Meet Jim Kaufman | Record Producer & Mixer

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

Hi Jim, how do you think about risk?
I firmly believe that the only way to make a real mark is to take huge risks. I have been a risk taker my entire career. In a massive sea of noise the only way to stand out is to take huge risks. I was born in Phoenix and came up in a thriving music scene.. I took the risk of moving to LA which set me on the path to become a record producer. I take risks on young artists and believe in developing talent that most of my industry won’t touch because they don’t have a social following yet. Musicians shouldn’t know how to be marketers, they should be musicians.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
Being a record producer and mixer is a term that I think gets thrown around way too much these days.. It seems every kid with a laptop and a splice account shares my title. I look at this as a good thing. I have been making records for the better part of 30 years and I consider myself more of a journalist really. I tell the story of a band, of a song, and of a moment. I LOVE my job. The world gets to her the bands I produce through my lens. Getting to where I am in my career was not easy at all, there have been many hurdles. Creating a network of bands, musicians, engineers, and music industry professionals takes time, especially when the goal is finding like minded people. Proper record production is a dying trend. There are too many people out there that want to take the time to make a record the way it a record should be made.. I am proud to be part of a team that is bringing real records back into the spotlight.

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 love Los Angeles. I have lived here for 20 years. I have a few spots that are close to my heart. 1. The Farmers Market on 3rd and Fairfax (I truly believe this is the heart of the city, when I was in my 20s I would spend days off just walking around or sitting at a table and enjoying the food and the people watching)
2. Canter’s Deli (a must for any visitors or locals)
3. Paradise Cove (what a gem.. walking along the coast here is just magic)
4. The Boardwalk between Santa Monica and Venice Pier (being a west-sider I spend a lot of time biking and jogging this strip)

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I dedicate this shout out to my family. Jasmina, Sedona, and Elliott.. Without their support and love I wouldn’t be able to do what I do and be who I am.

Website: www.jimkaufmanproductions.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jimkaufmanproductions?igsh=OGQ5ZDc2ODk2ZA%3D%3D&utm_source=qr

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jim.kaufman.142?mibextid=LQQJ4d

Image Credits
all photos by Matt Akana