Meet SABI

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

Hi SABI, what was your thought process behind starting your own business?
That seed was undoubtedly planted early in my life.

I grew up surrounded by entrepreneurs and business owners: my father is an independent real estate appraiser, my grandparents owned a video store in Artesia, the school where I learned piano was privately owned, and in high school, my aunt opened a bar restaurant in Cerritos, still operating today under new ownership. Seeing others take these risks and succeed inspired me to believe I could do it too.

The moment I knew I had to take the plunge came when I entered the industry in late 2020. At that time, I was freelancing and studying audio engineering in college. Seeing what was out there reignited my confidence with a resounding ‘yes, I can do this.’ Frankly speaking, I went through some very negative situations that compelled me to seek ownership of my own space and do things properly.

Many of the studios I worked in were poorly designed, inadequately treated, and provided abysmal customer service. I often encountered issues such as excessive noise, hums, or pops in the signal chain, improperly set up talkback systems, or outright malfunctioning equipment. The most frustrating part was bringing up these issues only to be met with dismissive responses, often from someone “out of town,” attempting to minimize or divert the conversation.

People deserve better.

I started planning the studio design around March 2021. I had a blueprint and cut list for framing and acoustic panels, an Excel sheet for materials and budgeting, and even a diorama with miniature furniture. My goal was to meticulously plan everything to ensure the project would finish as swiftly as possible.

I enlisted my family and close friends to help with the buildout. Despite the detailed planning, we faced numerous challenges. Installing fiberglass insulation in the floors and walls of the isolation booth was an itchy nightmare. The uneven subfloor beneath the new flooring caused frustrating delays, pushing us to work 14-hour days. We were so behind schedule that we ended up painting the ceiling just hours before the grand opening event! Ultimately, it was the dedication of my loved ones that ensured we finished on time.

It was a major triumph, but the buildout went significantly over budget. Purchasing furniture and studio equipment left me deeply in debt. I maxed out all my credit cards, took out a repayment loan, and maxed out my cards again—it was a risky bet on myself. I was confident I could hustle enough each month to meet those payments.

Being in such a precarious financial position pushed me to my limits. Every day, I felt the pressure to outwork and outsmart the competition. It drove me to enhance my people skills, financial literacy, and organizational abilities. Failing to improve in these areas would mean everything falling apart. There were times when business was slow, and it felt like the walls were closing in, but I had no choice but to persist.

It has now been 3 years since I started this business, and thankfully, things are going really well. I’ve paid off most of the credit cards I maxed out in the beginning and am on track to complete the repayment loan in another year. This has allowed me to invest more of the business income in studio improvements and even videography equipment.

These days, I’m expanding beyond studio production work to explore new income opportunities. I frequently work as a live sound engineer and hold certifications from Audinate, Allen & Heath, and Avid. This year, I’ve increased my involvement in consulting for studio buildouts and am also honing my skills in professional videography and editing.

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.
As a producer and engineer, my work is highly dependent on the artist I am collaborating with. Whether I am producing, mixing, or mastering, I feel it is my job to shape the music to follow where the artist is leading. I don’t seek to leave my own ‘fingerprint’ on others’ work. Instead, I pride myself on being a skilled craftsman.

At this point, what excites me most about the creative process is intuitively capturing the ‘sound’ of the artist I’m working with. Each artist is a unique blend of influences, and once you grasp those influences and how they resonate with the artist, you can begin to craft something truly unique. However, I didn’t always feel this way.

When I was first starting out, my biggest inspirations were super-producers like Timbaland, Kanye, and Pharrell. I was obsessed with creating my ‘own sound’ and wanted it to shine through in every production I was involved in. However, once I started producing professionally, my focus had to shift. One of the greatest challenges I’ve faced in my career was learning to let my own taste and preferences take a backseat and allow the artist to drive. These days, I’ll only really take the wheel when the artist is stalling out and needs a little push to get going again.

I’ve been fortunate to work with talented artists with strong creative direction. It can be disheartening when you think you’ve nailed it and created something that works, only to find the artist isn’t connecting with it. In these moments, it’s easy to slip into a negative mindset. However, the biggest lesson I’ve learned is that every creation is an experiment. Sometimes your ideas prove correct; other times, you need to step back and gather more insights.

Eventually, you reach a point where you understand ‘the formula’ for an artist and strive to broaden their creative horizons rather than merely finding what clicks immediately. This journey can span months or even years.

However, this is where music becomes most rewarding. To me, music is fundamentally a means of self-exploration and self-expression. When we listen to a song, it’s as if we’re connecting with a part of ourselves. Creating music that authentically reflects ‘you’ in every way is a natural extension of that process.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
I love hanging out in Santa Monica. The ocean breeze is so refreshing, and there’s plenty of amazing food around. A memorable day could easily be spent lounging on the shore at Will Rogers Beach, followed by a delicious meal nearby. You’ve got options like Tacos La Opcion on Washington, Bay Cities Deli on Lincoln, Cha Cha Chicken right by the shore, or Shoops for some great brunch eats.

Don’t forget about the iconic Santa Monica Pier and the sprawling shopping area off Ocean Ave. If you’re up for something unique, take a trip down to El Segundo for some thrift shopping. And if you’re willing to go a bit further, check out the Getty Villa in Pacific Palisades—they serve fantastic burgers and garlic fries.

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?
Building a business hinges on community support, and I want to highlight some key members of the Hangout Records community.

First and foremost, I must thank Frank Nguyen for his trailblazing role in the engineering community and the opportunity he provided through Shoutout LA.

A big shoutout goes to my dear friend Nevi Outlyr, who has consistently had my back and opened countless doors. His passion for connecting people and understanding others has introduced me to LA’s vibrant independent artist and creative community.

I am deeply grateful to my family for their unwavering belief in me and their support as I ventured into entrepreneurship. Their guidance has been invaluable.

Lastly, heartfelt thanks to everyone who contributed to the buildout and to the artists who trusted me as their engineer and producer. Your patience, understanding, and faith in me mean more than words can express.

Website: http:// www.hangoutrecords.net

Instagram: https://sabi.sensei