How would you define your main role on most of the projects you work on
at the moment?
At the moment, I am working on a few different things, one of them being producing and releasing my own music. I had songs that I have been working on for the past two years, and now felt like the right moment to share them with the world. I am also part of the innovation team at Abbey Road Studios, in the Audio Products department. It’s been a fantastic year working with different softwares and experimenting with recording and processing all sorts of cool sounds. It brings the best of my production, engineering and music skills together, it’s really fun.
Please tell us a bit about your musical background. How did you get started in the music industry? What was your pathway to your current role?
I started at a very young age, playing piano and then discovering the harmonica – my main instrument today, along with vocals. I grew up a performer, playing tours in São Paulo, the Lollapalooza Festival in Brasil, the Blue Note in NYC with Seu Jorge, and many other venues around the US and UK.
In 2014, I was awarded a full tuition scholarship to Berklee College of Music, in Boston. There I graduated with honors and a double degree in Music Production & Engineering and Vocal Performance, as well as gaining experience working two internships, one at Mad Oak Studios in Boston, and the other with re-recording mixer, Andrew Wilson, in Bristol.
I’ve been a Producer since 2019 and worked with different artists from all over the globe, including English Teacher and Picture Parlour, while also creating my own music. In 2021 I joined the engineering team at the historic Abbey Road Studios and after two years earned a promotion to assist in expanding the Audio Products department.
What or who inspired you to follow this path?
Music has always been an essential part of me. There have been so many moments in my life which are directly attached to a song or a band that I was listening to at the time. Music really fuels me to express my feelings and to keep moving forward. It’s my therapy outside of therapy, it doesn’t matter what happens, good or bad, it’s always there for me when I need it. This comfort, the emotions and feelings that music evokes in me, time and time again, are what inspire me to make music, connect with others and keep digging deeper and deeper into this intriguing and incessantly creative universe. My family’s support also mean the world to me. We grow together from our experiences, and despite being far away, they are always, always with me. Their kindness, excitement, hard work, and positivity towards life inspire me every single day.
Are there any highlights from your work that you are particularly proud
of?
Tricky one! But working with Matt Bellamy was certainly a highlight of last year. Muse has been with me through so many phases of my life, since my early teen years, so it felt like a full circle moment to me. We recorded the soundtrack for Audible’s “George Orwell’s 1984” audiobook, composed by Matt and Ilan Eshkeri. Unforgettable.
What’s one tip you can share with other MPG members that could help
their workflow?
You will hear a lot of: “This is the best way to this or that” or “This is the only way to do this or that”. I’ve always taken those statements with a lot of caution, because in production and engineering, there are so many different ways of doing things. What works great for someone might not work at all for you, and vice versa. My best advice would be to always be open and curious about another person’s workflow. We all come from different backgrounds, were raised differently, have a different learning curve, and have our own individuality. Take those into account for others, but also for yourself, and allow yourself to experiment, be creative, and simply try other ways. My motto is, you need to know the rules to break the rules. So if something seems like it might not be the ‘right’ technique, but works great for the context of your production and what you’re creating, don’t let the rules dictate what you can or cannot do creatively. Just go for it and see what happens.
What’s one tip you would like an MPG member to share with you?
I’m always very interested in hearing insights from other producers on their processes, and all the unusual directions they took during the production. That could go from making changes and adding all sorts of quirky elements in the music itself to how they build their relationship with the artist throughout the project.
Do you have any words of wisdom for people wanting to get into a similar
music production role to yours?
Having passion for what we do is key, but so is patience. My path has taken many and many different turns throughout the years, and the journey is what really made me grow and evolve as an artist and producer. There’ve been many people along the way who doubted my potential and where I could or couldn’t get to. Don’t allow those words and judgmental looks to bring you down. They don’t really know your story or what you’re capable of. That is all up to you. I always say that I have confidence in what I know and what I don’t know, meaning, even if I’m not sure how to do something, I own up to it. There’s nothing to feel bad about when you’re asking questions and learning.
Unfortunately, women end up getting more of the ‘doubters’ in our paths. If you’re too nice – you’re the naive, and if you’re too honest and assertive – you’re too opinionated and obtrusive. My thoughts about that? Well, keep being you, keep being curious, ask questions when you’re able to, experiment with the equipment you have at home, and remember that no one builds their career the same way, and that is cool. See that as opportunity for you to walk your own path and make your own choices.
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