A modern multi-track and mixing facility owned by lead singer of Blue October, Justin Furstenfeld.

As an intern at Updown Studios, I had the opportunity to learn directly from head engineer Eric Holtz. I gained valuable insight by observing sessions, assisting with studio work, and getting a behind-the-scenes look at professional production workflows.

While there, I was fortunate to be part of sessions with Blue October as they developed material for a new project. The experience gave me a chance to see the creative process up close and contribute in a real-world studio environment.

Working at Updown also introduced me to a range of talented artists from across the country, giving me exposure to a wide variety of genres and approaches to recording.

Photo by: Jayson Peters

a san marcos production company specializing in event production along with audio/video design and integration.

While living in San Marcos, I had the opportunity to work with Justin Sappington, the owner of Synergy in Sound. Under his mentorship, I was involved in running live sound for a variety of major events.

During my time with Synergy in Sound, I contributed to the technical production of high-profile events such as multiple TXST graduations, the TXST Homecoming parade, and several regional festivals. These experiences sharpened my skills in live audio mixing and gave me valuable insight into the fast-paced world of professional event production.

Mercenary Magnetics – Where Music Knows No Boundaries

At Mercenary Magnetics, I worked as an assistant engineer under the mentorship of Chris Bell, an acclaimed music, mixing, and production engineer.

This role allowed me to contribute to sessions with artists including Dylan Gossett and Uncle Lucius, while gaining hands-on experience with the same techniques and workflows used on Grammy-nominated records. My time at Mercenary Magnetics has deepened my understanding of professional studio environments and refined my approach to both recording and mixing.