Meet Levi Linton

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

Hi Levi, we’d love to hear about how you approach risk and risk-taking.
I’ve always embraced the challenge of stepping into opportunities where I may not have felt fully prepared or qualified. These moments of uncertainty have proven to be more invaluable than words can express. As a freelance professional in the entertainment industry, risk-taking isn’t just encouraged—it’s essential. In a field where you’re often one among many, advancing your career frequently requires taking bold risks.

The freedom that comes with being a freelancer is incredibly rewarding, but I’m fully aware of the challenges it presents, especially when it comes to securing consistent work. This reality keeps me constantly on the move, searching for the next project that will not only satisfy my creative drive but also sustain my professional needs, whether it’s funding new equipment or fueling the passion that drives my art.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I’m an award-winning, Toronto-based African-Scottish Canadian Sound Editor, Recordist, Mixer, Music Producer, Singer/Songwriter, Performer, and Digital Content Creator.

My career in location sound has taken me across Canada, working on shows such as Race Against the Tide, All-Round Champion, and Canada’s Got Talent. I’ve also had the opportunity to work in Europe on How I Got Here: Season 2. I’ve sound-edited branded content for the Toronto Raptors, Argos, Maple Leafs, and TFC, and contributed to numerous narrative short films. I’ve also collaborated with The Farmhouse Creative Labs on various broadcast TV shows, both on location and in post-production.

In 2023, I won my first Canadian Screen Award for Best Sound in a Lifestyle, Reality, or Entertainment program for Canada’s Drag Race: Season 3, and repeated the win in 2024 for Canada’s Drag Race: Canada Vs. The World. I’m particularly proud of these achievements, thanks in large part to the incredible teams I worked with. My co-created, sound-supervised, and composed project VISIBLE (2020) is an award-winning narrative short film that received the Audience Choice Award at the Regent Park Film Festival (2020) and Best Canadian Student Film & Series at the Montreal Independent Film Festival (2021). VISIBLE was also featured at several other prestigious film festivals, including the Toronto Black Film Festival, Toronto Short Film Festival, and New York Shorts International Film Festival.

Other notable sound department credits include LIDO TV, which premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival (2022), The Revenge of the Black Best Friend, which made its world premiere at Cannes Film Festival (2022), Alex, which debuted at the HollyShorts Film Festival (2022) in Los Angeles, and The Stranger’s Case, which premiered at the Clones Film Festival (2021) in Ireland. All of these projects are available on CBC Gem.

The entertainment industry is deeply rooted in connections and collaboration, which can make it challenging for newcomers to break in. While it can be daunting to put yourself out there, especially as an introvert, it’s essential to build meaningful relationships that can lead to creative opportunities. Graduating in 2020 was particularly tough, given the impact of the global pandemic, but I’ve learned that persistence and a drive to create are key. Despite the challenges, I’ve embraced the reality that networking is crucial to advancing in this field, and I’ve committed to making the effort to connect with those who can help push my career forward.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
As an avid foodie, I’m always thrilled to share my favorite culinary spots with visitors. If a friend were to visit, I’d enthusiastically guide them through a tour of my top recommendations. I’d start with Ramen Isshin for its ingredient-packed, spicy ramen. For Asian-style fried chicken, Chen Chen’s or Gushi would be the go-to spots. Jumbo Empanadas in Kensington Market is my favorite Chilean restaurant, while Descendant offers the best deep-dish pizza in the city.

I’d also make sure to include some of my favorite coffee spots, such as Ethica Coffee Roasters, Found Coffee, The Library Specialty Coffee, and Mercury Coffee, depending on which neighborhood we’re exploring.

Between food stops, I’d suggest a visit to Bar Raval for unique cocktails, a stroll through Trinity Bellwoods Park and its surrounding neighborhoods for local shops and people-watching, and a bike ride or walk along the Harbourfront on a sunny day. The city often hosts various events, but I particularly enjoy small music gigs, flea markets, and outdoor movies in local venues.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I’ve been incredibly fortunate to have had numerous mentors and supporters throughout my journey in audio production. My passion for music has been the driving force behind my development as an audio editor, and one of the pivotal figures in helping me realize my potential was Marc Sands. While still in high school, I joined a music group where I was one of three producers working with a single vocalist. As we sought out a professional studio to bring our debut project to life, our vocalist connected with Sands, who invited us for a session at Harris Institute.

Sands had a reputation as one of the top students in his graduating class, and it was easy to see why—his skills were impressive. He introduced me to the world of audio engineering and made me aware of the educational opportunities available in Toronto. Sands was generous with his time and expertise, and his willingness to mentor us in the studio had a profound impact. I looked up to him as a role model and valued his guidance immensely.

It was also Sands who introduced me to an emerging rapper, an opportunity that allowed me to establish my name in the local Toronto music scene. Together, we went on to release a nine-track EP, marking my first collaborative release as a music producer.

During my time at university, I had the opportunity to connect with Damian Kearns, who was an audio engineer at CBC Studios. He invited me to shadow him on multiple occasions, where I observed his workflow and learned editing techniques that were entirely new to me at the time. The hours I spent in the studio were invaluable, as they gave me firsthand insight into the life of an audio engineer at a national company. These experiences helped me identify the areas I needed to improve on to envision myself in that role in the future. Today, Kearns runs his own studio, 217 Audio in Toronto, providing top-tier audio post-production services.

I can also credit Kearns with introducing me to John Diemer of The Farmhouse Creative Labs. Both Kearns and Diemer are distinguished alumni of OIART in London, Ontario. When I applied for a job on an upcoming show that Diemer was working on, I became his first choice, marking the beginning of my career as a Sound Recordist. Over time, I had the privilege of working on many of Diemer’s projects in reality and documentary television, progressing from a sound assistant to a sound operator. Today, I regard Diemer not only as one of my closest colleagues but also as a mentor and friend whom I hold in the highest esteem. His drive and work ethic have continually pushed me to excel in the field, not just for my own growth but for the benefit of the team he has built.

Website: https://www.levicreates.co/

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

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/levi-linton/

Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/le-vimusic

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

Image Credits
Carri Chen Juozas Cernius Alex Spence Kyle Jarencio Elliott Raben Patrick Ryder Carol Liu