About this episode
Enrollment closes soon for Ari's Take Academy! Save 10% with code NMB and enroll: https://aristakeacademy.com/ Dana Nielsen is a Grammy-nominated mixer, engineer, producer, and multi-instrumentalist known for his work with SZA, Rihanna, Adele, Post Malone, The Smashing Pumpkins, Neil Young, Justin Timberlake, Weezer, The Avett Brothers, Bob Dylan, and Kanye West. A frequent collaborator with legendary producer, Rick Rubin, Nielsen has amassed credits that run the stylistic gamut from Neil Diamond to Slayer and just about everything in between. In this episode, Ari and ATA student Dana Nielsen, a Grammy-nominated mixing and engineering master, discuss his home studio setup, career, and superstar collaborations. He shares insights into his career journey, from starting out in Chicago to working with legendary artists and producers like Rick Rubin, Bob Dylan, and SZA. Dana emphasizes the importance of networking and seizing opportunities to advance in the music industry, highlighting the freelance nature of the entertainment industry and the importance of developing relationships in a transactional environment. Finally, Dana provides insights into the business side of engineering in the music industry, discussing the various roles and rates in the recording studio. Chapters 00:00 Introduction and Gear Setup 14:38 Early Career and Networking 27:26 Putting Yourself Out There 29:32 Meeting Rick Rubin 32:12 Learning from John Hanlon 33:11 Working with Rick Rubin 40:26 Working on Neil Diamond's Album 45:14 Understanding the Role of a Second Engineer 50:44 The Business of Engineering in the Music Industry 01:09:26 Making It in the New Music Business Subscribe to The New Music Business: https://aristake.com/new-music-business-podcast/ Ari's Take Academy: https://aristakeacademy.com Watch more discussions like this: https://bit.ly/3LavMpa Connect with Ari’s Take: Website: https://aristake.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/aristake_ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@aris.take X: https://twitter.com/ArisTake Threads: https://www.threads.net/@aristake_ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/aristake1 Connect with Ari Herstand: Website: https://ariherstand.com Instagram: https://instagram.com/ariherstand X: https://twitter.com/ariherstand YouTube: https://youtube.com/ariherstand Connect with Dana Nielsen: Website: https://www.mixprotege.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/danafrio TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@danaproducer YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@danaproducer Twitter: https://twitter.com/TheDanaNielsen LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/danaproducer/ Edited and mixed by Ari Davids-Ergas Music by Brassroots District Produced by the team at Ari’s Take Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.