Meet Alex Crescioni | Music Producer & Mixer

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

Hi Alex, have there been any changes in how you think about work-life balance?
My work-life balance has gone through quite the extreme ups and downs over time. It also greatly depends on my daily inspiration. When I started my first studio I lived and breathed it, and I still do to this day. It’s very challenging to separate from the work. Being a music producer is a 24/7 full-time job. Even when you try to set up boundaries and “hours”, there will always be artists/clients who still feel the need to call or text you at 11 pm on a Sunday with some “emergency” when 99% of the time it could wait until Monday morning. For years I used to be at the studio all day everyday, but now I’ve developed more of a “4 Hour Work Week” mindset. I like to set things up like a 9am to 5pm…which usually ends up being a 10 am to 8pm during the week. It’s very rare that I work weekends now, sometimes Saturdays…but I like to keep Sunday fully open for myself to decompress and take my mind off the music. It’s very easy to get burnt out and not function optimally. I’ve found I get more done working fewer quality hours. As of now, I’m very happy with this routine and balance.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
I’m obsessed with music. Heavy, dark, & intense genres are my fixation. There is a sweet spot and feel with certain musicians that just get it. The anticipation of notes, the execution of rhythms that grab you, digging into a riff just the right way, bending notes…I could go on and on. Some people are born with this understanding and some just don’t seem to be phased by it. There is a difference between playing the riff right, and playing the riff right and with all the passion you can muster. I can immediately tell when someone has this gift in the studio. When I hear a heavy guitar riff or bass part, I want to feel the musician’s soul being ripped out of their body through the speakers. These nuances make all the difference in live performance, and in the studio. What I take pride in with my productions is aiming to hit that sweet spot every time. When I sit down to write a riff or song, I don’t care what the notes are or if it follows proper theory or not. All I care about is the feel, energy, atmosphere, and emotion it delivers to the listener. I get so excited every day when I sit down to record, produce, or mix a song for an artist that trusts me with their art. Getting to this point has been years of grinding and sacrifice. I’ve put a lot of my own money into my business, but it’s finally starting to pay off. Every year has presented new challenges and tests, although my persistence and perseverance to succeed have helped me push through the dark times. It’s been one hell of a journey and not an easy one. There have been so many setbacks and times where I’ve just wanted to give up, but again…my love for music won’t let me abandon the craft. I’d rather struggle at times doing something I love than have a job I can’t stand for more financial stability. One of the great pros about being self-employed is there is literally no cap on how much you can make. Having said that you really have to know your niche market and be very creative, innovative, and fearless. Working a consistent and stable day job is just a salary that may or may not increase significantly over the many grueling years. I’ve learned that as long as you are good to people, provide a great service, and not take anything personally, it’s much easier to get through the hard times and feel fulfilled in the process. I remember when I was a kid I spent a lot of time in my room looking through rock magazines and CD artwork and playing guitar to my favorite records. I would rip out pages of Hit Parader and Guitar World magazines (to name a few) and put up all my favorite bands at the time on my walls (Coal Chamber, Orgy, Static – X, Fear Factory, FILTER, Deftones, Cradle Of Filth, and much more) All those moments completely shaped who I am today. When I heard the debut KoRn album for the first time, it changed my life. I immediately researched to figure out how they achieved that guitar sound and started saving up for a 7 string guitar. From then on the intensity and extremity of my musical taste just morphed into this beast of a genre. If I went back in time now and told my 14-year-old self that in 20 years you’ll have worked with some of these musicians on your walls, I wouldn’t have believed it. The point I want to make to everyone reading is…if you have a dream, the only person who can truly hold you back is yourself. Work extremely hard and envision it as much as possible. There are no shortcuts.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
There really are too many to list, but here are some of my favorite spots in LA. I really enjoy hiking and Runyon Canyon is my go-to. There are different intensity trails and always a lot of doggos to brighten your mood. It’s kind of a “scene” but if you go at the right times it isn’t very crowded and you can get a good workout in nature. One of my favorite spots is The Federal in NoHo. Great atmosphere, delicious menu, a wide variety of drinks. I usually have a yearly gathering here with close friends and clients. Venturing into the West Hollywood area I would highly recommend Chateau Marmont. Amazing dark energy and decor with excellent cocktails. The rooms are creepy as hell! Entering into the valley, I highly recommend Vitello’s in Tujunga Village for some contemporary Italian cuisine. To keep the Italian going, right across the street is my favorite Gelato place ever, Gelato Bar & Espresso Cafe. The coffee is fantastic as well, the best mocha I’ve had yet! If you’re feeling in the mood to venture out a bit to Orange County, check out The Cauldron in Buena Park. It has a dark, Witchy, Harry Potter-esque theme and serves up some amazingly unique cocktails. The food is quite fresh and delicious as well!

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
Zander Reddis

Website: www.alexcrescioni.com
Instagram: www.instagram.com/alexcrescioni
Facebook: www.facebook.com/alexcrescioni

Image Credits
Anabel Dflux Alex Crescioni