Meet Redah

We were lucky to catch up with Redah recently and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Redah, thank you so much for opening up with us about some important, but sometimes personal topics. One that really matters to us is overcoming Imposter Syndrome because we’ve seen how so many people are held back in life because of this and so we’d really appreciate hearing about how you overcame Imposter Syndrome.
I would say that I am constantly working on myself to overcome the imposter syndrome.
As you know artists are particularly high sensitive individuals and most of us will have to keep fighting the imposter syndrome our whole life. Now it doesn’t mean that we are constantly in its cycle and suffering. Instead, we have phases when our confidence is down and we feel insecure, but these are extremely important phases that allow us to grow and get better at what we do over time. The one that never second-guesses himself is subconsciously slowing his learning process. As the Greek philosopher Socrates said: “I know that I know nothing”. It is an essential mindset to have to keep learning and growing to become a better version of ourselves.

The way I personally overcome the imposter syndrome is by reminding myself of what I have accomplished and thinking about the people that value my skills. If I can’t trust myself in moments of doubts, I want to believe that I can trust the people that care about me and appreciate my art. It doesn’t matter how big or small your circle is, what matters is its quality and the way it makes you feel.

Appreciate the insights and wisdom. Before we dig deeper and ask you about the skills that matter and more, maybe you can tell our readers about yourself?
I am a record producer, singer, songwriter, audio engineer and most importantly music lover based in Los Angeles.

I originally pursued Architecture & Arts studies after graduating from high school but soon dropped out of it to study music at the school of my dreams: Berklee College Of Music. I have always been passionate about music and started playing guitar and singing around the age of twelve but I wasn’t sure I would even be accepted in a music school. My theory knowledge wasn’t great and I had always been a less than average student. I worked really hard on improving my singing and guitar playing alone in my room. It was what made me feel best. After auditioning at Berklee, I was surprised to be offered a scholarship. Seeing that one of the greatest music school not only believed in me but offered me a talent based scholarship was a true confidence boost and a day I’ll never forget.

Following my Music Production & Engineering Degree at Berklee, I moved to Los Angeles and applied to intern in any recording studio I could find. After working in a few different ones around town, I finally felt home at WAX LTD studios in Hollywood. Over the years, my hard work has allowed me to get from the intern cleaning and serving coffee to the record producer, songwriter and audio engineer that I am today. I am now working as an independent contractor not only with WAX LTD but also with multiple other artists and companies for various projects.

PS : Have a solo EP coming out on November 2nd, 2023 on every streaming platform!

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?
I believe what got me there is my work ethic. I always did my best in any task I was given, going above and beyond even when I didn’t have a particular interest in the task. I avoided being pushy or inpatient when it came to learning new skills, but wasn’t shy when I had the opportunity to ask for feedback on my work. Thus, through the criticism I have received from multiple veteran music producers and songwriters, I have been able to drastically improve my skills until I was ready to handle bigger responsibilities.

I have been hired on major projects especially for my ability to vocal produce artists by putting them in the best conditions in the studio to capture their greatest performances.

My vocal production skills in music have been recognized on shows such as NBC The Voice, American Idol, and movies such as Spider-Man Into The Spider-Verse.

My music production and arranging on various songs and covers used by companies such as CBS, Wells Fargo and Big Lots.

My engineering skills on multiple songs for artists and bands but also on commercials for companies such as Chase bank, Google, Venmo, Ross and AAMCO.

Most of my clients come to me because of my high enthusiasm and attention to detail on the projects I am working on. For me the end result of anything I work on should clearly answer the following question: Do I believe it? It doesn’t matter wether it is a voice over on a commercial, an audio book, or a performance in a song. If yes isn’t the answer, I change my approach and keep looking for the magic until the final result feels truly authentic.

I think that what sets me apart from others is my ability to adapt by being flexible and putting my ego aside to match the energy of the person I am working with. From my personal experience, being confrontational or too attached to my ideas has never been really effective. I have learned that my perspective, my way of doing things is only One way and not The way. It is being able to find the way that works best with both my collaborator and I that is the right way at that time.

I am proud to be able to make a living out of my passion. I am grateful everyday for that. However, I’d like you guys to know that it doesn’t come without big sacrifices. First, being in the music industry doesn’t necessarily mean working only on music that we love all the time. It is comparable to having a company where you have to wear all the hats for years before you eventually make a comfortable living, which can be draining. It is a constant fight between taking a few days off to avoid burning out (often no more than a couple of days because we miss it so much and feel miserable) and feeling guilty for not being productive enough and wanting to get back at it. Furthermore, since music is being played all around us all the time, it is extremely hard for our music producer/songwriter brains to disconnect. We are constantly listening/analyzing the music we hear, observing how people react to it, trying to understand what in specific songs makes them react a certain way etc. It takes a lot of emotional intelligence and strength to keep going and to stay creative. Mood swings are not uncommon. The main reason why I am sharing this is to show how invested a lot of creatives and myself are, putting our heart and soul into our work as if we were put on this planet for this purpose first.

What do you do when you feel overwhelmed? Any advice or strategies?
Feeling burned out and overwhelmed is not uncommon for me. Actually I would describe my life as a constant fight between working hard to get the projects I am involved in done, and taking the time to live without feeling guilty for not being working. It is all about balance although it is very challenging in the music industry and in the entertainment world in general as some weeks are very slow while others are extremely busy and hectic.

My main way of staying sane on a daily basis is by finding at least one hour to exercise and clear my mind to stay healthy physically and mentally. I am really into Boxing and Muay Thai and train three to four times a week. I love surfing as well and try to get in the water at least once a week. When I can’t surf I still go to the swimming pools for some laps. Water has such an appeasing quality. Exercising has helped me tremendously to lower the stress and anxiety that come with the daily challenges we face in a city as big and competitive as Los Angeles. When I don’t exercise, I am literally a useless potato and can’t be productive. I recommend every one to find something, any sport, that they love and stick to it. It is challenging at first as it can be exhausting until your body adapts but once it does, you actually end up having much more energy overall.

The other thing I love to do and that I can’t recommend enough is getting out of the city from time to time to go in the wilderness and get out of your comfort zone. I love to jump in my car or on my motorcycle to go camping for a night or two in the middle of nowhere. It is impressive how even just one night camping can clear your mind and make you feel like you have taken a full week off once you are back in town.

Contact Info:

Image Credits
Mehdi Sekkat, Sarah Tazi, Pierre Tsigaridis

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