Professional mixing engineer located in Madison, WI. Recorded/engineered albums by Foo Fighters (St.Cecilia), Queens Of The Stone Age (Songs For The Deaf), Courtyard Hounds, Randy Houser, Lucie Silvas, Kendell Marvel, Keith Gattis, Wade Bowen, Reckless Kelly. Mixed albums for Randy Houser, Kendell Marvel, Wade Bowen, Keith Gattis, Stone MGs.
I'm a Madison, WI based recording/mixing engineer with over 20 years experience in the industry. In that time, I've carved out a small niche for myself in the rock and country music world. That's not to say I'm not interested in other styles of music; It's just where my career has led me. Above all else, I'm a music fan who finds inspiration in great music of any genre.
Mixing is a collaboration between the artist and mix engineer. I listen to the artist, take their direction to heart, and focus my energy on enhancing the sonics, bringing out the nuance of the work. In short, Im not happy until you're happy.
I'd love to hear about your project. Click the green contact button above and let's get to work!
I'd love to hear about your project. Click the 'Contact' button above to get in touch.
Credits
AllMusic verified credits for Kevin Szymanski- The Stone MG's
- Randy Houser
- Randy Houser
- Randy Houser
- Lucie Silvas
- Wade Bowen
- Wade Bowen
- Hope Street Church Mothers
- Hope Street Church Mothers
- Rebecca Loebe
- James Lavelle
- Cory Morrow
- Micky & the Motorcars
- Jason Boland & the Stragglers
- Jason Boland & the Stragglers
- Reckless Kelly
- Aaron Watson
- Mela Dailey
- Scott Kluksdahl
- Bart Crow
- Bart Crow Band
- Reckless Kelly
- Reckless Kelly
- Cory Morrow
- Cory Morrow
- Court Yard Hounds
- Charlie Robison
- Charlie Robison
- Jack Ingram
- John Redmon
- Autumn Black
- Christina Aguilera
- Christina Aguilera
- Britt Lloyd
- HeyBale
- Cory Morrow
- Cory Morrow
- The Gougers
- The Gougers
- Elisabeth Ames
- Drew Kennedy
- Drew Kennedy
- Matchbox Twenty
- Bruce Robison
- Bruce Robison
- Cory Morrow
- Cory Morrow
- Of Hearts & Shadows
- West Coast Grand
- Autumn Black
- Christina Aguilera
- Rye Coalition
- Elias Haslanger
- Bruce Robison
- Bruce Robison
- Bruce Robison
- Bruce Robison
- Kelly Willis
- Bruce Robison
- Kelly Willis
- Bruce Robison
- Mike Sanford
- Kinky Friedman
- Kinky Friedman
- Keith Gattis
- Keith Gattis
- Keith Gattis
- Keith Gattis
- Keith Gattis
- American Hi-Fi
- Cory Morrow
- Cory Morrow
- Cory Morrow
- Cory Morrow
- Korn
- Ash
- Ash
- Ash
- Luis Miguel
- Anita Baker
- Anita Baker
- Nancy Wilson
- Rolfe Kent
- Ash
- Waylon Payne
- Waylon Payne
- Vendetta Red
- Christina Aguilera
- Rufio
- Fireball Ministry
- Gordon Goodwin's Big Phat Band
- Korn
- Lee Ann Womack
- Queens of the Stone Age
- Christina Aguilera
- Korn
- Korn
- Jim Brickman
- Color
- Chely Wright
- Delbert McClinton
- Jim Brickman
- Tantric
- Bare Jr.
- Marshall Dyllon
- Full Devil Jacket
- The Warren Brothers
- Matchbox Twenty
- Matchbox Twenty
- Matchbox Twenty
- Matchbox Twenty
- Wynonna Judd
- Wynonna
- Faith Hill
- Faith Hill
- The Imperials
- Nanci Griffith
- Twila Paris
- Full Devil Jacket
- Dino
- Glad
- Vibe Tribe
- Vibe Tribe
- The Kingsmen
- Bret Michaels
- Bret Michaels
- Bret Michaels
- Barenaked Ladies
- Karen Goldberg
- Joseph Vincelli
- Tourniquet
- Ben Tankard
- Faw Celebration Choir
- Rachel Sumner
- Alabama Mass Choir
- Dennis Wilson
- Joseph Vincelli
- Denny Jiosa
- Denny Jiosa
- Denny Jiosa
- Denny Jiosa
- Twinkie Clark
- Yolanda Adams
- Kelly Garner
- Yolanda Adams
- Yolanda Adams
- Living Faith Mass Choir
- Ben Tankard
- Frank Jackson
- Brad Dunn Band
- Brad Dunn Band
- Mike Stinson
- Mike Stinson
- Jamie Lin Wilson
- Jamie Lin Wilson
- Jamie Lin Wilson
- Hope Street Church Mothers
- The Stone MG's
- Rob Baird
- Rob Baird
- Rick Pino
- Micky & the Motorcars
- Micky & the Motorcars
- Rick Pino
- Courtney Patton
- Courtney Patton
- Courtney Patton
- Natalie Hemby
- Paul Wesley
- Gordon Goodwin
- Hope Street Church Mothers
- Hope Street Church Mothers
- Hope Street Church Mothers
- Hope Street Church Mothers
- Hope Street Church Mothers
3 Reviews - 1 Repeat Client
Endorse Kevin Szymanski- check_circleVerified
This is my second time working with Kevin... and I hope to do so many more times. Just a pleasure... he feels like a partner and not just someone knocking out a job. He definitely gave his all to my little project and I can't thank him enough.
- check_circleVerified
I couldn't be happier with Kevin's work on my track. Incredibly professional, communication was great and clear. He really tied everything together and brought it to the next level. I look forward to working with him again.
- check_circleVerified
Kevin exceeded our expectations. Total pro. He's got an incredible ear, really found the right sonic space for parts that I couldn't EQ right in a million years. He was exactly what the song needed to cross the finish line. We'll be hiring him again.
Interview with Kevin Szymanski
Q: Describe the most common type of work you do for your clients.
A: It’s mixing. When I moved back to Nashville in 2016, I did a lot of recording and mixing with my friend Keith Gattis. Now most of my time is spent mixing.
Q: Which artist would you like to work with and why?
A: Jeff Lynne maybe? The guy is a genius.
Q: Tell us about a project you worked on you are especially proud of and why. What was your role?
A: On Queens of the Stone Age, Songs for the Deaf, I was brought on to assist Adam Kasper mixing in Conway's A room. Josh immediately wanted to start re-cutting many of the parts. This turned into us often having 2 rooms going, Adam in one room mixing or overdubbing, while I recorded overdubs in the second room. As the project took longer than planned, Adam needed to leave on weekends to begin his next production, leaving me to continue guitar overdubs and vocals. That record to me, and to many rock music fans, stands out as one of the great rock records of our time.
Q: Analog or digital and why?
A: It depends on what it serves. Analog sounds great. Digital sounds great. A lot of times digital is more practical. I use them both regularly and they both have their place.
Q: What questions do customers most commonly ask you? What's your answer?
A: It usually centers around whether or not I like the song. And they’re right to ask that. I have to feel good about the song before I can move forward. It would disrespect the artist if I took on something that I didn’t like.
Q: What's the biggest misconception about what you do?
A: That simple instrumentation means an easier mix. Or that if you've used the same tones from song to song, I shouldn't have to change anything on my end from song to song.
Q: What advice do you have for a customer looking to hire a provider like you?
A: Being organized helps me do my job best. That’s the main thing. There are plenty of Youtube videos on how to organize sessions properly for your mixer. If you’re new to this, message me beforehand. I’ll be happy to point you in the right direction.
Q: What was your career path? How long have you been doing this?
A: I've been working in studios, assisting and engineering for 24 years. Starting with an unpaid internship in Nashville in 1994, then assisting at East Iris Studios in Nashville (now called House of Blues Studios Nashville) assisting primarily for mixer extraordinaire David Leonard as well as Justin Niebank and David Thoener. In 2001 I moved to LA where I assisted at Conway Recording and Chalice Recording before going out on my own. There I got to assist Jerry Finn, Adam Kasper, Nick Raskulinecz, Peter Mokran, and so many other great mixers! In 2006 moved to Austin, TX where I eventually helped open 12th Street Sound in East Austin and finally returning to Nashville in 2016 to work with good friend and producer Keith Gattis.
Q: What do you bring to a song?
A: I focus a lot on the arrangement. What defines each part? What decisions need to made in regard to the eq and where it needs to sit in the mix. Bigger? Louder? Softer? Outside of that, and to put it simply, I’m another pair of ears making the song the best it can be.
Q: What's your typical work process?
A: Create the session with the tracks and import my template (sub groups for drums, kicks, snares, bass guitar, vocals, etc), organize the session, and make sure everything is in place. I’ll listen to the rough mix from there, if there is one, and get a feel for the song. Once I hear the artist’s intent, I get to work mixing. When I get to a good place, I’ll start sending the artist references and we’ll work from those to get a final mix.
Q: What other musicians or music production professionals inspire you?
A: Too many to count: Jeff Lynne — The work he did with the Traveling Wilburys, Roy Orbison, and Tom Petty really stands out; Rick Rubin — He’s worked with incredibly diverse artists, seemingly jumping genres with ease. He knows how to get the best out of almost anyone he works with, doesn’t settle when it’s not great; Queens of the Stone Age — Josh is a brilliant writer, arranger, producer. It’s some of the most unique rock music being made today; Dave Grohl is a workaholic, all about music. Incredible musician. Especially good at making sure everyone involved in the process is comfortable and having fun; Tchad Blake and Mitchell Froom — Their work on Suzanne Vega’s Nine Objects of Desire & Los Lobos’ Kiko are some of the best sounding records that I’ve ever heard. When I’m in a new room and/or working with new speakers, I use these two in particular as reference materials.
Q: What questions do you ask prospective clients?
A: What is the artist's vision for the project? What records/artists influence their songwriting and production ideas? What was the inspiration for the song?
Q: What type of music do you usually work on?
A: I primarily work on rock and country/Americana projects.
I was the Recording and Mix engineer in this production
- Mixing EngineerAverage price - $450 per song
Includes all typical mix versions, 4 rounds of revisions w/o additional charge. Turnaround 5-10 days. Mix stems available for added charge after the project has been mastered.