Rising Stars: Meet Lynn Graber of South Nashville.

Today we’d like to introduce you to Lynn Graber

Hi Lynn, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I grew up and spent most of my life in the Midwest. I come from a pretty conservative background where any music other than gospel, bluegrass, or a hymnal was thought to be too secular. My older siblings introduced me to popular 80s and 90s music, or I guess I could say, I helped myself to their cassettes and records when they weren’t around. I was drawn to those recordings, the instrumentation, the production, and the image they created in my mind. I couldn’t help but wonder how they were made.

I have fond memories of falling asleep to the sound of my parents and their friends singing bluegrass late into the evening. I started to play around with my father’s acoustic guitar. After learning a few guitar chords and taking piano lessons, I was hooked. I knew music in some capacity was my calling.

I started to write and record my own songs. It began with a 4-track tape machine and it quickly escalated to a full-on recording studio setup in my parents house. I had a constant stream of friends and strangers coming and going. Obviously, this presented a little bit of a problem and eventually my father allowed me to build out a studio in one of the barns on our family property.

This place was invaluable to me. It was a proofing ground—a place I could experiment and play with no one watching. It was a safe place where I could try anything. I made a lot of mistakes, but I also did a lot of things right. I was learning something new every day.

I learned very quickly that to be successful in the music industry, you have to find your niche and be willing to collaborate with creators. To make records at a high level, it’s a team effort. I quickly became one of the go-to-studios in my hometown, but I still wanted more. I wanted to work with people who took music as seriously as I did.

When I moved to Nashville, I did it to specialize in mixing music. I enjoy the process of recording and producing records, but I’ve always been more excited when the band left and it was just me and the music. It gave me the space to work with the music to create perspective, nuance, and bring out details that would otherwise have been missed.

Through a local client of mine, I was introduced to a well-known producer here in Nashville and he invited me to do an internship with him. I decided to take a chance and move my young family away from everything we knew. It was risky, but it was the best decision I’ve ever made. I love this town and the people I work with. I love getting up every day and going to work in my studio.

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?
Taking a risk is rarely safe or comfortable. I believe, though, that it’s necessary in order to grow. I’ve definitely had struggles along the way. Of course, when you move to a new town as a self-employed worker, you face financial challenges. I knew I’d have to make sacrifices for a few years so I could pursue my career. I learned very quickly what you actually need in order to survive and how much you can do without.

Sometimes clients and contracts come and go. That can feel like rejection, even when it has nothing to do with my performance. For example, I lost my biggest client one year when they were bought out by a bigger company. That same year I won a Dove Award. There will be ups and downs, but I love what I do. Mixing music is the most natural work I’ve ever done. I haven’t had a case of the Mondays for over a decade.

As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
Simply put, I mix records. I’ve worked on Grammy-nominated and Dove-Award-winning projects. My work has amassed over 1 billion streams on Spotify and YouTube alone. I’ve mixed pop, rock, hip-hop, CCM, instrumental, and more. My work is very technical, but it requires just as much creativity. It’s actually an art form. I create soundscapes that are true to the original creators vision and provide a fresh perspective for the listener.

My job is to help the artist and producer take their song over the finish line. I clean up the tracks and create a cohesive-sounding blend of the instrumentation and vocals. This involves using standard processes and specialty techniques I’ve developed over 25 years. This can include using an equalizer, adding reverbs or space, controlling dynamics, editing, vocal tuning, and so much more. When I’m done with the mix, it’s ready for the masses. I can deliver a mix in stereo, 5.1 surround, 7.1 surround, and Dolby Atmos.

I’ve worked with a lot of amazing artists and producers over the years, so it’s hard to choose a favorite project. You can find my mix credits here: https://www.lynngrabermix.com/credits.

Risk taking is a topic that people have widely differing views on – we’d love to hear your thoughts.
Moving my family away from everything we’ve known to pursue music in Nashville was the biggest risk I’ve ever taken. People move here every day only to move back home a year later. My philosophy is that in order to move forward in life, you have to step up or go home. Sometimes those steps are grand and sometimes they’re small, everyday choices. At times I’ve been guilty of overthinking, but I’d rather make a mistake pursuing something I love rather than live with regret.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.lynngrabermix.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lynn_graber_mix