Kevin Antreassian Interview | The Secrets to Music Production (and more)

You might know him as the owner and producer/engineer for Backroom Studios, professor at William Paterson University, or the guitarist for The Sawtooth Grin and The Dillinger Escape Plan. But we know him as our latest guest to the AMS Studios — and all that stuff, too… That’s right; we had the multitalented Kevin Antreassian in studio to talk all about his recording philosophy, his time at Backroom Studios, and his background as a teacher.

…and his favorite order at the Cheesecake Factory.

He and his fellow Sawtooth bandmate Jon Karel even gave us a HEAVY rendition of some of their favorite tunes! (and if you make to the end of the article, you just might be able to see it…) Check out the interview now!

You don’t make it to almost twenty years in the industry without learning a few things. And Kevin Antreassian learned a lot of things the hard way — and with very little experience. Kevin actually started the studio without really knowing much about music production. I mean, he didn’t even know what compression was… because… you know… we all totally know that does something… uh… really important.

But despite his lack of knowledge, he took the “learn as you go” approach and started the studio anyway in 2007. How did he get it done? “With a lot of risk.”

He didn’t have any gear or even a computer. He borrowed most of the stuff he needed from friends and built a makeshift work desk out of a few stools and a sheet of plywood. It might have been a rough setup, but that doesn’t mean he didn’t get the job done.

According to Kevin, you just get good at using what you have. It doesn’t matter what it is, just as long as you can cut your teeth on it. That’s the best way to tell if something is for you.

Using his makeshift setup, Kevin recorded everything he could. He hardly turned down any jobs, no matter how bad or drunk the client might have been. Over time, he really learned how to use the gear he had to create amazing recordings until he finally had the chops and the savings to start picking which clients he wanted to work with.

Kevin admits that his search for gear has slowed over the years. He’s just happy with what he has. He can do a great job now, so what would another piece of gear really do besides create option paralysis?

With that said, there are definitely a few staples of Backroom Studios that Kevin just can’t live without, like his API 2500 Bus Compressor for drums. How did he learn it was so essential? It’s currently in the shop and he misses it dearly! It’s such an integral part to his drum sounds.

Naturally, the room also makes a big difference in the sound. But according to Kevin, it’s less about how perfect the room is and more about knowing how to work it.

His live room is 20x30ft and doesn’t have high ceilings for micing. It has, what he calls, an “interesting sound.” However, over the years he’s learned how to work with its “shortcomings” to create some really great recordings.

For example, since he can’t go high for room mics, he goes long. By putting the mics really far away, he can create some natural reverb that sounds amazing!

When it comes to playing live, Kevin is a Friedman kind of guy. Only Friedman amps can really bring the sound he needs to throw down his ridiculous metal tones.

It’s easy to get obsessed with gear. There are a lot of musicians and up-and-coming producers who want to get it all — which we at AMS are guilty of… But Kevin believes it’s much better to master one piece of gear before moving on to another.

As you might have guessed from his story, Kevin believes it’s good to pick one thing, learn it very well, become very efficient, and only then move to the next thing. And this philosophy goes beyond just music production; it works for everything in life. Learn how to use and enjoy what you’ve got before searching for the next thing.

But that wasn’t the only philosophical lesson we got during our talk. It’s a common feeling to think you’re just not talented enough to take on a task or career. Some people are just better suited for something, and you should stay away. But Kevin says that’s not true at all.

When he was taking music classes at William Paterson University, he remembers how quickly the jazz students seemed to pick up theory and answer listening questions while he struggled to write out the notes of a chord by ear. It would have been easy for him to say he wasn’t talented enough and walk away. But he didn’t. And for that we’re grateful!

Kevin says it’s not about talent at all. Sure, it might make learning easier, but at the end of the day it’s all about your desire. You have to WANT to be better. And if you have the desire to grow, you’ll grow, regardless of talent. Even if you have zero talent but work really hard to achieve your goal, you’ll eventually get there. You just have to put in the work and want to do it.

It almost sounds like he should be sitting on top of a mountain somewhere meditating…

With almost 20 years in the business, Kevin Antreassian has learned a thing or two about music production. In fact, he even shares his knowledge with others as a professor at his alma mater William Paterson University! While we might not have gotten to sit in the classroom, we did ask him for a few nuggets of wisdom he’s learned over the years.

According to Kevin, one of the best things up-and-coming audio engineers can do is get their hands on some old stuff. He especially likes to collect stems from classic songs. They’re classic for a reason, and those reasons aren’t always the obvious ones. Really listen to it and find the unique background stuff, like squeaky hi-hats or bass drum pedals. Every extra layer adds something to the song, and you might catch something that’ll help you on your next recording.

So when the time comes that you have a few extra minutes in the studio with a band, try to add some of those “classic” layers. Kevin suggests adding percussion. Even something as simple as egg shakers, even if they’re quiet, can really add depth to a song.

If you want some examples of this layering in action, Kevin suggests listening to Will Wood. He adds so many layers to his songs that many don’t even make the final cut! It’s wild stuff — but you have to listen for it!

You can’t do anything without hearing about AI doing this and AI doing that. As musicians, we’re all acutely aware of what AI can do and how it’ll “replace” artists eventually.

Kevin, however, doesn’t see AI as a threat. It’s a tool, just like amps, plugins, microphones, or anything else you can use for your craft. But it’s also a double-edged sword. It can be used in a great way, and it can be used in a bad way.

For example, you can use AI to click a button and make you sound amazing. But that does a huge disservice to the artist. You don’t learn what it’s actually doing to make you better. And when the time comes that you have to do something from scratch, you won’t know how to do it. Using AI just postpones the inevitable.

When Kevin started Backdoor Studios back in 2007, obviously AI wasn’t quite a thing yet. But amp simulators were just taking off — and they weren’t super good. It was much easier to use a sim than to get an amp, grab a ton of mics, and find the perfect placements, but you don’t learn by doing that. And eventually, you’re going to have to mic an amp without your beloved simulators, which will be a massive problem.

Using AI tools is great, but make sure it doesn’t replace real skills. Use it like a tool to make your life easier, not a magic fix-all.

After the interview, Kevin brought in fellow Sawtooth bandmate Jon Karel and ROCKED the AMS studio. It was the perfect christening for our new space, if you ask us. Definitely check out the video below and be prepared to have your mind blown.

A huge thanks to Kevin Antreassian for visiting the AMS studios. We learned a lot and had a great time chatting about all things music and beyond. Keep up with the latest show dates for The Sawtooth Grin and The Dillinger Escape Plan and be sure to visit Backroom Studios here in New Jersey if you ever need some incredible recording work done.

Now play us out, Professor Antreassian!