The Dumbest Mistake I Made Early in My Mixing Career

Looking back, the dumbest mistake I made early in my mixing career had nothing to do with EQ, compression, or gear.

It was mixing in a vacuum.

I’d get a multitrack session, sit alone in my studio, and start shaping the mix based on what I thought sounded good.

- No reference tracks.

- No conversations with the artist.

- No connection to the actual vision.

What’s this artist trying to say?
What emotion is this supposed to hit?
What does great sound like in this genre?

I was just… mixing.
Technically? Sure, it was fine.
Emotionally? Not even close.

Everything Changed When I Started Asking Questions

Years later, everything changed when I started asking more questions — and even better, inviting artists into the room.

Not every session, of course.
But when I did, I’d hear things I never would’ve guessed:

"That synth is supposed to sound buried, like it’s underwater.”
“The vocal isn’t supposed to be clean — it should sound raw and blown out.”
“This is inspired by that weird B-side on a 2003 Neptunes mix.”

That’s when something clicked:
This isn’t my song. My job is to help bring their story to life.

How I Mix Now

Now, before I even open a session, I try to vibe with the artist.

- I ask questions.

- I listen to references.

- I try to feel where the artist is coming from before I touch a fader.

If You’re Just Getting Started…

This is the one piece of advice I wish someone had told me sooner:

Talk to the artist. Listen to what inspires them. Use references.
Get aligned before you mix.

The rest will flow.