While we were in Nashville for NAMM and the Produce Like A Pro Masterclass, I had a chance to stop by the House Of Blues Studios to talk with the incredibly talented Ryan Hewitt.
Ryan Hewitt is a Grammy award-winning music producer, mixer and engineer. The son of David Hewitt, a notable recording engineer, Ryan grew up in the music business alongside his father. He was raised in recording studios from a young age, and was able to shadow his father as his career flourished. This provided Ryan with the framework and knowledge to launch his own career, which he’s since worked hard to build into what it is today. His skillset and passion have made him one of the most successful and sought after engineers in the business today.
Ryan’s diverse and lengthy credit list spans across a variety of genres and styles including pop, rock, folk, country and alternative. He’s worked with a long list of artists including Red Hot Chili Peppers, The Avett Brothers, The Lumineers, The Dixie Chicks, Third Eye Blind, Blink-182, Flogging Molly, Matchbox Twenty and Angus & Julia Stone, among many others.
Ryan obtained a degree in electrical engineering and shortly afterwards began running the campus sound company at Tufts University, before moving to New York to begin working at Sony Music Studios. He eventually left New York, and moved to Los Angeles, where he began work at Cello Studios. At this time Ryan had the opportunity to work with record producer Rick Rubin and The Red Hot Chili Peppers. This led to the production of Stadium Arcadium. In 2007, Ryan received a Grammy Award for his work mixing and engineering The Red Hot Chili Peppers album, Stadium Arcadium. The album received seven Grammy nominations and took home two awards.
After the Red Hot Chili Peppers, Ryan continued to work with Rick on a number of albums for artists including Johnny Cash, Lady Gaga, Angus & Julia Stone, Brandi Carlile and The Avett Brothers, for which they worked on three albums and three live DVDs.
Ryan currently works at House Of Blues Studios in Nashville, where he took up residence in 2015. Since that time he has mixed numerous albums there and has even mixed some songs for film soundtracks.
Ryan loves what he does and it shows in the reflection of the exceptional work he produces. He’s sought after by artists all around the country, who wish to utilize his expansive knowledge and skill, but also his passion for music, incredible work ethic and long-term involvement in the music industry. He enjoys mentoring students and young and aspiring music engineers, using all of the knowledge he’s accumulated over time to help them as they work through the business.
His career and achievements speak for themselves, but we thought we’d sit down with him and pick his brain about his music journey.
