The next interview is with Sound Engineer & Producer Jeremy Conlon of Left Of Elephant Sound
I first crossed paths with Jeremy when he was working in a local record store (which now of course doesn't exist)... Jeremy would always order in cool vinyl records and overseas imports such as Three Imaginary Boys by The Cure and Blue Sunshine by The Glove (which I bought during Year 11 High School) and he was always really supportive of local bands and we ended up working together on Seesawtrace recordings (other band). Most recently Jeremy has lent his ear and contributed his engineering skills on the Stormset - Just Like Fashion E.p. A journey which began at his bushland studio (Berringa, Vic) and was then completed with mix-downs across the digital vortex between the new Left Of Elephant Sound studio (Darwin NT) and home.
Image Source: circus folk archives
Can you tell us how you started out in music and how you became a sound engineer?
I started by being exposed to great music early on, and great quality hi fi units, speakers, amps etc...so early on I had an understanding of what good music sounds like on a good system. I was lucky enough to work in record stores since I left school, got a head full of all kinds of music and genres, played in bands, The Violets, Cooperblack, and I became fascinated with the workings of a studio. I bought a simple set up, Tascam Porta 1 then the 244, did several courses in live mixing and music technology. I guess I just morphed into being a sound engineer, primarily by being a musician first.
what are you currently working on?
Analechi a new electro outfit with Lauren Day, very fun indeed, dirty electro stuff, producing some albums in the NT, Alice Springs and Darwin, meeting great musicians from all over Australia, very lucky.
Image Source: http://www.anelechi.net/
PC or mac?
Mac, because that's all I ever had access to...doesn't matter though, whatever tools you need to get the job done.
Any advice for people who are starting out recording their own music?
Get the best gear you can afford..read about gear and how to set it up properly and look after it..so much info out there
AND
Listen, listen, read about people's process and inspiration, read some more, listen, do, make mistakes, make more mistakes, make fantastic mistakes, meet other musicians, don't be a hermit, be yourself and do it for you.
This interview was originally posted on the old Stormset Blogspot in 2013. For a more recent interview check out Brother From Another Planet by Megan Spencer.