Meet the Engineer at Infirmary Records

The engineer at Infirmary Records, Martyn, spoke to us about his role and how he can help budding and qualified musicians with their sessions at the studio.

What’s your name and role?

“I’m Martyn, the Studio Engineer at Infirmary Records.”

How did you end up working in the music industry?

“I started out volunteering at a recording studio and creative arts centre when I was about 16, at that point I was mostly into playing keys and recording my own music at home using Dance eJay and early versions of FL Studio, but I soon got hooked on live recording and hanging out in the studio. I started helping out with recording sessions and did an OCN Sound Engineering accreditation. From then I got my first job at the studio when I was 18, and carried on building my skills and confidence working with lots of different artists. I started running recording sessions and production workshops and also worked part-time on my own business producing and mixing for other artists and labels. In 2015, I started a degree in Music Production which was a really great time for me as I learnt so many new skills and came out with a thriving freelance business as an audio engineer, composer and sound designer. Since then, I’ve been working on lots of exciting projects with artists, musicians, games studios and galleries, always leading me in new directions but always focussed on a love of sound, so I’m really excited to start at Infirmary Studios and help make some great music!”

What experience do you have as a musician/technician?

“I’ve been active in the industry for around 20 years, so I’ve got a well-rounded knowledge and experience of many aspects of music recording, production and creation. As a musician, my main instrument is keys, but I can also play the guitar, drums, bass and a bit of strings if I’m feeling adventurous! I’m equally at home recording live jazz as I am working on drum and bass remixes, so I’ve got quite a broad set of production skills too, but there’s always more to learn.”

What advice can you give to bands trying to make it in the industry?

“I think being in a band is always going to be about communication, learning to listen to each other and be respectful of ideas and people’s opinions will go a long way when playing together. From a recording standpoint, it’s really obvious to me which bands will work well in the studio, as they’re all on the same page, relaxed and ready to go! This is true for live performance as well of course, and the best shows I’ve seen are always the ones where the band look and feel at home together on stage.”

How can you help bands who are using the studio?

“No matter how much recording experience you’ve had, there’s always more to learn, and being in a studio is very much a collaborative effort between the artist and the engineer. I’ll be there to make sure everything is set up and working correctly of course, but also to lend a hand with more creative aspects such as guitar tone, recording techniques or even ideas for additional instrumentation. Essentially, I want your recording to sound as good as it can, so I’ll lend a hand with as much or as little help as is required, so if there’s anything you want to know or try, let me know!”

What’s the coolest thing about working in a recording studio?

“For me, it’s hearing all the parts of a song or recording come together, and there are always magical moments when everyone ends up nodding and shouting “that’s IT!” It’s a real pleasure to be part of an artist’s musical journey and help with their creative process, and of course, you get to meet some really wonderful and talented people too.”

What’s your favourite instrument and why?

“Synthesisers! I’ve had a fascination with them since I was maybe 9 or 10 years old, and I remember looking at catalogues back in the mid-90s and dreaming about owning some one day. I love the huge range of sounds you can create with a synthesiser, from an acoustic piano, sweeping legato strings or weird and wonderful drones, soundscapes and rumbling sub-bass, it really is endless. They’re also a wonderful tool for learning the physics and science behind sound, which is helpful for anyone working with audio, so they’re great on lots of levels!”

If you could have one artist round for tea, who would it be?

“Kate Bush without a doubt – she’s one of my biggest inspirations in music, especially when it comes to studio recording techniques, song arrangement and thinking a bit ‘outside the box’. She also has such a strong creative vision for her work, which I feel is really important as an artist, as it’s so easy to get lost in the crowd. I don’t think anyone has sounded quite like her before, and I’m sure no one ever will.”