, songwriter, mixer, and mastering engineer. I thrive in creative environments, enjoy solving problems under pressure, and live for the moment when everything in a mix finally clicks into place.

And while I’ve come a long way, I know I’m still evolving. Every artist I work with brings a new perspective. Every project pushes me to grow. And honestly, I wouldn’t trade it for anything else.

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Honestly, I’d say it’s been a pretty smooth road, and I’m incredibly grateful for that. I’ve been lucky to have access to the right tools, mentors, and opportunities at the right time. That said, none of it came without effort. I’ve had to put in long hours, teach myself a lot from scratch, and constantly adapt to new creative environments — especially moving between cities and cultures. But I see those moments more as growth than struggle. I’ve always had a clear sense of purpose and a deep love for what I do, and that’s made the path feel more exciting than difficult.

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I work across music production, mixing, mastering, sound design, and film scoring, but at the heart of it, I specialize in creating emotionally powerful records that sound as good as they feel. My primary focus is commercial music, especially in hip-hop, R&B, and pop. I love shaping a sound that blends technical precision with raw emotion, whether I’m producing from scratch, tuning vocals, building out a beat, or mixing a dense session with over 200 tracks. One of my proudest moments so far has been earning credits on 96 Miles from Bethlehem by Belly and working as an assistant engineer to NAV. Being trusted on projects of that scale reminded me that this is exactly where I’m meant to be.

From my time working at studios like Light Sonic Division and Melrose Sound, to leading projects that span multiple genres and languages, my journey has been about depth and versatility. I’ve developed proficiency across some of the most advanced equipment in the industry, including Neve 88RS, API Legacy Plus, and SSL 9000 consoles, along with Avid S6 control surfaces. I’m also a certified Dolby Atmos engineer for 7.1 surround, which allows me to explore immersive sound design with a cinematic edge. Beyond the technical side, what truly sets me apart is how I work with people. I believe production is not just about the tools or techniques, but about creating a space where artists feel heard, supported, and inspired to make something timeless.

Over the years, I’ve trained myself to produce across nearly every subgenre of electronic music from dubstep and house to color bass and future bass — and combine those sensibilities with modern pop and R&B songwriting. My work reflects years of genre study, sound experimentation, and critical listening, which gives me the ability to adapt and innovate in almost any style. I’ve also ventured into interactive audio, programming responsive environments in Unity and FMOD, and coding experimental instruments with MAX/MSP which pushes my creativity beyond the DAW.

Beyond the technical side, what truly sets me apart is how I work with people. I believe production is not just about the tools or techniques, but about creating a space where artists feel heard, supported, and inspired to make something timeless. My approach is deeply collaborative, rooted in storytelling, authenticity, and emotion because the best records don’t just sound right. They feel right.

Alongside studio work, I’ve also built experience in live sound over the years. I’ve worked as a live mixing engineer for multiple venues, including several Berklee stages, where I was responsible for handling complex multi-input setups in high-pressure environments. More recently, I’ve taken on the role of a broadcast sound engineer for several churches, where I mix live music and spoken word for streaming and in-house audiences. It’s taught me how to think on my feet, manage signal flow with precision, and ensure every detail, from the vocalist’s mic to the pastor’s headset, sounds clear, balanced, and emotionally impactful in real time.

What were you like growing up?
Growing up, I was always a mix of curious, restless, and deeply expressive. I had this constant urge to understand how things worked, whether it was pulling apart gadgets, learning how to code, or figuring out why a particular song made me feel a certain way. I was that kid who would get obsessed with something for weeks, from animation and filmmaking to sketching and sound design and then dive into it headfirst like it was my whole world.

Music was always playing in the background, but it wasn’t just something I listened to, it was something I tried to decode. I’d listen to the same song over and over, not because I liked repetition, but because I was trying to figure out what the snare was doing, or how the vocal was layered. I didn’t have the language for it back then, but I knew I was chasing feeling through sound.

Personality-wise, I was extroverted but reflective, the kind of person who loved making people laugh or putting on a show, but also spent hours alone tinkering on a beat or editing a short film. I always saw creativity as a way to make sense of the world, to process things I couldn’t always explain. Looking back, I think that duality being both analytical and emotional is still what drives my work today.

I’d lose all sense of time when I was creating. My home studio setup became my little cave, a place where I could disappear for hours, sometimes days, learning everything on my own. I remember going 72 hours straight, completely forgetting the difference between sunrise and sunset. It was pure flow. I used to be really into video games, but once I made the switch to music production, that became my video game. The thrill of discovering a new sound or finally getting a mix right gave me the same rush, only deeper. I was also deeply influenced by Michael Jackson growing up. I had this limited edition This Is It CD with his documentaries and music video compilations, and I’d just sit and watch for hours. The way his music moved people, made them cry, faint, scream, it lit something in me. I’d study those performances and then get up and dance in front of the mirror, trying to imitate every move while his videos kept looping. It made me realize that music could be both larger-than-life and deeply personal. That’s the kind of impact I wanted to create.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.yashkapoor.studio
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/_yash.kapoor_/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/theyashkapoor/
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/theyashkapoor/
• Twitter: https://x.com/yashkapoormusic
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@theyashkapoor
• Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/yash-kapoor-437125665