Meet Atharva Dhekne | Audio Engineer

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

Hi Atharva, what led you to pursuing a creative path professionally?
Growing up I was always involved with art around me. I trained on classical piano since the age of five and grew up influenced by my father’s music taste. He always had Dire Straits, Mark Knopfler, Eric Clapton, BB King, The Eagles, and so many more rock and blues classics playing while I was growing up. My parents always encouraged engaging in creative pursuits in addition to academics — be it drawing, painting, or music. In that sense I feel that I always had a unique upbringing which encouraged and recognized the full worth of having even a creative hobby. Having pursued my bachelor’s degree in computer engineering like every other person you could find, I never really felt like working in software or at a corporate job. While I was in college, I kind of knew very early on, that I wouldn’t see myself in a 9 to 5 job so I started to explore possibilities of what I wanted to do in life. I had always loved music since a young age, and mind you I still liked working technically, so I thought to incorporate both music and technology together and try my shot at a creative career.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I work as an Immersive Engineer and Mastering Production Engineer at Sterling Sound in Edgewater, NJ and I work out of the New York City area as an Audio Engineer and Producer. Mastering is the last step in the music production and engineering process before distribution and release. Mastering engineers are a different set of ears that offer the final finishing touches sonically to any given album or track and maintain uniformity from start to end. When songs are recorded and mixed with a singular perspective, mastering engineers ensure that they have fluidity and consistency over various media including streaming, radio, vinyl, CD, tape, and much more.

I’ve been extremely fortunate to work with Grammy award winning artists, musicians, producers, and engineers and learnt working under these legends. Selena Gomez, Dua Lipa, Rauw Alejandro, Bad Bunny, Pharrell Williams, David Byrne, Ariana Grande, Alicia Keys, J Balvin, Future, Cardi B, OneRepublic, Sam Fender, Florence + The Machine, Rosé, Lin Manuel Miranda, Robbie Williams, Lil Uzi Vert are just some of the artists that I’ve worked with before.

Coming from another country to settling down in New York with virtually no network and trying to establish your identity and getting a foot in the door was the most challenging aspect for me — especially when every hopeful prospect like yourself is moving to the same city with the same drive and determination to somehow make it. A huge deterrent for young professionals trying to make a living working in music is that most recording studios hire unpaid interns for months until there’s even a discussion of any remuneration. Unfortunately that is how the industry has institutionalized free labor in exchange for industry exposure. Whilst you have to do tough work as an intern or a runner working at a studio, my suggestion would be to use that position to make contacts and build your network.

Finding your place in the music industry is just a matter of time, being on the right people’s radars and building connections, enough that you’re the first person that they think of when they need someone. The only thing I’ve learnt from working in music is that it’s a very small world and everyone knows someone — you’re only one connection away!

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?
I tend to not go to the usual tourist spots having explored more of the city. Greenpoint, Red Hook, Williamsburg, Park Slope in Brooklyn; LIC, Hunters Point, Jackson Heights, in Queens have great food and has an emerging music scene in general. Also the Lower East Side, Chinatown and Harlem in Manhattan.

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 family who supported me for pursuing my passion as my profession. My music teacher, professors, and mentors all along the way who have selflessly offered their valuable knowledge to me.

Website: https://tacitonic.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tacitonic/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/atharvadhekne/