Joel Wanasek
Joel Wanasek | |
---|---|
Background information | |
Born | Milwaukee, Wisconsin, U.S. |
Genres | Rock, heavy metal, death metal, metalcore |
Occupation(s) | Mixing engineer, record producer, audio engineer, mastering engineer, entrepreneur |
Years active | 2006-present |
Website | mixedbyjoel |
Joel Thomas Wanasek is an American record producer and owner of JTW Recording[a][1][2][3][4] in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Wanasek started recording in 2002, initially as a self-taught producer, but by January 2006, he was able to quit his job and professionally dedicate to his recording business.[5]
Primarily working with rock and metal bands, Wanasek has worked with numerous bands such as Blessthefall,[6][7] Machine Head,[8][9] Attila,[10] Miss May I[11] and Monuments,[1][12] amongst others.[13][14]
Career and education
[edit]Joel Wanasek started playing violin at the age of 10, and guitar at the age of 12. He was inspired to practice by Randy Rhoads, forming a band called Crystal Reign which lasted for a number of years. He earned a Bachelor of Business Administration at the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater[15][16]
He created the now defunct instructional guitar web site InsaneGuitar.com, before forming his band Dark Shift in 2000, where he played lead guitar.[17][18] They signed to AJA Records, but disbanded before releasing an album. Joel worked on Dark Shift's debut album "The Assault" which was released in June 2003. The band would then open up for Gigantour in Milwaukee, which featured Megadeth, Dream Theater, Symphony X, among others.[19][18]
In his producing career, he has worked with labels such as Fueled by Ramen, Virgin Music, Century Media Records, No Sleep Records, Fearless Records, Nuclear Blast Records, among others.[14] In 2016, the song "Is There Anybody Out There?" by Machine Head charted at #36 on Billboard's Hot Mainstream Rock, which he co-produced.[8][20][21][22][23] In 2018, Wanasek mixed and mastered Miyavi's "Samurai Sessions Vol.2", with the opening song, "Dancing With My Fingers", topping the iTunes Japanese charts.[24][25]
He uses Steinberg Cubase as his digital audio workstation.[5]
Entrepreneurship
[edit]Unstoppable Recording Machine
[edit]URM Academy is an online audio school created by Wanasek, Joey Sturgis and Eyal Levi, which describes itself as "the world's best online music school for rock & metal producers".[26][27][28][29] Through its program Nail The Mix, the platform offers monthly mixing sessions with professionally-recorded songs and livestream commentary from the producer who originally mixed them. The program has featured bands such as Lamb of God, Asking Alexandria, The Devil Wears Prada, Chelsea Grin, Born of Osiris, A Day to Remember, Opeth, Neck Deep, Papa Roach, Meshuggah, Periphery, Gojira, etc. and producers such as Andrew Wade, Tue Madsen, Devin Townsend, Logan Mader, Jens Bogren, Kane Churko, Machine, among others.[30][31][32][33][26] Nail the Mix won two "2 Commas Club Awards" from ClickFunnels for "entrepreneurs who have used ClickFunnels to grow their business to the 7-figure mark".[34] The platform also offers a podcast, Q&As, lessons ("Fast Track") and, as part of its Enhanced subscription, "Mix Rescue", where students submit their own mixes to be critiqued and cleaned-up during a live broadcast.[26]
Drumforge
[edit]Drumforge is a music software company founded by Joel Wanasek, Joey Sturgis and Joe Wohlitz[35] that provides drum sample libraries and audio plug-ins.[36][37] The company has released libraries by Taylor Larson, Luke Holland, Daniel Bergstrand, Matt Greiner and others.[38]
Riffhard
[edit]Riffhard is an online guitar school created by Monuments guitarist John Browne, in partnership with URM Academy,[39] and co-owned by Eyal Levi and Joel Wanasek, mainly dedicated to rhythm guitar.[40][41]
Other projects
[edit]Wanasek has also developed plug-ins in collaboration with Joey Sturgis Tones (JST), namely "Bus Glue Joel Wanasek", a series of bus compressors.[42][43]
He has also participated in the Joey Sturgis Forums Podcast, along with Sturgis and Levi, which was said to "cover a range of music industry topics such as marketing, touring, mixing and producing"[44][45][46][47]
Production discography
[edit]Studio albums
[edit]2010s
[edit]Album | Released | Artist | Credit | Label | Chart[b] |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Phronesis | Oct 5, 2018 | Monuments | mixing, mastering[1] | Century Media | Heatseeker Albums - #6[48] |
Trinity | Oct 31, 2018 | ChuggaBoom | mastering[49] | ||
Arbors | May 5, 2017 | Arctic Sleep | engineer, mixing, mastering[50] | The Church Within | |
Passage Of Gaia | Aug 21, 2014 | Arctic Sleep | producer, recording, mixing, mastering[51] | Dripfeed | |
Samurai Sessions Vol.2 | Nov 8, 2017 | Miyavi | mixing, mastering[52] | Virgin Media | Billboard Japan - #9[53] |
Samurai Sessions Vol.3 -Worlds Collide- | December 5, 2018 | Miyavi | mixing[54] | Virgin Media | Billboard Japan - #27[55] |
Catharsis | Jan 26, 2018 | Machine Head | post-production[56] | Nuclear Blast | US Billboard 200 - #65[57] |
Electrogram | Sep 23, 2014 | Vinyl Theatre | producer, mixing, mastering[58] | Fueled By Ramen | Heatseeker Albums - #35[59] |
PWNZ | Sep 23, 2014 | CHALLENGER! | producer[60] | ||
All Is Vanity | Jun 9, 2017 | Christina Grimmie | mastering[61] |
|
|
March Of Rome | Feb 10, 2017 | Bases Loaded | mastering[62] | ||
Home Is What You Make It | Mar 10, 2017 | Bases Loaded | mastering[63] | ||
Are You Out There? | Jun 23, 2017 | Rilian | mixing, mastering[64] | Kenobi | |
Blood Money Part 1 | Oct 28, 2016 | Dope | mastering[65] | Steamhammer | Billboard 200 - #27[66] |
To Those Left Behind | Sep 18, 2015 | Blessthefall | mixing assistant[67] | Fearless | Billboard 200 - #23[68] |
Future Golden Age | Dec 8, 2015 | Fallstar | mastering[69] | Rat Family | |
An Achor To The Abyss: Chapter One | Dec 4, 2015 | A Hero Within | mastering[70] | ||
Navarasam (An Ennead) | 2015 | Thaikkudam Bridge | mastering[71] | Satyam Audios | |
Viceversa | Feb 4, 2014 | Unarmed For Victory | mixing, mastering[72] | Red Cord | |
Movement | Oct 9, 2012 | Inhale Exhale | mastering[73] | Red Cord | |
Change the World | Jun 12, 2012 | From The Eyes Of Servants | mixing, mastering[74] | Red Cord | |
The Fire Inside | Oct 8, 2013 | Righteous Vendetta | composer[75] | ||
The Vitality Theory | Jun 15, 2010 | Rosaline | producer, engineer, programming, orchestration[76] | Good Fight | |
Broken Mirrors | Oct 24, 2011 | Mercy Screams | mixing, mastering[77] | Good Fight | |
This Is Our Rise | Aug 21, 2015 | First Decree | producer, mixing, mastering[78] | ||
We Are One | Dec 2, 2015 | The Bloodline | producer, mixing, mastering, vocal engineer[79][80] | Another Century | |
Passage | Sep 30, 2011 | The Chosen | mixing[81] | Red Cord | |
Making the Man | 2010 | Stranger Than Fate | mixing, mastering[82] | Red Cord | |
Inheritors | Aug 23, 2011 | Serianna | engineer, producer[83] | Bullet Tooth | |
Hope for Now | Jul 22, 2014 | Silent Screams | mixing assistant[84] | Artery | |
Exotype | Oct 3, 2014 | Exotype | mixing[85] | Rise | Heatseeker Albums - #27[86] |
Departure | May 14, 2013 | Ocellus | producer, mixing, mastering[87] | ||
California Cauliflower | Jun 18, 2014 | Ian and the Dream | mastering[88] | ||
Bad Dreams and Melodies | Oct 9, 2012 | Southbound Fearing | strings, synthesizer, programming[89] | Red Cord | |
Babylon | May 14, 2010 | Milosny | engineer, mastering[90] | Red Cord | |
30 Minutes or Less | Dec 12, 2010 | Action Madison! | producer, mixing, mastering[91] | Red Cord | |
Killers & Thieves | Feb 25, 2014 | Embers in Ashes | producer[92] |
2000s
[edit]Album | Released | Artist | Credit | Label | Chart |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Stories From The Book Of Metal | May 21, 2008 | Zephaniah | producer[93] | ||
Gaining Ground | Oct 16, 2006 | Dark Shift | mixing[94] | Dark Shift, LLC | |
The Deepest Rise | Jun 24, 2008 | Dichotic | mixing, mastering[95] | Psycho Drive Studios | |
Kiss Of The Thorn | Sep 28, 2007 | A Tortured Soul | recording, mixing, mastering[96] | Eyes Like Snow | |
Living The Dream | Sep 28, 2007 | Rictus Grin | recording[97] |
Works
[edit]- "The Ultimate Guide to Becoming a Guitar Virtuoso" - 2005[98]
References
[edit]- ^ a b c "MONUMENTS To Release 'Phronesis' Album In October". Blabbermouth. July 23, 2018. Retrieved December 15, 2020.
- ^ "BLUE FELIX Sign To 3Thirteen Entertainment/eOne; Release Single "Hate Inside"". bravewords.com.
- ^ "JTW Recording Studios, Milwaukee, WI". www.jtwrecording.com.
- ^ "Century Media Records - Monuments: : release "Leviathan (Lyric Video)" Taken From "Phronesis"". www.centurymedia.com.
- ^ a b "Producer - Joel Wanasek - Interviews". Indie Vision Music. May 21, 2012.
- ^ Fair, Anna (October 15, 2018). "Rilian opens up about mental health in new track—listen". Alternative Press.
- ^ "JST Producer Spotlight: Joel Wanasek". Joey Sturgis Tones. October 26, 2023.
- ^ a b "MACHINE HEAD To Release 'Is There Anybody Out There?' Single This Friday". BLABBERMOUTH.NET. June 1, 2016.
- ^ "Machine Head Unleash New Single And Video, My Hands Are Empty". Kerrang!.
- ^ "Machine Head drop new single "Circle The Drain" – The Rockpit".
- ^ "CHUGGABOOM's Newest Single and Lyric Video Will Leave You Asking "What's The Time?" [Exclusive Premiere]". V13.net. October 22, 2017.
- ^ "Playthrough: "Animus" from Monuments! – Metal Noise".
- ^ "Joel Wanasek | Credits". AllMusic.
- ^ a b "Joel Wanasek". Discogs.
- ^ "LinkedIn - Joel Wanasek".
- ^ "Alumni US | University of Wisconsin-Whitewater (2003)". alumnius.net.
- ^ "Dark Shift - The Assault". Metal-Rules.com. September 1, 2003.
- ^ a b "Dark Shift - Soundclick".
- ^ "Joel Wanasek: dark shift". October 9, 2007.
- ^ "MACHINE HEAD's 'Is There Anybody Out There?' Cracks Top 40 Of U.S. Active Rock Chart". BLABBERMOUTH.NET. August 18, 2016.
- ^ Records, Nuclear Blast. "Metal-Temple.com :: MACHINE HEAD: New single charts at #38 on U.S. Active Rock charts (News)". www.metal-temple.com.
- ^ "Machine Head Songs ••• Top Songs / Chart Singles Discography ••• Music VF, US & UK hits charts". www.musicvf.com.
- ^ "Mainstream Rock Songs Chart". Billboard. November 28, 2013.
- ^ "Audient iD22 Audio Interface In The Mix For Drumforge owners". Audient. June 10, 2019.
- ^ "Audient dances with Drumforge". www.fast-and-wide.com.
- ^ a b c Moss, Jason (September 15, 2016). "Review: Online Audio Education from Nail The Mix". SonicScoop.
- ^ "URM Academy". Unstoppable Recording Machine.
- ^ "Unstoppable Recording Machine Will Help You Mix Super Super Fast". GearGods. June 26, 2017.
- ^ "Nail The Mix gurus talk about their quest to curb listless laptop producers". Alternative Press. March 2, 2017.
- ^ "Mega-producer Joey Sturgis reveals his secret to making bands sound larger than life". Alternative Press. March 24, 2017.
- ^ "Nail The Mix". NailTheMix.com.
- ^ "DEVIN TOWNSEND Breaks Down Mixing Process For "Genesis" On Nail The Mix; Video Trailer Available". bravewords.com.
- ^ Pasbani, Robert (August 18, 2018). "Engineers: Learn How Famous LAMB OF GOD & CONVERGE Tracks Were Mixed with Nail the Mix". Metal Injection.
- ^ "2 Comma Club Winner s - From Funnel Hacking Live 2019 ClickFunnels™". February 22, 2019.
- ^ "About Drumforge". Drumforge.
- ^ "Kick Drum Sampler And Processor Revamped". Sonicstate.
- ^ "Drumforge - Products". Drumforge.
- ^ "Products". Drumforge.
- ^ "John Browne Launches Riffhard Guitar Instruction Site". Recording Magazine.
- ^ "Riffhard". Riffhard.
- ^ "Audient interview with John Browne - CEO of Riffhard online academy". Audient. August 12, 2019.
- ^ "JST Bus Glue Joel Wanasek Review". GuitarNoodle.com. April 4, 2019.
- ^ "Review - JST Bus Glue Plugins | Logic Pro". Production Expert.
- ^ Klinner, Jessica. "Producer Joey Sturgis Presents New Music Industry Podcast | Under the Gun Review".
- ^ "Joey Sturgis Launches JS Forum Podcast". Kill The Music. March 18, 2015.
- ^ "Ghost Cult Magazine". Ghost Cult Magazine. March 24, 2015.
- ^ "Joey Sturgis teams up with Eyal Levi, Joel Wanasek for the Joey Sturgis Podcast Forum". Hellhound Music. March 17, 2015.
- ^ "Heatseekers Albums Chart". Billboard. January 2, 2013.
- ^ "ChuggaBoom - Trinity". Discogs. October 31, 2018.
- ^ "Arctic Sleep - Arbors". Discogs. October 30, 2023.
- ^ "Arctic Sleep - Passage Of Gaia". Discogs. December 2014.
- ^ "MIYAVI* - Samurai Sessions Vol.2". Discogs. October 30, 2023.
- ^ "Billboard Japan Top Albums Sales | Charts". Billboard JAPAN (in Japanese).
- ^ "MIYAVI* - Samurai Sessions Vol.3 -Worlds Collide-". Discogs. October 30, 2023.
- ^ "Billboard Japan Top Albums Sales | Charts". Billboard JAPAN (in Japanese).
- ^ "Machine Head (3) - Catharsis". Discogs. January 26, 2018.
- ^ Hartmann, Graham (February 8, 2018). "Machine Head's Robb Flynn Addresses 'Catharsis' Low Album Sales". Loudwire.
- ^ "Vinyl Theatre - Electrogram". Discogs. September 23, 2014.
- ^ "Heatseekers Albums Chart". Billboard. January 2, 2013.
- ^ "CHALLENGER! - PWNZ". Discogs. October 30, 2023.
- ^ "Christina Grimmie - All Is Vanity". Discogs. October 30, 2023.
- ^ "Bases Loaded (2) - March Of Rome". Discogs. February 10, 2017.
- ^ "Bases Loaded (2) - Home Is What You Make It". Discogs. March 10, 2017.
- ^ "Rilian - Are You Out There?". Discogs. June 23, 2017.
- ^ "Dope (4) - Blood Money Part 1". Discogs. October 30, 2023.
- ^ "Billboard 200 Chart". Billboard.
- ^ "To Those Left Behind - blessthefall | Credits | AllMusic". AllMusic.
- ^ "blessthefall". Billboard.
- ^ "Fallstar - Future Golden Age". Discogs. December 8, 2015.
- ^ "A Hero Within - An Achor To The Abyss: Chapter One". Discogs. December 4, 2015.
- ^ "Thaikkudam Bridge - Navarasam (An Ennead)". Discogs. October 30, 2023.
- ^ "Unarmed For Victory - Viceversa". Discogs. February 4, 2014.
- ^ "Inhale Exhale - Movement". Discogs. October 9, 2012.
- ^ "From The Eyes Of Servants - Change the World". Discogs. October 30, 2023.
- ^ "The Fire Inside - Righteous Vendetta | Credits | AllMusic". AllMusic.
- ^ "The Vitality Theory - Rosaline | Credits | AllMusic". AllMusic.
- ^ "Broken Mirrors - Mercy Screams | Credits | AllMusic". AllMusic.
- ^ "This Is Our Rise - First Decree | Credits | AllMusic". AllMusic.
- ^ "We Are One - The Bloodline | Songs, Reviews, Credits | AllMusic". AllMusic.
- ^ "THE BLOODLINE/DIVINE HERESY Singer To PHILIP ANSELMO: 'F**k You, And F**k Your Apology'". BLABBERMOUTH.NET. February 1, 2016.
- ^ "Passage - The Chosen | Credits | AllMusic". AllMusic.
- ^ "Making the Man - Stranger Than Fate | Credits | AllMusic". AllMusic.
- ^ "Inheritors - Serianna | Credits | AllMusic". AllMusic.
- ^ "Hope for Now - Silent Screams | Credits | AllMusic". AllMusic.
- ^ "Exotype - Exotype | Credits | AllMusic". AllMusic.
- ^ "Exotype". Billboard.
- ^ "Departure - Ocellus | Credits | AllMusic". AllMusic.
- ^ "California Cauliflower - Ian and the Dream | Credits | AllMusic". AllMusic.
- ^ "Bad Dreams and Melodies - Southbound Fearing | Credits | AllMusic". AllMusic.
- ^ "Babylon - Milosny | Credits | AllMusic". AllMusic.
- ^ "30 Minutes or Less - Action Madison! | Credits | AllMusic". AllMusic.
- ^ "Killers And Thieves: Alabama's Embers In Ashes followup successful single with album". www.crossrhythms.co.uk.
- ^ "Zephaniah - Stories From The Book Of Metal". Discogs. October 30, 2023.
- ^ "Dark Shift - Gaining Ground". Discogs. October 30, 2023.
- ^ "Dichotic (2) - The Deepest Rise". Discogs. October 30, 2023.
- ^ "A Tortured Soul - Kiss Of The Thorn". Discogs. September 28, 2007.
- ^ "Rictus Grin - Living The Dream". Discogs. October 30, 2023.
- ^ "GuitarVirtuoso.net on Wayback Machine". February 12, 2010. Archived from the original on February 12, 2010.
Notes
[edit]External links
[edit]- Official website
- Allmusic — Production Credits