NIKOLAS MAZZOLA
My name is Nikolas Mazzola. I'm 21 years old and was born in Colorado Springs. I moved to San Diego, California in search of a career in music, preferably a recording tech or sound engineer working with a variety of musicians in all genres of sound.
The problem was the window into this experience. I knew a couple people who went to school for this particular science. They said it was great but hard to build a foundation into the business side of the industry. Thinking about whether college was such a great idea, I ran upon an ad in the local newspaper describing hands-on training with a mentor in a working business.
I responded promptly discovering Phillip Trout. Phillip encouraged me into his program. Within six weeks he had scouted me a working studio to train as an apprentice. I then interviewed with the Executive Engineer and Producer and told them I'd keep in touch, later explaining to Phillip I wasn't pleased and would rather wait for another studio.
Phillip again gave me confidence that he would find a suitable environment to my liking. Eight weeks later Phillip set up a meeting with Rick LaFave, the Executive Producer at Superior Entertainment, a state of the art digital studio. I began my apprenticeship. Rick is an excellent musician, midi master, ProTools wiz and was teaching me everything with paying clients in the foreground.
Eight months later I have great experience with all studio equipment, but most important with paying clientele and a working producer. Phillip did indeed guide me into this crazy industry and now it's up to me to network and learn more at every session until one day I'm a mentor in my own successful studio.
NIKOLAS’S BIO
I’m twenty years old and I was born in Colorado Springs, Colorado, where I resided through my educational years. My parents, who are still together, influenced me heavily while growing up. Grateful enough to travel and experience new and interesting cultures, it opened my eyes and matured me rapidly. Growing up, my circle of friends was mostly older kids, influencing me to express myself for who I was, and to be proud of it. My boldest passage of expression was through my art. My father, an extraordinary oil painter and sculptor, mentored me endlessly into a confident and dedicated individual. Using art as my creative voice, I shined attention upon myself in school. Never joining the crowd gave me a better perspective of individuality and an intuition into living my dream.
Since I can remember, music played a relaxing and intricate role in my life. Looking back on my earlier years, my biggest escape was the echoing sound of music and inspired by my earlier generation, I purchased a set of turntables. Four months of underage work bought me a door into an endless realm of musical melodies and insightful rhythmic stories, which translated into peace of mind. Long nights of mixing and manipulating vinyl repeatedly taught me that persistence and confidence makes a master, at whatever you do. Admiring mostly past recordings gave me a sense of originality. I was intrigued and determined, realizing that that was the beginning.
Soon after high school my brain was bombarded with choices. Having a 3.2 grade point average gave me a window into a university, but college was a lost thought. Being restricted to a smaller town growing up was a closed door on a routine life. Determined to move out into the real word was my top priority, simply for the experience.
Working as a cook throughout my younger years helped me with by having a decent paying job right out of school. While most kids in my class considered this their last days of irresponsibility before college, I in fact considered it the beginning of responsible living. My first desire was to move to San Diego. I constantly worked forty-hour a week shifts, since my goal was to be on my way to California by the time my ’99 class graduated. I finished school one semester early intentionally to give me a head start in the real world.
In return for my hard work I received a big bankroll that had California written all over it. Before I knew it, I gathered all my belongings and was on my way to San Diego. My main reason for that as my destination was one friend with a window into the musical world. He is an extraordinary turntablist and knows a variety of musicians. I was excited about the endless possibilities. It was a challenge upon first arriving to create a foundation far from home, but I succeeded in getting a job cooking and finding my own place. Life was rolling.
While working, I met my current roommate. He is an accomplished guitar player and drummer, and has inspired me tremendously. Soon my goal and dream was intricately thought out -- being a recording engineer and sound technician. Achieving this goal is my passion and determination, not to rush but instead to learn and absorb, to wait for the right route and soon to have the knowledge to rise and succeed emotionally.
The main reason I truly love all music is that it touches your soul, for me it brings out all emotions. It seals the crack that drips of emptiness. To create in my mind, such as when I play drums or scratch, is a tremendous outlet of expression. It’s a story told by your melody and rhythm.
Using an integrated rhythm machine, such as an MPC-2000, combined with live guitar and turntable techniques, we created experimental styles. Playing with a live band opened the door to structure and mutual creativity. My past musical experiences bewilder me still, not only for what they taught me but what they could have become.
I believed and still do, going to college right out of high school would have barricaded my goals, which were to live abroad and gain insight into how this crazy world works. I knew a four-year college was not for me; instead I would gather musical experience. Being part of studio recording for me would help me collaborate and converse with other musicians, to learn and create basic to intricate recordings, and master all techniques…to flawlessly learn from my mistakes, and anxiously await the day I can record myself in a studio of my own.
I hope to turn it not into tedium and monotony, but a joy-filled endless possibility of a life long career. I guess time, dedication, and experience will tell.
