Fantasy Studios

Oh, how we love the sound of strings flowing down the hall from Studio A…

Jesse Fuller and the Sf Bay Blues in the Fantasy Studios hallways, Berkeley.

Big Star album cover in the hallway of Fantasy Studios, Berkeley.

Down the halls of fame at Fantasy Studios, Berkeley. Carla Thompson, the Memphis Queen.

This is a short interview I did with Adam Muñoz, Engineer at Fantasy Studios, Wednesday afternoon April 11^th. Adam joined the staff at Fantasy in October of 2008. Adam enjoys spending time with his cats and Olive and Cheese and his beautiful girlfriend Michelle.

What led you to becoming an audio engineer?

Well, it all started when I decided I wanted to become a DJ in elementary school. I played the drums for a tiny bit in grade school and I totally sucked, so I decided to sell my drum kit and get my first turntable.

When did you notice the Fantasy logo in your records?

At the time I was listening to a lot of early 80’s hip hop records, and I was reading the credits on the back cover, and I saw Fantasy Studios and was like “hey, that’s where I wanna work some day.”

What do you go home and listen to?

I don’t go home and listen to music. Even when I’m driving home I’ll turn the radio on and will listen to CNN or talk radio. After working and listening for twelve hours I’ve gotta tune my brain into something else. You can become really critical and it’s hard to just relax and enjoy music in the same way.

Is there anybody you would love to work with again?

Andy Wallace. He’s a famous engineer and producer and my idol. I got the chance to work with him for a week in 1996 and I was completely star struck, a total nerd. But he was really down to earth and at dinner we’d relax with bottle of wine. I learned a lot from him. He mixed Nirvana’s Nevermind, produced Jeff Buckley’s Grace and has mixed a bunch of other really great albums.

What’s ultimately the best workday you could have as an engineer?

If the clients are happy, that is a really good day, and if they return because that means that I’m doing a really good job. I’ve met a lot of different people over the years working at Fantasy and friendships have grown out of these experiences. These are people I probably wouldn’t have had the opportunity to meet otherwise.

Interview done by: Margo Hoover