Meet Katsuya Sezaki | Music Producer and AnK Studio 81 Owner

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

Hi Katsuya, what was your thought process behind starting your own business?
I started out as a music teacher. I tried to be as helpful and supportive to people I taught. As I considered myself as a versatile teacher, I taught many topics such as Music Theory, Sightsinging, Computer Notation, DAW, Artist Development and Music Arranging etc.. The funny thing was that, I noticed I was learning more as I was teaching. Among all the stuff I am learning from these students/young artists, I started to notice what could be really helpful for them to create music in this generation. I didn’t even think about making this into my “business”. I just thought of how I could contribute these people to make good music while having a great time. I really dialed into their voices of need. The music production scene has changed dramatically in last 15 years or so. The technology allowed us to make music in much easier fashion. I started my “side hustle”, to offer help as we turned one of our small bedroom to a home studio in our apartment we lived in. Over the years, the side hustle became my full time job. Last year, we build our dream studio in the house with the help of our family and friends.

Can you give our readers an introduction to your business? Maybe you can share a bit about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
We decided to build our “dream studio” in our house and we did it in the midst of the pandemic 2020! We call the studio “AnK Studio 81”. With the help of our family and friends, we built bright and modern music studio that is unlike any other studio in LA. We are loving this work space so far and we are receiving incredible feedbacks.

We designed the studio to fill the need mostly on music production, arranging, recording, vocal production and mix and mastering with singers, songwriters and composers from all over the world. What I do differently than other studios or producers and arrangers is that I do all these arranging/production/mixing work together with clients just like the writing session. I really enjoy getting to know my clients personally as we create music together and I am making sure that they feel safe and comfortable working on their songs with me every step of the way. This also gives them the opportunity to put their input towards to their songs from very early stage, which makes the music way more “personal” for them. Basically I’m becoming the chef to cook with the ingredients that clients picked and we are cooking together as a team. My experience as an educator really helps as I’m knowledgeable in different musical styles, I can understand and explain what they are looking for in sounds most of the time I take it as a great challenge to find what clients envision and bring their sound come to life. The turnout has been amazing so far and motivated to creat great work of art with them.

We are also getting great feedbacks on vocal recording sessions we provide. When clients come to me for vocal sessions, I’m wearing 3 hats; vocal producer role, engineer role and a honest friend role. I take the vocal producer role to help with their performance throughout the songs and coming up with harmonies and vocal effects etc.. I’m also an engineer to capture their voices in the highest quality. I’ve invested the best analog gears for vocal recording over the years and the recording room is designed for artists to feel very comfortable being themselves. Lastly, I’m going to be that friend to make them laugh during the session and gives honest feedback if the take is not the best they can do. We got to record great voices so far and excited for many more new voices to come through!

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
I’ve been here almost 17 years and I have to say I love LA and California. And depending on where my friends are from, course of the trip can be different, it’s that versatile in LA!

I would definitely take them to beach scene, Venice, Santa Monica and fancy Malibu restaurants.

I would also bring them to Palm Springs or Joshua tree to appreciate the nature side.

Personally I love the Korean food from Korea town, so unless the visiting friends are not from Korea, I’m ready to hit the korean BBQ places.

And yes, sushi and ramen scene had improved so much over the years in LA. Call me selfish, I’m going there just to enjoy those food for myself. 😄

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?
The list is too long but if I have to choose few people, first it will have to go to my wife Adrian. We met in a music college when we were both students and from when we were friends, she was always the one to encourage me that I have a gift. She believed in me more than I believed in myself and the encouragement took me to the place I never thought I would be at. At the same time, she is a vocalist and when I worked with her for her projects early on, she had no filter with me. She would tell me straight out what she feels in the process and areas that needs to be improved. Sometimes it was difficult for me as I was sensitive in terms of being a producer or a musician with any critiques, though I knew it was great for me. This “tough love” made my “skin” thicker, and made me to be a better listener, and was able to become less stubborn to the musical ideas and decisions that I make with artists. I’m so grateful for her for making me grow in this area, which is so significant to what I do today. We are happily married for 10 years this year.

I also want to give a shoutout to Mike Campbell and Musicians Institute. Mike Campbell was my teacher in my music college and then later became my boss. Mike was the one who gave me a shot to teach at Musicians Institute in Hollywood. I learned so much while I taught in Musicians Institute as an instructor for 12 years. I loved my co-workers who devoted their life with music. Learned alot from them but I learned so much from the students and am forever thankful for every souls that I met there. Also being at the school gave me ideas how I can contribute in the industry and pushed me to start my business.

Lastly, I want to send my gratitude to my parents, who encourage me to go to United States when I was 15 years old when I got kicked out of the high school in Japan. They sent me to Knoxville, Tennessee. My passion of music lit a small fire in this high school where I joined choir and school band as a drummer. Forever thankful to my choir director Mrs. Thomas for convincing me to stay in the choir. Ok, I’ll stop now, this about to become my biography! 🙂

Website: https://www.instagram.com/musicatsuya/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ank_studio81/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/katsuya-sezaki-254276a

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/katsuyas