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

Hi Ayush, what led you to pursuing a creative path professionally?
I am a Music Producer and an Audio Engineer based in Los Angeles. I have spent years carefully carving out my career path, identifying my niche and consistently working upon my skills. Choosing this path was a simple decision, because this was the one field that I always had a passion for.

 

I was inspired from a young age, and received formal training, in both Indian and Western Classical music, primarily keys and vocals. I was influenced by a few key artists from the US. I dove deeper into the industry here, while building upon my eastern foundaion. I studied and aim to emulate works of producers and engineers like Quincy Jones, Max Martin, Al Schmitt, and Chris Lord Algee. These producers inspired me and motivated me to become the best record producer and mixing engineer I could be.

During my teenage days, I found the most solace playing keys and singing. My journey kicked off with distributing samples and booking gigs for my band to get our foot in the door. I found the most fulfillment in being around music and furthered the focus of my life on this. Around this time, I managed and built a home recording studio in my grandmother’s house, I was producing beats for artists and recording bands. I started working with Indian talents like Encore Abhijay, Young Rep, Abxom, Sparsh Jain, Jobin Johny, and collaborated with bands such as 12 Strings and Fursat. I worked on in-studio productions for institutions like the Institute of Management Studies, located in Noida, and played on Indian TV Networks – India TV, and Home Shop 18. I was starting to see a real career beginning to form.

In 2016, eight years ago, I made the move to the US. I started in Florida. I was 18, and I completed a four year program in two years. I received a Bachelors of Science in Recording Arts from Full Sail University. I was a 20 year old Salutatorian, a course director and a perfect attendance award recipient. I moved to LA right after and found the buzzing music scene to be perfect place to get to work. I dedicated numerous hours hanging out with local musicians. Working with Grammy-winning producers such as Gemini Musiq, Daniel Galindo, and Sebastian Krys, and observing Mike Dean in the studio and other experiences provided valuable insights into understanding diverse music genres and perceiving music. I work across few different genres of music, and can achieve a range of emotions and energies within a production.

I work as a Recording and Mixing Engineer, a live Sound Engineer and a Music Producer. I could write pages of artists I have worked with. In the studio, I worked with Lauren Engle, Hadar Adora, Nora, Jaalene, Jetley, LeoG, Stiziii Lo. Running live sound for Kenny Beatz, Ralfytheplug, HeyDukeYouSuck, The Orphic’s and The Legendary Pot Roast was a great experience on the stage. I’ve also contributed to organizations like Five19 Music, The Watche, Epic Music Biz, E-mixed, Trans AM Productions, Musicology Productions, and Tao Productions. I’ve worked as the in-house engineer at the world famous Viper Room, Don Quixote, and DeBois Entertainment. I’ve also worked on motion picture titles such as Musicology, and Ghettobusters. Yet, the journey continues to excel in the music business.

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 handle everything technical. I make sure the sound is top-notch, whether in the studio or on stage. It is my responsibility to oversee the entire sound production process, and get hands-on with mixing music. A big part of my role is creating an environment where artists feel comfortable and can give their best.

As a producer, I make creative calls that shape the final product’s sound and style. I work with a range of musicians, singer-songwriters and rappers. I have experience with a few different genres, giving me a broad range in my style. I enjoy showcasing my versatility, whether it’s in Rock or Hip-Hop, and after years of training and repetition, I have the ability to feel the groove in all types of music. I understand music theory and can implement it, and my ears makes me stand out.

Achieving personal growth requires unwavering consistency, perseverance, disciplined effort, attention to detail and a focused mindset. Success is a result of staying committed to the right path, practicing patience, and diligently putting in the necessary work. The journey may involve enduring hardships, but over time, hardships fade, things become second nature. Being disciplined and following the right path is not letting challenges get in the way. This is not to say that they don’t exist, but I am not going to let them stop me.

It’s not easy, it takes years of practice, sleepless nights in front of screens, ear training and patience plus technical capabilities to excel in music. A difficulty I have faced is fulfilling the US immigration process. It is time consuming, stressful, and a financial burden. However, I will continue to accept it, love and care for my craft, get better every day, play in bigger venues every month, accept more tasks to accomplish, because that is what I am here for. The way I see it, the more I do, the more reason I have to stay.

I am excited for 2024, new content, new music, and vast ranges of collaborations. Can’t wait to share it with the world!

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
I’d start with a scenic drive along the PCH to the peak at Point Dume in Malibu. We’d hit up the local bars in Santa Monica. We’d catch live concerts on the Sunset Strip, including a visit to our venue at the Viper Room. Exploring hiking spots like Santa Ynez Falls and Hollywood Hills would be on the agenda. Our culinary journey would include cafes, seafood, Korean BBQ, Middle-Eastern, and Mexican cuisine.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I want to give a shoutout to my family and some awesome folks who were a part of my journey—Nick Martinez, Rimo Moreno, Gemini Musiq, Ron Jones, Sagar Joshi, Sudeep Sinha, Cameron Beena, Daniel Galindo, Akshay Saxena, Dish from Trans AM Entertainment, and Randy Stern from DeBois Entertainment. And a massive shoutout to Full Sail University! 🙌🎉

Website: www.ayushpaul.com

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

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ayush-paul-b1426a132

Image Credits
Suzette Labra

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