Tony Maserati

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Tony Maserati
Skalpovich and Tony Maserati.jpg
Skalpovich in Studio with Tony Maserati (pictured left)
Background information
Genres
Occupation(s) Mixing engineer
Years active1987–present
Website http://tonymaserati.com

Tony Maserati is an American record producer and audio engineer specializing in mixing. He was involved in the development of the New York R&B and hip-hop scene in the 1990s, working with Mary J. Blige, Notorious B.I.G., Puff Daddy, and Queen Latifah. [1] Since then he has worked on Grammy nominated projects with The Black Eyed Peas, Beyoncé (who he won Best R&B Album with on her 2003 Dangerously in Love ), Jason Mraz, Robin Thicke, and Usher. Maserati won a Latin Grammy in 2006 for his work on Sérgio Mendes’s Timeless. He has been nominated for a total of 10 Grammys, with four for Best Engineered Album, Non-Classical. [2]

Contents

Early life

Maserati began college at Northeastern University before transferring to Boston’s Berklee College of Music in the early 1980s. [3] He originally majored in Composition, but switched to the Music Production and Engineering major when it was first offered in 1983. [4] While at Berklee, he learned to mix by doing the sound for the Marsells. [3] He graduated with an MA in 1986. [5]

Career

New York hip hop and R&B

Maserati went to work in New York City at Sigma Sound Studios where he assisted Glenn Rosenstein. Rosenstein introduced him to Full Force, who helped Maserati learn to arrange and mix. [6] While at Sigma Sound he worked with Whitney Houston and James Brown, [7] and was able to mix his first song, Samantha Fox's "Naughty Girls (Need Love Too)". He credits much of the musical sound he developed on his work at Berklee and the influence of Full Force. [6]

In 1989, Maserati went independent, specializing in mixing, setting him apart at the time since most musical engineers focused on production. [8] During his time at Sigma Sound, Maserati had befriended studio managers around the city, and he contacted them requesting work on R&B and Hip-Hop. [1] While most mixers worked on rock, Maserati claims he focused on R&B and Hip-Hop because it “was the only place where innovation was happening.” [6]

Maserati was introduced to Puff Daddy in the early 1990s through the producer Devante Swing. Puff Daddy brought Maserati into Bad Boy Records and, Maserati claims, Puff Daddy "locked me down" for the following six years. [6] As a result, Maserati worked with every major New York R&B and hip-hop artist of the 1990s, including mixing albums for Busta Rhymes, Mary J. Blige, The Notorious B.I.G., Faith Evans, and Queen Latifah. [6] Maserati regards these years as very collaborative, and he allowed the various artists to work with his analogue equipment to help develop their desired sound. [6] According to Mix magazine, Maserati provided the definitive sound of New York hip-hop in the form of heavy bass lines while also providing high fidelity sounds on the other end of the scale. [9] According to Sound on Sound , the result was a "huge low end and a smooth, velvety high," [7] and which Mix labelled an "outhouse on the bottom, penthouse on the top". [9]

The success of the New York R&B and hip-hop sound propelled Maserati into a widely known and well-established mixer. [1] He received his first four Grammy nominations in 2003, with two nominations for being a part of "Crazy in Love" by Beyoncé featuring Jay-Z and "Where is the Love" by the Black Eyed Peas featuring Justin Timberlake, both of which were up for Record of the Year. He was also nominated for his own work in the Best Engineered Album, Non-Classical for the Black Eyed Peas' Elephunk. [4] He won Best R&B Album that year on Beyoncé's Dangerously in Love . The following year he was nominated again for Album of the Year on Usher's Confessions. [2]

Throughout this period, Maserati worked mostly with analogue consoles rather than digital tools. [5] This required enormous amounts of space and specialized equipment. To fit it all in, Maserati built his own studio, Una Volta, in a barn in upstate New York. [10] In 2008, he began working with his long-time collaborator Jason Mraz on the album We Sing. We Dance. We Steal Things , for which Maserati was nominated for a Grammy in Best Engineered Album, Non-Classical. [11]

Los Angeles

While his upstate barn provided the needed space for his equipment, Maserati disliked being so far from the city and the intimate collaborations of the studios. [5] Around the same time, the music scene was decamping from New York to the West Coast. [10] In 2010, Maserati moved to Los Angeles where he was able to get large amounts of space while still being within the city. [5] However, he left most of his bulky analogue equipment in New York, which pushed him to adopt more of the digital equipment for mixing and automation. [10]

In 2011, Maserati and songwriter Stefan Skarbek co-founded Mirrorball Entertainment, LLC in North Hollywood. Maserati worked with studio designer and acoustician Martin Pilchner to create modular studios in which each room could be redesigned to meet the specific needs of the production team renting the space. [12] Maserati and Skarbek offered their production services in the space, allowing whole albums to be produced, published, and recorded on site. [8] The integrated approach had Maserati directly mixing major tracks and overseeing the remaining tracks mixed by his assistants and mentees. [5] Maserati is a client with Pulse Recording. [13]

Grammy Awards

Winner

2003 Best Contemporary R&B Album: Beyoncé Dangerously in Love

Nominee

2003 Record of the Year: The Black Eyed Peas “Where is the Love

2003 Record of the Year: Beyoncé “Crazy in Love

2003 Best Engineered Album, Non-Classical: The Black Eyed Peas, Elephunk

2004 Album of the Year: Usher Confessions

2008 Best Engineered Album, Non-Classical: Jason Mraz We Sing. We Dance. We Steal Things

2012 Best Engineered Album, Non-Classical: Jason Mraz Love is a Four Letter Word

2013 Record of the Year: Robin Thicke “Blurred Lines

2014 Album of the Year: Beyoncé Beyoncé

2016 Album of the Year: Beyoncé Lemonade

2017 Best Engineered Album, Non-Classical: K. Flay Every Where is Some Where [2]

Selected discography

ArtistSong TitleAlbumRole
2021
Casper Alles war schön und nichts tat wehMixing
Falling In Reverse I'm Not a Vampire (Revamped) Mixing
2020
Mike Posner Operation: Wake Up Mixing
2018
TWICE What is Love? What is Love? Mixing
BØRNS Blue Madonna Mixing
2017
TWICE Signal Signal Mixing
2 Chainz Bailan feat. Pharrell Pretty Girls like Trap Music Mixing
BØRNS Sweet DreamsMixing
BØRNS Faded LoveMixing
Calum Scott Dancing on my Own (Tiesto Remix)Mixing
Chase Atlantic Chase AtlanticMixing
Echosmith Dear World
Ed Sheeran & Beyonce Perfect Mixing
Fergie Double Dutchess Mixing
Jaira Burns UglyMixing
James Blunt The Afterlove Mixing
K. Flay Everywhere is SomewhereMixing
Leon ElseWhat I won’t DoMixing
Maggie Rogers Dog Years
Mansionz Wicked feat. G-EazyMansionzMixing
Nick Jonas HomeFerdinand SoundtrackMixing
Nick JonasFind YouMixing
Selena Gomez Only You13 Reasons Why SoundtrackMixing
Sia To be HumanWonder Woman SoundtrackMixing
Sofia Reyes feat. Prince Royce Sólo Yo
Tinashe FlameMixing
Weezer Feels like Summer Mixing
2016
Andra Day AmenMixing
Cerrone Red LipsMixing
Clairy BrownPoolMixing
Demi Lovato Body Say Mixing
Fergie M.I.L.F.$ Mixing
Fitz & the Tantrums Fitz & the TantrumsMixing
Gallant Ology Mixing
Gwen Stefani This Is What the Truth Feels Like Mixing
Keith Urban Ripcord Mixing
LawsonPerspectiveMixing
Mike Posner At Night, Alone Mixing
Nick JonasLast Year was ComplicatedMixing
ParachuteWide AwakeMixing
Santigold99 CentsMixing
Sawyer FredericksA Good StormMixing
Shawn MendesIlluminateMixing
2015
Andra DayCheers to the FallMixing
Conrad SewellAll I KnowMixing
Fleur EastLove, Sax & FlashbacksMixing
Katherine McPheeHysteriaMixing
Nico & VinzCornerstoneMixing
Robert DeLongIn the CardsMixing
Sabrina CarpenterEyes Wide OpenMixing
Selena GomezRevivalMixing
Selena GomezGood for You feat. A$AP RockyRevival
Shawn MendesHandwrittenMixing
2014
Aretha FranklinSings the Greats Diva ClassicsMixing
CimorelliRenegadeMixing
Cris CabWhere I BelongMixing
Jason MrazYes!Mixing
Jesse McCartneyIn TechnicolorMixing
Jessie JSweet TalkerMixing
Lea MicheleLouderMixing
Madeleine PeyrouxKeep me in Your Heart for a While: The Best of Madeleine PeyrouxMixing
Nick JonasNick JonasMixing
Nico & VinzBlack Star ElephantMixing
SantanaCorazonMixing
2013
Ariana GrandeYours TrulyMixing
Avril LavigneAvril LavigneMixing
Backstreet BoysIn a World Like ThisMixing
BeyonceBeyonceMixing
CherCloser to the TruthMixing
DaughtryBaptizedMixing
Eliza DoolittleIn your HandsMixing
James BluntMoon LandingMixing
Keith UrbanFuseMixing
Lady GagaARTPOPMixing
Little MixSaluteMixing
Natalia KillsTroubleMixing
Robin ThickeBlurred LinesMixing
The WantedWord of MouthMixing
2012
Alicia KeysGirl on FireMixing
Jason MrazLove is a Four Letter WordMixing
2011
Andy GrammerAndy GrammerMixing
Girls’ GenerationThe BoysMixing
Jason DeruloFuture HistoryMixing
Javier ColonCome through for YouMixing
Madeleine PeyrouxStanding on the RooftopMixing
Robbie RobertsonHow to Become ClairvoyantMixing
Robin ThickeLove after WarMixing
2009
Alicia KeysThe Element of FreedomMixing
Chris BrownGraffitiMixing
Colbie CaillatBreakthroughMixing
Pixie LottTurn it UpMixing
Whitney HoustonI Look to YouMixing
2008
Britney SpearsCircusMixing
Craig DavidOfficially YoursMixing
Jason MrazWe Sing. We Dance. We Steal Things.Mixing
Jordan SparksNo AirMixing
KerliLove is DeadMixing
The Pussycat DollsDoll DominationMixing
2007
David BowieOutside/HeathenAdditional Production, Mixing, Production Remix, Programmer
Kelly RowlandMs. KellyMixing
Macy GrayBigMixing
Talib KweliEardrumMixing
Will.i.amSongs about GirlsMixing
2006
Fergie Big Girls Don't Cry The DutchessMixing
Paris HiltonParisMixing
Paris HiltonStars are BlindSingleMixing
Sergio MendesTimelessMixing
2005
Mary J. BligeThe BreakthroughMixing
Ol’ Dirty BastardThe Definitive Ol’ Dirty Bastard StoryMixing
Rob ThomasSomething to BeMixing
The Black Eyed PeasMonkey BusinessMixing
The Pussycat DollsPCDMixing
2004
Bruce HornsbyHalcyon DaysMixing
John LegendGet LiftedMixing
Kylie MinogueBody LanguageMixing
UsherConfessionsMixing
2003
BeyoncéDangerously in LoveMixing
Jessica SimpsonIn This SkinMixing
Jessica SimpsonSweetest SinMixing
Jonny LangLong Time ComingMixing
Kelly ClarksonThankfulMixing
Mary J. BligeLove & LifeMixing
R. KellyChocolate FactoryMixing
The Black Eyed PeasElephunkMixing
2002
Baha MenMove it Like ThisMixing
Christina AguileraStrippedMixing
Kelly RowlandSimply DeepMixing
Marc AnthonyMendedMixing
MarioMarioMixing
Queen LatifahShe’s a Queen: A Collection of Greatest HitsEngineer
Sean PaulDutty RockMixing
2001
Alicia KeysSongs in A MinorMixing
Angie StoneMahogany SoulMixing
Brian McKnightSuperheroMixing
Christina MilianChristina MilianMixing
Jennifer LopezJ.LoMixing
Jessica SimpsonIrresistibleMixing
Mary J. BligeNo More DramaMixing
2000
Lil’ KimNotorious K.I.M.Engineer
MyaFear of FlyingMixing
R. KellyTP-2.comMixing
Ricky MartinSound LoadedMixing
Ruff RydersRyde or Die, Vol. 2Mixing
1999
Angie StoneBlack Diamond
Jennifer LopezOn the 6Mixing
Jessica SimpsonSweet KissesMixing
K-Ci & JoJoIt’s RealMixing
Puff DaddyForeverEngineer
Vitamin CVitamin CMixing
1998
Faith EvansKeep the FaithMixing
R. KellyR.Mixing
1997
Busta RhymesWhen Disaster StrikesEngineer, Mixing
Mariah CareyButterflyMixing
MaseHarlem WorldMixing
Notorious B.I.G.Life After DeathMixing
Puff Daddy & the FamilyNo Way OutMixing
1995
Faith EvansFaith EvansEngineer, Mixing
1994
Mary J. BligeMy LifeEngineer, Mixing
1993
David BowieBlack Tie White NoiseProducer, Mixing
Queen LatifahBlack ReignEngineer
1992
Mary J. BligeWhat’s the 411?Engineer, Mixing, Remixing
1990
C+C Music FactoryGonna Make You SweatEngineer
1989
Patti LaBelleBe YourselfEngineer, Mixing
1988
James BrownI’m RealEngineer, Editing, Mixing
1987
Whitney HoustonWhitneyAssistant Engineer

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References

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