We had the good fortune of connecting with Jaykub Rodriguez and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Jaykub, we’d love to hear more about how you thought about starting your own business?
So, a couple for friends and myself got together in middle school and started a band. The more we played, the more we realized we needed recordings to get gigs. My partner in crime, Peewee, had access to recording software via his dad’s computer. Once we figured out how to record ourselves, we were hooked. Fast-forward to 2009 and we began taking recording engineering classes at Loyola University on New Orleans. Around 2012, my father helped me turn the old garage practice space in Houston into a recording space with wood floors and sound proofing. Then I met and apprenticed under the great Paul Cox of 226 Recordings and learned everything from wiring cables to calibrating tape machines and the beast that is ProTools. With his technical guidance, my family’s constant support, and my deep roots in the Houston music scene, I was able to start charging bands to track their records. Years later and after many upgrades, King Benny’s House of Sound has been pushing out local records of all genres for more than a decade! Like my dad used to always tell me, “If you want it done right, do it your damn self”.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
I like my music to be exciting, moving, and challenging. This doesn’t necessarily mean technical, but honest. Whether it means capturing a recording or just performing live, I need to push myself to deliver the best version of what the music needs.
It is like when I paint/draw/doodle. I take inspiration from all my mentors and idols, but I done feel like a work isn’t done unless it feels natural and honest. That isn’t always easy. Sometimes you start over. But that is real growth. I learned its ok to mess up as long as you learn and do it better next time. In the case of music, less is more. I often play drums on session work and I had to figure out how to play less if the song called for less. We are all trying to have our voice heard, and with music its easy to get lost in the production side of things when really the song should be able to speak for itself.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
Get tacos from Villa Arcos. Bike through Buffalo Bayou park. Eat at Loro. Check out a show at Axelrad or Wonky Power. Go kayak fishing in the marsh in Freeport. Check out Meow Wolf. Walk around the MFAH before eating at Mala Szichuan. To me, thats a good week.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
Big shoutout to my dad, Albert Rodriguez. You may not be here physically, but your teachings and wise words live on through me everyday. And of course Mom, for letting me turn the old rent house garage into a studio.

Website: https://kingbennyproductions.bandcamp.com/

Instagram: @houseofsoundhtx

Other: @jaykobiwan
@dadsmom.be.trippin
@astroinnmusic
@cucucuy_htx
@jaykub.makes.art

Image Credits
@jaykobiwan @visualbyfelix

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