Meet Mateo Barragán: Audio Engineer/ Producer

We had the good fortune of connecting with Mateo Barragán and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Mateo, let’s start by talking about what inspires you?
Music. I am very passionate about music and I would say it is the main source of inspiration for me. My love for music is the reason I decided to move to LA in the first place and I really think that it was a life changing and the decision I have have made for my career.

I am an audio engineer/ producer and I work at a recording studio, which has allowed me to work with many great artists and musicians. Working with people that is very talented but also very passionate about making music really inspires me and pushes me to want to become better and better at my craft so that I can make them sound the best as possible.

Finally, just the thought of how music is such an universal and timeless form of human expression and how a song can connect with many different people regardless who they are or where they are, inspires me a lot. I think this is really beautiful and this thoughts really assure me that I am in the right path, doing the best I can to keep creating music with talented and wonderful people.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I work as an audio engineer at a recording studio called Igloo Music, which is a multi Grammy award winning facility. I would would say that what makes me the most proud is all the effort and work that I have put to reach the point in my career that I am right now. It was definitely not easy and I don’t think it is for anyone, there’s always ups and downs. For me to reach where I am now it required a lot of persistence and hard work, specially the first 3 years after I moved LA. You know moving to such a big and competitive city is a big challenge and you have truly push yourself and show your worth to the people you want to work with.
This means putting a lot of hours into work, practicing your skills and networking sometime at the cost of sacrificing sleep and your personal life. However I would say it is all becomes worth it when a project you really become passionate arrives and you are loving on what you are working on, or when you work with a person you really look up to.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
Well, because of Covid I really haven’t gone out much and I don’t really know of places to visit anymore to eat or drink, etc. However what I love the most about LA is how it is really close to some very beautiful nature places, so I would definitely take my best friend to the beach up north in Malibu, to do some of the many hikes around the city, visit Big Bear, MT Baldy or the LA national forest.

Nature has always been a very important part in my life and it is a great way for me to recharge after some crazy weeks of work. The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
My good friend Jordan Hawkins. We have been working together for 2 years now, shared countless late nights at the studio creating music. He is a talented artist/ producer and guitar player and I really believe in his music and his talent. It has been truly a pleasure to be part of his artist journey in LA and see his career grow. I have have told him: “your music is great and I want to win a Grammy with you, man” and I am pretty sure that is going to happen.

Instagram: mateobarragan

Image Credits
Carolina Rizzotto