Bas Janssen
Bas Janssen
Sound Engineer
Los Angeles, California
Youtube.com/radioactivebreakfast
instagram: @radioactive_breakfast
WHAT DO YOU DO?
“I am a sound engineer (recording/mixing/mastering as well as live sound/front of house). Anything to do with music, I can engineer. ”
Whether that’s recording the music, editing/tidying/making it ready for the radio or to make your live show sound amazing!
In my spare time, I’m a drummer/percussionist. I can play any style/genre/instrument you can think of when you think of percussion!
WHAT STEPS DID YOU TAKE TO GET TO WHERE YOU ARE NOW?
The biggest reason I feel like I am where I am is because of my time at Berklee College of Music. I dual majored in Music Production & Engineering and Performance. There I got to learn from some of the industry’s greats that have worked for Beyoncé, Prince and Biggy Smalls to name a few; and then work with some world class peers to learn and grow together to get our careers moving.
HOW DO YOU STAND OUT IN YOUR FIELD?
I feel like the typical engineer focusses on the gear, the 1s and 0s and the technical side of the job. They easily forget that they are working on music. There is no mathematical formula to music. The way I believe I stand out is that as a musician, I see the ebb and flow of music and let my emotion guide my decisions over my brain. While mixing, I see the project as a puzzle/painting and I see how I can merge the components together so that the music speaks to you and conveys the emotional story the lyrics and speaking.
WHAT ARE YOU WORKING ON RIGHT NOW?
Right now I find myself doing as many things as possible to keep my perspective fresh and my mind open. One day I’ll play drums for a soul artist (Lyric Rachaé), then mix a song for an artist from Madagascar (Niu Raza), play percussion behind a classical orchestra and record for the next disruptive jazz album (Arnetta Johnson) and many more things, but yes. Specific things around the corner, keep an eye out for the names Dana Williams, Arnetta Johnson, Niu Raza and Lisa Oduor-Noah ;)
WHAT'S YOUR STYLE/PERSPECTIVE/TASTE? DO YOU HAVE A PROJECT THAT REPRESENTS THIS?
I do personally pride myself on my versatility. I love that I am able to connect with any person on this planet on a musical level and create together. To a certain level, I hope I don’t have one project that represents everything I can bring to the table, because I’d like to think there’s a lot of layers to my musical ability. Whether it be live or in the studio, musical or technical.
WE ALL HAVE MULTIPLE SKILLS OR WORK IN VARIOUS INDUSTRIES, WHICH ONE DO YOU WISH YOU COULD FOCUS ON MORE?
In a career sense, mixing. Would love to build my freelance presence in Los Angeles as a mixing engineer.
In an ability sense, drumming. I don’t get enough chance to practice and find myself rusty when I get to gigs.
WHAT IS FRUSTRATING YOU RIGHT NOW?
Currently I'm struggling to find new clients as I moved recently to LA and haven't gotten my name around town yet.
IF YOU COULD HIRE SOMEONE FOR $20/HR, WHAT WOULD YOU HAVE THEM DO TO MAKE YOUR DAY EASIER?
I would hire someone to carry my drums around for me!
LET'S BRING OUT THE TIME MACHINE. WHAT DO YOU WISH YOU COULD HAVE TOLD YOURSELF, WHEN, AND WHY?
Practice! I had (and still have) a hard time being disciplined with practice and now I feel like I’m having to play catch up.
IF YOU COULD TALK TO AN EXPERT TO GAIN MORE INSIGHT ON SOMETHING, WHAT WOULD IT BE ABOUT?
How to get their clientele?!
WHAT KIND OF OPPORTUNITIES/PROJECTS ARE YOU LOOKING FOR?
Primarily mixing music for artists and playing drums for artists in the Pop/R&B/Hip Hop domain.
DESCRIBE YOUR IDEAL JOB/CLIENT/COLLABORATION.
The perfect client would be someone who hired me for me. Pays my rate, respects my time and my opinion. Someone I can trust that I don't need to check on the business stuff. And obviously someone who's music that inspires me and gets me lots of awards!
WHAT IS YOUR HOURLY RATE, RETAINER, OR SALARY RANGE?
$4,500 per project
WHO IS A CREATIVE THAT HAS HELPED YOU ELEVATE YOUR WORK?
Too many people to name! A select few: Prince Charles Alexander, Susan Rogers, Dave DiCenso and Tia Fuller.
HOW SHOULD SOMEONE APPROACH YOU ABOUT WORKING TOGETHER?
Just hit me up! But yes, the more details given up front is better than me having to feel pushy for asking for the budget or pay offered. Or even assume the worst, “they don’t know what they’re doing”; “They’re probably trying to get me to do this for free since they didn’t put in a price” etc etc. The less I have to put in my response is better just because it shows to me that everything has been thought out thoroughly from everyone’s perspective and there is a purpose, direction and goal to acquire. The hilarious GIF can come after I saw yes ;)
HOW DO YOU STAY CREATIVE?
Continue exploring music. You've never heard everything and there's nothing that won't help you in a new way some way.
This member profile was originally published in June 2019.