Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Mary Dunn. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Mary, so good to have you with us today. We’ve got so much planned, so let’s jump right into it. We live in such a diverse world, and in many ways the world is getting better and more understanding but it’s far from perfect. There are so many times where folks find themselves in rooms or situations where they are the only ones that look like them – that might mean being the only woman of color in the room or the only person who grew up in a certain environment etc. Can you talk to us about how you’ve managed to thrive even in situations where you were the only one in the room?
Typically, I am the only woman in the room so it can have its challenges occasionally. So far in my career, I have been extremely fortunate to be surrounded by caring and helpful people who only want to see everyone succeed. It has always been easier for me to form friendships with guys anyway, so being in a male-dominated environment doesn’t make me feel too out of place.
It can be intimidating at times though because I can tell there is a different vibe in the room when I am around people I do not know very well. Some of them seem to feel like they need to watch their mouth around me just because I am a woman but most of the time this is not the case. For the guys I know, we all can discuss any opinions freely which I think overall connects us better, as well as serve the music better since no one feels like they have to be restricted in expressing themselves.
I have been asked this question quite a few times over the years within the music space by other people and I am always lucky that I get to provide the same answer for it so far. I have never felt like I am less than my male peers. They listen to my ideas and don’t treat me like I am less than them especially once they have recognized my talents and what I can bring to the table.
Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?
I am a music producer, composer, vocal recording engineer, photographer, and videographer although my focus is on being a producer and videographer/photographer. I am primarily a lofi, hip-hop, and soundtrack producer, but am always pushing the boundaries and excited to experiment with new sounds and genres. My videography consists of behind-the-scenes, more intimate, and raw moments. Just like my productions, I am open to learning and expanding to more avenues as I continue to grow as a videographer.
Producing music is my passion and I love how you can create anything out of nothing. Some days when I don’t want to produce, I end up creating my best work so far. I also typically prefer to create music from scratch so I get to do the entire process from start to finish which can feel very rewarding knowing I created something all on my own.
It is also amazing getting to collaborate with other people which I’ve come to enjoy a lot over the past year. There is so much more that can be made with other people that you connect with that you wouldn’t be able to do on your own. As someone who often wants to make an entire beat by myself, finding joy in this new way of collaboration has been as equally rewarding for me since I am not only learning from the other people around me, but building a stronger relationship with them as well.
When it comes to videography, I love getting to capture the raw moments in sessions with an artist and other producers. There is something so special to me about keeping that emotion alive through film and photos that can’t be replicated by anything else. It provides me with another way to connect with those around me to further enhance our relationship.
Connection and providing an escape for people, even if it’s only for a moment, is something very important to me that I try to express through my art. This mindset inspired me to create my brand “R3medy” (@prod._.r3medy and @r3medy.png) because I want my image and how I carry myself to allow people to feel safe and to express themselves freely too. I want my music to inspire a connection with others and to let them feel like they can take a step back to live in the moment without thinking of anything else for a second.
In the future, I plan to continue growing my personal videography business as well as pursue an assistant position at Tree Sound Studios as I continue to grow as much as I can to become a better engineer and producer. On top of this, I plan on working with more creatives and artists to make wonderful art. Specifically, I look forward to continuing to work with my closest collaborators, Josuhua Sellem – @lockedupcache (recording engineer/producer) and Joao Barbosa – @jo.ao (recording artist/songwriter). I also look forward to building new relationships and growing old ones.
Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?
The first skill I recommend learning is to be adaptable. There may come times when your idea is out-ruled or you have to move quickly to change to something completely new. When it comes to producing with others, there are times when I think the song should go one way, but the artist and other producer(s) are going another. Now, I can still argue my case as to why I think my idea should be considered, but if I explain how I’m feeling and they don’t change their minds at all, I’m out-ruled and therefore have to go with the flow of the session. At times when you may need to be quick on your feet and adapt fast is more so as a recording engineer or videographer. There have been times when a client wanted to record things one way but then changed their mind right after you’ve set everything up so now you have to move quickly to get the new idea that they want ready to go. The same can be said for filming when it comes to the settings you need on your camera, lighting, weather, etc. You never know when things will change so you need to be adaptable and ready to go.
The second skill I’d work on is learning to not take everything personally. There are times when you will do nothing wrong, but other people will make it seem like you did. In the cases where you did do something wrong, own up to it, but learn to not let people walk all over you so they can get what they want out of you. Know your worth and stand your ground when need be. At the same time, when taking advice from others, especially those who you look up to, they may say some comments that hurt or bring you down in the moment, but know most of them are just trying to be honest to help you grow. The more blunt they are, sometimes the better, because they aren’t saying what will make you happy, it’s what will take you to the next level. Often with art, it can feel like someone is attacking us personally when they say they don’t like something or that it isn’t where it’s meant to be yet, but if these people who critique your art give good constructive feedback then there is no need to take it as personal because they will explain to you exactly why they gave you the comment and how you can work on ways to improve yourself. At the end of the day though, you can always choose to ignore someone’s comments or advice, so know when not to listen to people sometimes too if they don’t seem to be providing much value to you to make you better.
The final quality that I think might be most important is being humble. Now, I know this is a cliche answer, but it is so true in my opinion. I’ve been around people who are rude, ungrateful, standoffish, etc. and it is never enjoyable to be around those people. They are hard to please and work with and I will avoid them at all possible if I’m able to. I think you should let your talent speak for itself and be grateful to those around you helping your vision come to life in whatever way that may be. Be someone who isn’t full of themselves, acknowledge staff, and thank your engineer/producer or other people’s time. This can go a long way, especially when you have the technical skills of whatever it is you’re doing to back it up. It will make more people want to work with you and build a longer-lasting relationship with a client or collaborator when you are someone who is pleasant to be around and willing to learn new things.
Overall, improving these skills will take time for some people whereas for others it may come more naturally. Whatever it may be that you struggle with, I think having these qualities will only help you in the long run and get you closer to where you want to be.
Who has been most helpful in helping you overcome challenges or build and develop the essential skills, qualities or knowledge you needed to be successful?
The people who have helped me most to overcome my challenges are my friends, family, and peers.
My family has always been supportive of me in whatever it is I want to do which I am extremely grateful for. Knowing they believe in me makes me want to continue to grow and become better until I reach all of the goals I have set for myself.
My friends have also been very supportive of me by letting me talk through things when I am upset and help me sit with my feelings especially since we are all going through some similar emotions so it makes it easy for us to work through challenges and find solutions for them together.
My peers and mentors have provided me with support through experience and advice they have given me. I am constantly learning from them and I can feel that they believe in me just as I believe in them.
All of these people have taught me to be resilient, patient, and passionate which I think have only aided me in my success. Although I am still finding my way in my career, I know I will be able to achieve everything and more because not only do I believe in myself fully, but they believe in me as well and have actively helped me along the way. Success is created through the help of those around you as well as the work that you put in to make their efforts worthwhile. Always keep learning from others and apply what you learn to yourself and over time you will see your growth whether you see it fast or slow. Keep working towards your goals no matter how long it takes if you truly want to achieve them!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://r3medyproductions.godaddysites.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/prod._.r3medy/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@Prod.R3medy
Image Credits
All photos taken by me, Joao Barbosa – @jo.ao, and Ro White – @buildup_ro
Brand logo drawn by Xavier Yancey – @xavier.visual.media
so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.
