A Living Legend
Last weekend, at a workshop at Sweetwater Studios, I had the opportunity to meet a music mixing legend and glean some first-hand wisdom straight from the man himself. If you’ve ever listened to music (tongue firmly in cheek), then you’ve heard the work of Michael Brauer. He’s done it all — from r&b to pop to metal and everything in between. Over the years, he’s developed a sonic signature that imbues his work with a sense of emotionality and intensity few others are able to accomplish in their mixes. Hence why so many defer to Michael’s unique ability to interpret a song.
Michael Brauer’s Incomparable Discography
Michael Brauer’s discography is filled with gems and milestone markers from entire eras of modern music. Chances are you’ll find something you’ve long enjoyed — a song or an album — that has passed through his faders. Some of my favorites include:
- Phoenix // Ti Amo
- John Mayor // Continuum
- Jeff Buckley // Live at Siné
- Cold Play // Parachutes
- Marmozets // Knowing What You Know Now
- Grizzly Bear // Shields
Each of these albums showcases Michael Brauer’s ability to interpret a diverse array of music. As he said in our workshop, he likes to reinvent himself every 5 years. Be that in his personal life, with his music or his other passions (like cycling), Michael like to embrace new challenges and avoid stagnation — which is a killer to anyone trying to keep themselves fresh and move with the times.
It’s Music, Not Rocket Science
The biggest takeaway I had last weekend was to remind myself why I got into music in the first place. Watching Michael Brauer stand in front of his trifecta of Avid S1 faders, grooving with whatever track he used to demonstrate his mixing technique, seeing his emotions take command of his body as he went to work; what a powerful, motivating thing.
On top of learning from Michael Brauer, I was also fortunate to meet some other talented musicians and engineers. Like me, they wanted to learn how to “Brauerize” their own mixes, but they also wanted to find some fresh inspiration at this stage in their respective careers. All in all, I think we all left Indiana with a renewed sense of excitement towards the music we are fortunate enough to make.
More than ever, I’m looking forward to all the upcoming sessions at Bynx Records. Between my own music and the records I work on with other people around Orlando and beyond, I’m excited to see where it goes.
Thank you, Michael Brauer!
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