Today we’d like to introduce you to Andre Skelton
Hi Andre, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
I was adopted from Guatemala when I was 10 months old. That has defiantly had a big impact on the way I think and see life. I was adopted because my biological mother could not take care of me and support me, so she thought the better option was to give me up for adoption. I was brought home and to the United States when I was 10 months old. I was blessed to be raised in a family that was loving and caring because there are many unfortunate stories of adoptee children who’s lives can be very difficult. I was never the best at sports, but I loved football, lacrosse, and lifting weights, but I was also very attracted to music. I remember when I was very little and my parents would play Bob Marley, Fergie, my dad teaching me about the Biggie and Pac beef and the rise of NWA in the 80’s. My mother eventually told me about Eminem once she realized I was very in-tuned specifically with hip hop. after that I found more about Dr. Dre, the beastie boys, rick Rubin, Nas and branched out to other west and east coast rappers and of course midwest artist. I was never the greatest student, I struggle with raging ADD and looked at things much more differently than others. I was a quiet kid for most of life and very shy, until I found out about mixing and producing. I eventually wanted to become an artist. In the beginning, it all sucked, but I kept working and pacing myself and I don’t like when there is finishing line because I am perfectionist. Music and hip hop to me is like a game, you only get better with time. I started making music in high school with one of my buddies, and I would mix and record for him and we’d make records in his bedroom and we’d both take turns recording verses in his closet. I started when I was about 14 and stopped for a bit and than picked it back up heavily when I was about 17-18. After high school, I didnt know what I wanted to do. My first year of college I flunked out because I just was lost, dumb, and stupid. I went to go work at Amazon and Panera, but I’d eventually would end up at a local studio called Round Table Recording Company. They were offering a 24-week program, and I thought to myself I need to really focus on this music thing. Half way through I was offered an internship over the summer of 2021. Randomly, that same summer, my mother heard about the Roc Nation school in Brooklyn. I was nervous, especially walking into an environment I have never truly experienced. I stayed there for a couple years, and put name out there a little bit on campus. It was a amazig experience living in the city, but it wasnt for me. However, all those guys I met there have pushed me and made me better. I am currently working with a couple of them right now as well! I didn’t branch out a lot while I was there, but I had the pleasure of working with Kenya Vaun funny enough. It was the end of the semester and I was still con campus, and I get a call from my buddy saying that he needed me to record and mix something and it was big deal and I needed to get my stuff and come to the studio right away. She is a wonderful person and it was fun working with her prior to her getting signed. After being in NY for two years, I eventually got into Belmont University where I am studying audio engineering. I have worked with artist like Fukkit, 300 South, Bill $aber, and more.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Compared to your typical rapper some may imagine it has been a smoother road for me. But its interesting because I dont know many Guatemalan boom bap rappers and producers.There are many Mexican and Puerto Rican artist and producers that have paved the way. I hope to be one of those people one day. I aspire to be great and hold myself to the highest standards and to just be patient. I pray that God will hopefully bless with a ticket to be a platinum engineer.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I am mix and master engineer, producer, and recording artist at Belmont University. I have sat in the executive chairs to being the intern. Mixing and mastering is very technical, and it’s using your ears, but you also have to have a record that is sonically pleasing to the listeners. I want fans to feel like they are in the artist’s mind, so it’s my job to help the artist translate their vision. A bad mix leads to a bad master. Mastering a record is the cherry on top of a sundae. If you mess up the master, your whole record is screwed up. Trust me when I say I have done a lot of screwing up of my own records for years before I decently figured it out, and to this day, I am still learning. Shoutout to all the Mastering Engineers!
Is there anything else you’d like to share with our readers?
Pretty soon I am pushing a lot of new things out! Got a lot of new projects I am proudly part of that are coming up, hopefully here soon in the next year. Follow me on Instagram, @ mixedbyandre, and let’s tap in if you need an audio engineer, producer, or artist.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mixedbyandre/
- Other: https://linktr.ee/mixedbyandre
Image Credits
Sam Skelton
