Recording Grad Alex Ayers Discusses Working in Music

Alex Ayers graduated from the Recording Arts program in April 2013. Alex has loved music from a young age. He started playing music at age ten and then was in bands throughout high school. Since graduating last year, Alex has faced the challenge of getting responsibilities and priorities in line with his main goal, which is to do music for a living. He would still take disk jockey gigs and took up a collections job as well to help pay for his bills.

It came to a point where he was being taken away from his music for a period of time. According to Alex, he had a decision to make.

“… Either keep this job and pay my bills or do music. I chose music to pay bills.”

Ultimately what helped Alex make that choice and inspire him to keep on pursuing his music was the idea of never having to work.

“Music isn’t work for me,” he said.

Alex is currently working at a recording studio in Orange County called Tape Deck Studios. He has been with the studio for nine months and is currently a full-time engineer. He does everything from mixing and mastering to production. Alex has worked with hip-hop artists, EDM House artists, DJs, and singers. One of his favorite projects was when the studio transformed a small sample mix into an intricate progressive song mix. It took them the whole day, but the end result was well worth the work. Alex has another project lined up working with a House singer. He and his studio team are going to be providing the whole package, everything from EP full production to mastering CDs. He also welcomes all students and alumni to Tape Deck Studios in Anaheim for any recording services and studio time. Along with working at the studio, Alex still does DJ work on the side. A few words of advice he would give to current students are to surround yourself with people who will help feed your artistic drive.

“Move in with someone who is doing music,”

According to Alex, living with his roommate, who was also really passionate about making music, helped and inspired him to keep on creating. He also advises students to not give into distractions while in class, like using Facebook and playing around the computer.

“Pay attention,” he said. “I went out there and used what I learned and I learned a ridiculous amount of stuff from this school.”

You can follow Alex on Instagram at: @mister_ayers

And the Studio’s Instagram at: @tapedeckstudios