The Media Tribe Alumni Aman Arakh wins his 2nd IRAA award

“Please listen to great music and let it have an all-encompassing effect over you, and then try to translate that in your own work. With every next song, see how and what can you do better than the last.”

Aman Arakh is a 2 time Indian Recording Arts Academy Award winner for his incredible work on some of India’s finest independent artists. Aman runs “Music First’ Studios in Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh where he is the “go-to” engineer for indie artists. Aman is all set to host a lecture at The Media Tribe to discuss his award-winning works with our students and review this year’s student work. We interviewed Aman to know more about his upcoming ventures.

How do you select the independent artists you work with, and what do you look for in potential collaborators?

I’m always on the lookout for a song that moves me, so that would be number one. But I’m obviously also looking for people who I can connect with as a person, as the process of making songs is so much more than just theory and softwars and plugins. I can't think of any artist that I have had in my studio with whom I haven't had many conversations about things that don’t necessarily concern music.

As a two-time Indian Recording Arts Academy award-winning engineer, what do you believe are the key elements to a successful recording session?

From the artists’ end, it’s preparation. As a producer/engineer, my job goes a little beyond that.

You don’t just have to be prepared to hit record, but you must also be able to create an environment for the artist, where they feel comfortable, and can perform with the same amount of vulnerablility that they wrote the song with. This will particularly elevate your chances to introduce new ideas/experiments that they have probably not thought of.

This entails more psychological connotations than tangible things you can do, and is obviousy easier said than done, but over time, you can learn and keep getting better at that.

What have been some of the most memorable projects you've worked on, and what made them stand out to you?

If I had to name one, it would be ‘Moonbrain’, which is a debut EP by Shikhar. A fantastic songwriter, guitar player and a delightful person to work with.

It stands out for me because we worked on it together from the writing stage all the way to the release. Did all sorts of experiments along the way and learned a massive amout throughout the process.

Another project which I believe is a big story in the making is all the work I do with Mocaine. I encourage people reading this to check out Mocaine’s albums.

What challenges do you face when working with independent artists, and how do you overcome them to achieve the best possible results?

As someone whose main clientele is independent artists, I end up working with lot of people who are releasing their first song/EP/Album. It’s a uniquely challenging experience because often there’s a learning curve in between their preconceived ideas about the process and how the process ends up being. This can be tricky for artists, but if I can be open to their ideas and produce something that impresses them, it helps them keep the faith in it.

In some cases, compromise it the way forward (out).

How do you stay updated with the latest trends and technologies in the music industry, and how do you integrate them into your work at Music First Studios?

The internet is the single greatest source of information ever created. I have, over time, filtered out some avenues which have become my go-to places to learn new things and keep myself updated. There are so many to mention, but if anyone is interested, they can check out my ‘Following’ tab on instagram and find some incredible people/platforms I follow from the audio/music community.

If you can have your own community of peers, nothing like it.

Being nominated multiple times in several categories at the Indian Recording Arts Academy awards, how do you handle the pressure of multiple projects and maintain the quality of your work?

I think this has more to do with discipline and routine, and I have learned this the hard way. From 2018 to 2022, I had an extremely unhealthy relationship with work. My days were not designed with any sense of balance and I had essentially no days off in the week. I was under the illusion that if I just spend more hours working, I will end up in a better position, but that is a one-way route to the burnout spiral.

I have found that the quality of working hours benefits from things like getting enough sleep, eating right, having a routine which allows for physical movement, and taking at least one day off in the week where you don’t think about work.

All of the above, and setting realistiac timelines for your projects.

What advice would you give to aspiring producers, engineers, and mixers who are looking to make their mark in the music industry?

I hardly think I’m qualified to give any advice. This is a vast industry and there are many variables, but the idea that I try to bring to all important professional decisions is - Music first! If a song moves you, there’s a chance that it will move many others. It is worth chasing that feeling, sometimes at the cost of other things.

A bonus garden-variety but extremely important tip: Please listen to great music and let it have an all-encompassing effect over you, and then try to translate that in your own work. With every next song, see how and what can you do better than the last.

Lastly, what are your future goals for Music First Studios, and what do you hope to achieve in the coming years?

Future for Music First Studio involves proper infrastructure. To be precise, a dedicated space for recording, production and performance, which I am currently working on.

The hope is to create a kind of space that I would have loved to have as a kid with an interest for music, growing up in Bhopal. A place where peple can experience the wonders of music making, performance and exchange of ideas.

- Interview by Aman Moroney