While organic music continues to undergo a very peculiar kind of transformation and is the scapegoat for many a digital compression, one thing stands for sure: two-time Grammy and 14-tech award winner Bernie Grundman and genius master mixer, sound engineer and musician Steve Sykes maintain integrity to create the highest level of sound during these changing times. Both masters in their fields respectively, in a candid interview Sykes and Grundman spoke up and out on the dos and do nots of recording, mixing and mastering the steps to take to get a hit mix and how they make it sound like butter.
Sykes is a sound recording and audio engineer legend, with career accolades spanning more than 30 years. His humble beginnings started with a band out of his native Philadelphia, called “The Thorns.” He was a 13-year-old teenager and selftaught guitar player during the time. “The Thorns” became the right fit for Sykes’ style. The band grew from a local band at a then Philly located Sound Plus Studios into the band that everybody wanted to play for out of the renowned, Sigma Sound Studios of Philadelphia. Having his mom, who booked musicians and set up their auditions in your home, was not a bad thing either. I guess that you could say that Sykes got the creative bug bite after hanging out with the likes of the mistress of jazz, Nina Simone, key board and organ player, Jimmy Smith, the great Art Blakey, and “The Jazz Messengers.” Even if his hanging was done while crawling around from underneath the piano, Sykes had an ear to hear.
It was all that the world could stand as Philly produced a big splash on the 70s’ music scene. “The Sound of Philadelphia” (TSOP) was a No. 1 hit in 1974 hit for the group “Mother, Father, Sister, Brother” using a blend of big sassy horns and hip, pop riffs, would become the latest craze for pop, dance and R&B.
Additionally, TSOP which written by natives Leon Huff and Kenny Gamble and produced by Thom Bell, had been chosen as the theme song for “Don Cornelius,” and “Soul Train.” The cool new groove of MFSB featuring the vocals of the “Three Degrees” helped “Don” give audiences another kind of listening pleasure.
These historical moments put Sykes in perfect alignment with meeting the next super-star line up; of those destined for fame. That line-up included high school friend, Stanley Clarke.
Grundman on the other hand developed levels of mastering techniques and buffed up skills for making his clients’ final mix, sound like “butta.” Straight out of Minneapolis, and of Swedish, German and Norwegian descent and at age 14, right around the same time Sykes budded, Grundman got a recording studio gig while living in Phoenix, AZ. At the time he was attending Arizona State University, which gave Grundman the opportunity to use his training from Air force warfare. Ending a 25-year relationship with A&M Records, and with more gold and platinum recordings that he could carry in 84 BGM, Bernie Grundman Mastering Studios opened for business, and in 1997 that business was extended to Tokyo.
Bernie Grundman Mastering facility located at 1640 N. Gower in Los Angeles offers audio-mastering, developed-out-of-custom, in-house designs, and if needed modifications from the original manufacturer spec.
With an output of 30 percent of top-10 industry hits, Grundman’s Grammys are well worth the space they hold. I guess that you say he is the Getti of mastering and a damn good engineer as well. Grundman is always at the helm of some of the industry’s most astounding recordings just to name a few, Mary J. Blige, Outkast, Ludacris, Mos Def, Carole King’s “Tapestry,” Prince’s “Purple Rain,” The Doors, Joe Cocker and the list goes on and on. As a lecturer, Grundman speaks regularly at UCLA and NARAS (National Association of Recording Arts and Sciences). Interviews on Bernie are too numerous to count.
A nice note to stock away in your mental files is the fact that Claire, Grundman’s wife, is a painter and created the beautiful wall art Grundman has displayed upon opening door to his studios. Claire’s beautiful and brilliant colors converted an otherwise productive and structured environment, full of high-end tools into a warm and cozy compliment, and thus, the legend continues.
Presently, DJ Cassidy’s “Calling All Hearts,” the first drop from Paradise Royale mixed by Sykes, is due to hit the streets as I’m tapping out these words. LAFX located in North Hollywood, is said to be one of the best sounding control rooms and became the go-to for Sykes’ Paradise Royale, first sessions’ rhythm tracks (lafx.com). The studio also acts a rental house, making equipment easy to access. Capitol Studio B aka Capitol Studios helped Sykes breathe life into the remainder of Cassidy’s tracks. www.capitolstudios. com.
Sykes featured in Electronic Musician for his part in Cassidy’s “Calling All Hearts,” wherein the DJ plays the character. The project is a dedication to the soul and funk artists of the 70s and early 80s. Paradise Royale pulled in to do the honors, pop and R&B stars, Robin Thicke, Mary J. Blige, R. Kelly, Estelle, John Legend, Ne-Yo, Kelly Rowland, Cee-Lo Green and Usher. www.emusician.com.
Cassidy, influenced by super hip-hop stars, Kool Herc, Grandmaster Flash, and Afrika Bambaataa, set the stage for a long overdue classic funk reunion bringing together some of those same funk artists namely, Earth Wind and Fire’s, Larry Dunn , Philip Bailey, and Verdine White, all longtime friends of Sykes; all No. 1 chart makers.
Ray Parker Jr., on guitar Nile Rodgers and John “J.R.” Robinson; Bobby Watson of Rufus, Ndugu Chancellor, on drums; the deep and beckoning sound of Marcus Miller and Freddy Washington on bass, as well as Jerry Hey conducting horns and strings makes for a special collaboration. The funksters kicked up more dust than a hurled ball of sand in the Sahara. Paradise Royale presents them, to groups ages 30 and above with the same classic sounds that Sykes and Grundman are highly revered. Those ever-loving, goody-good sounds with their authentic elements are what Sykes and Grundman continue to strive for. With elite digital entities merging and beginning to explore deeper grooves from original music, we are certain to hear of more collaboration, like D.J. Cassidy’s, Paradise Royale.
With notable production greats like Grundman and Sykes, the magic is in the mix and the mix is sure to get a rise when there are two masters squishing their hands deep into the bowl.
For more information on Steve Sykes visit www.stevesykes. com. To learn more about Bernie Grundman, persons can visit: http://www.emusician.com/album-profiles/1378/dj-cassidy-inside-the-paradise-royalerecording-sessoins/46503.
