Meet Alberto De Icaza | Mixing & Mastering Engineer

We had the good fortune of connecting with Alberto De Icaza and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Alberto, can you share the most important lesson you’ve learned over the course of your career?
Be consistent and patient. I think growing up we are fed the idea that people find success overnight. We tend to look at our role model’s wins and we overlook the path they walked to get there. It’s rare to blow up without consistent effort. I’ve had to learn to enjoy the walk instead of being anxious about reaching the destination.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
My job is to make recordings sound professional. There is a wonderful moment when the songs just feel right. In my head it feels like they’ve gone from a home movie into a movie theater presentation. You know how the sound hits you, and it feels so grandiose vs just watching in your couch. That’s the high I’m chasing every time I work on a song. I want it to feel special enough to connect with the audience in an intimate way but also making it feel expensive and shiny.

I started by interning in a studio in New Jersey called The Machine Shop. There, producers Machine and Will Putney showed me the ropes. It was an amazing place to work at. There was so much talent coming through the doors at that time that I was lucky to learn on some pretty big records. In 2014 I moved to Texas and after about a year I started my mix room in a spare bedroom at the apartment I was renting. A lot of the records I was doing didn’t have the budget for a mastering engineer so I had to get good at it to make sure my work was not falling apart at the end. I started mastering more and more, artists and industry people liked what I was doing so they opened more doors for me.

In 2019 I did a test master for a Ne-Yo track that was in a soundtrack that Timbaland produced for the youtube Originals show “Step Up: High Water “(S02). They liked what I did and started sending me all sorts of Soundtracks for movies and tv shows. Last year I did Zoey’s Extraordinary Playlist and that got nominated for an Emmy Award for “Outstanding Original Music And Lyrics – 2021”.

It hasn’t been easy, there is a lot of sacrifice. Lots of times I miss things with friends and family because I’m working in the studio. However I get to work doing incredible music and that makes it all worth it!

I’v learned to be patient and trust the process. Nothing happens over night and being consistent and dedicating to always improving go a long way. Also it helps if you love what you do. There will be passion in it that you cant otherwise get.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
I would take a little roadtrip to Lockhart TX for some Black’s BBQ and there is an awesome music shop called Sunflower & Friends. Here in Austin, Pinthouse Pizza is great, their beer is top notch and their pizzas are so good! Discada, is a taco truck unlike any other. Maybe catch a show at Come and Take It Live or Antone’s.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
Lots of people! Machine for being my mentor and patiently teaching me all his wizardry. Everyone that has let me sit on a session, shared tricks, exchanged ideas: Will Putney, Jay Ruston, Vance Powell, Zakk Cervini. All the artists, managers and labels that have trusted me with their music and special shoutout to the Soundclub for opening doors and believing in me.

Website: www.albertomixes.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/albertomixes

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/adeicaza