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Tony Maserati
Tony Maserati
	Skalpovich in Studio with Tony Maserati (pictured left)
Background information
Genres	Pop; R&B; hip hop; alternative;
Occupation	Mixing engineer
Years active	1987–present
Website	http://tonymaserati.com

Tony Maserati is an American record producer and audio engineer specializing in mixing. He was involved in the development of the New York R&B and hip-hop scene in the 1990s, working with Mary J. Blige, Notorious B.I.G., Puff Daddy, and Queen Latifah.^[1] Since then he has worked on Grammy nominated projects with The Black Eyed Peas, Beyoncé (who he won Best R&B Album with on her 2003 Dangerously in Love), Jason Mraz, Robin Thicke, and Usher. Maserati won a Latin Grammy in 2006 for his work on Sérgio Mendes’s Timeless. He has been nominated for a total of 10 Grammys, with four for Best Engineered Album, Non-Classical.^[2]

Early life

Maserati began college at Northeastern University before transferring to Boston’s Berklee College of Music in the early 1980s.^[3] He originally majored in Composition, but switched to the Music Production and Engineering major when it was first offered in 1983.^[4] While at Berklee, he learned to mix by doing the sound for the Marsells.^[3] He graduated with an MA in 1986.^[5]

Career

New York hip hop and R&B

Maserati went to work in New York City at Sigma Sound Studios where he assisted Glenn Rosenstein. Rosenstein introduced him to Full Force, who helped Maserati learn to arrange and mix.^[6] While at Sigma Sound he worked with Whitney Houston and James Brown,^[7] and was able to mix his first song, Samantha Fox's "Naughty Girls (Need Love Too)". He credits much of the musical sound he developed on his work at Berklee and the influence of Full Force.^[6]

In 1989, Maserati went independent, specializing in mixing, setting him apart at the time since most musical engineers focused on production.^[8] During his time at Sigma Sound, Maserati had befriended studio managers around the city, and he contacted them requesting work on R&B and Hip-Hop.^[1] While most mixers worked on rock, Maserati claims he focused on R&B and Hip-Hop because it “was the only place where innovation was happening.”^[6]

Maserati was introduced to Puff Daddy in the early 1990s through the producer Devante Swing. Puff Daddy brought Maserati into Bad Boy Records and, Maserati claims, Puff Daddy "locked me down" for the following six years.^[6] As a result, Maserati worked with every major New York R&B and hip-hop artist of the 1990s, including mixing albums for Busta Rhymes, Mary J. Blige, The Notorious B.I.G., Faith Evans, and Queen Latifah.^[6] Maserati regards these years as very collaborative, and he allowed the various artists to work with his analogue equipment to help develop their desired sound.^[6] According to Mix magazine, Maserati provided the definitive sound of New York hip-hop in the form of heavy bass lines while also providing high fidelity sounds on the other end of the scale.^[9] According to Sound on Sound, the result was a "huge low end and a smooth, velvety high,"^[7] and which Mix labelled an "outhouse on the bottom, penthouse on the top".^[9]

The success of the New York R&B and hip-hop sound propelled Maserati into a widely known and well-established mixer.^[1] He received his first four Grammy nominations in 2003, with two nominations for being a part of "Crazy in Love" by Beyoncé featuring Jay-Z and "Where is the Love" by the Black Eyed Peas featuring Justin Timberlake, both of which were up for Record of the Year. He was also nominated for his own work in the Best Engineered Album, Non-Classical for the Black Eyed Peas' Elephunk.^[4] He won Best R&B Album that year on Beyoncé's Dangerously in Love. The following year he was nominated again for Album of the Year on Usher's Confessions.^[2]

Throughout this period, Maserati worked mostly with analogue consoles rather than digital tools.^[5] This required enormous amounts of space and specialized equipment. To fit it all in, Maserati built his own studio, Una Volta, in a barn in upstate New York.^[10] In 2008, he began working with his long-time collaborator Jason Mraz on the album We Sing. We Dance. We Steal Things, for which Maserati was nominated for a Grammy in Best Engineered Album, Non-Classical.^[11]

Los Angeles

While his upstate barn provided the needed space for his equipment, Maserati disliked being so far from the city and the intimate collaborations of the studios.^[5] Around the same time, the music scene was decamping from New York to the West Coast.^[10] In 2010, Maserati moved to Los Angeles where he was able to get large amounts of space while still being within the city.^[5] However, he left most of his bulky analogue equipment in New York, which pushed him to adopt more of the digital equipment for mixing and automation.^[10]

In 2011, Maserati and songwriter Stefan Skarbek co-founded Mirrorball Entertainment, LLC in North Hollywood. Maserati worked with studio designer and acoustician Martin Pilchner to create modular studios in which each room could be redesigned to meet the specific needs of the production team renting the space.^[12] Maserati and Skarbek offered their production services in the space, allowing whole albums to be produced, published, and recorded on site.^[8] The integrated approach had Maserati directly mixing major tracks and overseeing the remaining tracks mixed by his assistants and mentees.^[5] Maserati is a client with Pulse Recording.^[13]

Grammy Awards

Winner

2003 Best Contemporary R&B Album: Beyoncé Dangerously in Love

Nominee

2003 Record of the Year: The Black Eyed Peas “Where is the Love”

2003 Record of the Year: Beyoncé “Crazy in Love”

2003 Best Engineered Album, Non-Classical: The Black Eyed Peas, Elephunk

2004 Album of the Year: Usher Confessions

2008 Best Engineered Album, Non-Classical: Jason Mraz We Sing. We Dance. We Steal Things

2012 Best Engineered Album, Non-Classical: Jason Mraz Love is a Four Letter Word

2013 Record of the Year: Robin Thicke “Blurred Lines”

2014 Album of the Year: Beyoncé Beyoncé

2016 Album of the Year: Beyoncé Lemonade

2017 Best Engineered Album, Non-Classical: K. Flay Every Where is Some Where^[2]

Selected discography

Artist	Song Title	Album	Role
2021
Casper	Alles war schön und nichts tat weh		Mixing
Falling In Reverse	I'm Not a Vampire (Revamped)		Mixing
2020
Mike Posner		Operation: Wake Up	Mixing
2018
TWICE	What is Love?	What is Love?	Mixing
BØRNS		Blue Madonna	Mixing
2017
TWICE	Signal	Signal	Mixing
2 Chainz	Bailan feat. Pharrell	Pretty Girls like Trap Music	Mixing
BØRNS	Sweet Dreams		Mixing
BØRNS	Faded Love		Mixing
Calum Scott	Dancing on my Own (Tiesto Remix)		Mixing
Chase Atlantic		Chase Atlantic	Mixing
Echosmith	Dear World
Ed Sheeran & Beyonce	Perfect		Mixing
Fergie		Double Dutchess	Mixing
Jaira Burns	Ugly		Mixing
James Blunt		The Afterlove	Mixing
K. Flay		Everywhere is Somewhere	Mixing
Leon Else	What I won’t Do		Mixing
Maggie Rogers	Dog Years
Mansionz	Wicked feat. G-Eazy	Mansionz	Mixing
Nick Jonas	Home	Ferdinand Soundtrack	Mixing
Nick Jonas	Find You		Mixing
Selena Gomez	Only You	13 Reasons Why Soundtrack	Mixing
Sia	To be Human	Wonder Woman Soundtrack	Mixing
Sofia Reyes feat. Prince Royce	Sólo Yo
Tinashe	Flame		Mixing
Weezer	Feels like Summer		Mixing
2016
Andra Day	Amen		Mixing
Cerrone		Red Lips	Mixing
Clairy Brown		Pool	Mixing
Demi Lovato	Body Say		Mixing
Fergie	M.I.L.F.$		Mixing
Fitz & the Tantrums		Fitz & the Tantrums	Mixing
Gallant		Ology	Mixing
Gwen Stefani		This Is What the Truth Feels Like	Mixing
Keith Urban		Ripcord	Mixing
Lawson		Perspective	Mixing
Mike Posner		At Night, Alone	Mixing
Nick Jonas		Last Year was Complicated	Mixing
Parachute		Wide Awake	Mixing
Santigold		99 Cents	Mixing
Sawyer Fredericks		A Good Storm	Mixing
Shawn Mendes		Illuminate	Mixing
2015
Andra Day		Cheers to the Fall	Mixing
Conrad Sewell		All I Know	Mixing
Fleur East		Love, Sax & Flashbacks	Mixing
Katherine McPhee		Hysteria	Mixing
Nico & Vinz		Cornerstone	Mixing
Robert DeLong		In the Cards	Mixing
Sabrina Carpenter		Eyes Wide Open	Mixing
Selena Gomez		Revival	Mixing
Selena Gomez	Good for You feat. A$AP Rocky	Revival
Shawn Mendes		Handwritten	Mixing
2014
Aretha Franklin		Sings the Greats Diva Classics	Mixing
Cimorelli		Renegade	Mixing
Cris Cab		Where I Belong	Mixing
Jason Mraz		Yes!	Mixing
Jesse McCartney		In Technicolor	Mixing
Jessie J		Sweet Talker	Mixing
Lea Michele		Louder	Mixing
Madeleine Peyroux		Keep me in Your Heart for a While: The Best of Madeleine Peyroux	Mixing
Nick Jonas		Nick Jonas	Mixing
Nico & Vinz		Black Star Elephant	Mixing
Santana		Corazon	Mixing
2013
Ariana Grande		Yours Truly	Mixing
Avril Lavigne		Avril Lavigne	Mixing
Backstreet Boys		In a World Like This	Mixing
Beyonce		Beyonce	Mixing
Cher		Closer to the Truth	Mixing
Daughtry		Baptized	Mixing
Eliza Doolittle		In your Hands	Mixing
James Blunt		Moon Landing	Mixing
Keith Urban		Fuse	Mixing
Lady Gaga		ARTPOP	Mixing
Little Mix		Salute	Mixing
Natalia Kills		Trouble	Mixing
Robin Thicke		Blurred Lines	Mixing
The Wanted		Word of Mouth	Mixing
2012
Alicia Keys		Girl on Fire	Mixing
Jason Mraz		Love is a Four Letter Word	Mixing
2011
Andy Grammer		Andy Grammer	Mixing
Girls’ Generation		The Boys	Mixing
Jason Derulo		Future History	Mixing
Javier Colon		Come through for You	Mixing
Madeleine Peyroux		Standing on the Rooftop	Mixing
Robbie Robertson		How to Become Clairvoyant	Mixing
Robin Thicke		Love after War	Mixing
2009
Alicia Keys		The Element of Freedom	Mixing
Chris Brown		Graffiti	Mixing
Colbie Caillat		Breakthrough	Mixing
Pixie Lott		Turn it Up	Mixing
Whitney Houston		I Look to You	Mixing
2008
Britney Spears		Circus	Mixing
Craig David		Officially Yours	Mixing
Jason Mraz		We Sing. We Dance. We Steal Things.	Mixing
Jordan Sparks		No Air	Mixing
Kerli		Love is Dead	Mixing
The Pussycat Dolls		Doll Domination	Mixing
2007
David Bowie		Outside/Heathen	Additional Production, Mixing, Production Remix, Programmer
Kelly Rowland		Ms. Kelly	Mixing
Macy Gray		Big	Mixing
Talib Kweli		Eardrum	Mixing
Will.i.am		Songs about Girls	Mixing
2006
Fergie	Big Girls Don't Cry	The Dutchess	Mixing
Paris Hilton		Paris	Mixing
Paris Hilton	Stars are Blind	Single	Mixing
Sergio Mendes		Timeless	Mixing
2005
Mary J. Blige		The Breakthrough	Mixing
Ol’ Dirty Bastard		The Definitive Ol’ Dirty Bastard Story	Mixing
Rob Thomas		Something to Be	Mixing
The Black Eyed Peas		Monkey Business	Mixing
The Pussycat Dolls		PCD	Mixing
2004
Bruce Hornsby		Halcyon Days	Mixing
John Legend		Get Lifted	Mixing
Kylie Minogue		Body Language	Mixing
Usher		Confessions	Mixing
2003
Beyoncé		Dangerously in Love	Mixing
Jessica Simpson		In This Skin	Mixing
Jessica Simpson		Sweetest Sin	Mixing
Jonny Lang		Long Time Coming	Mixing
Kelly Clarkson		Thankful	Mixing
Mary J. Blige		Love & Life	Mixing
R. Kelly		Chocolate Factory	Mixing
The Black Eyed Peas		Elephunk	Mixing
2002
Baha Men		Move it Like This	Mixing
Christina Aguilera		Stripped	Mixing
Kelly Rowland		Simply Deep	Mixing
Marc Anthony		Mended	Mixing
Mario		Mario	Mixing
Queen Latifah		She’s a Queen: A Collection of Greatest Hits	Engineer
Sean Paul		Dutty Rock	Mixing
2001
Alicia Keys		Songs in A Minor	Mixing
Angie Stone		Mahogany Soul	Mixing
Brian McKnight		Superhero	Mixing
Christina Milian		Christina Milian	Mixing
Jennifer Lopez		J.Lo	Mixing
Jessica Simpson		Irresistible	Mixing
Mary J. Blige		No More Drama	Mixing
2000
Lil’ Kim		Notorious K.I.M.	Engineer
Mya		Fear of Flying	Mixing
R. Kelly		TP-2.com	Mixing
Ricky Martin		Sound Loaded	Mixing
Ruff Ryders		Ryde or Die, Vol. 2	Mixing
1999
Angie Stone		Black Diamond
Jennifer Lopez		On the 6	Mixing
Jessica Simpson		Sweet Kisses	Mixing
K-Ci & JoJo		It’s Real	Mixing
Puff Daddy		Forever	Engineer
Vitamin C		Vitamin C	Mixing
1998
Faith Evans		Keep the Faith	Mixing
R. Kelly		R.	Mixing
1997
Busta Rhymes		When Disaster Strikes	Engineer, Mixing
Mariah Carey		Butterfly	Mixing
Mase		Harlem World	Mixing
Notorious B.I.G.		Life After Death	Mixing
Puff Daddy & the Family		No Way Out	Mixing
1995
Faith Evans		Faith Evans	Engineer, Mixing
1994
Mary J. Blige		My Life	Engineer, Mixing
1993
David Bowie		Black Tie White Noise	Producer, Mixing
Queen Latifah		Black Reign	Engineer
1992
Mary J. Blige		What’s the 411?	Engineer, Mixing, Remixing
1990
C+C Music Factory		Gonna Make You Sweat	Engineer
1989
Patti LaBelle		Be Yourself	Engineer, Mixing
1988
James Brown		I’m Real	Engineer, Editing, Mixing
1987
Whitney Houston		Whitney	Assistant Engineer

References

^ ^a ^b ^c "Interview: Mixer - Tony Maserati". Speakhertz - Talk Audio. 2014-06-26. Retrieved 2018-03-02.
^ ^a ^b ^c "Tony Maserati". GRAMMY.com. 2017-11-28. Retrieved 2018-03-02.
^ ^a ^b Shea, Andrea (January 24, 2014). "Berklee Alum Behind Robin Thicke's Grammy Nominated 'Blurred Lines'". www.wbur.org. Retrieved 2018-03-04.
^ ^a ^b Hochschild, Rob (February 20, 2004). "News | Berklee College of Music". www.berklee.edu. Archived from the original on 2010-12-06. Retrieved 2018-03-04.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e Tingen, Paul (October 2013). "Tony Maserati: Inside Track".
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f "Red Bull Music Academy Daily". daily.redbullmusicacademy.com. January 5, 2015. Retrieved 2018-03-04.
^ ^a ^b Tingen, Paul (March 2007). "Secrets Of The Mix Engineers: Tony Maserati". Sound on Sound. Retrieved 2014-08-09.
^ ^a ^b "Tony Maserati - Mix with the Masters". Mix with the Masters (in French). 2014-03-06. Retrieved 2018-03-07.
^ ^a ^b Drowdy, Maureen (January 12, 2001). "Tony Maserati". Mixonline.com. Retrieved 2014-08-09.
^ ^a ^b ^c Jackson, Blair (October 10, 2009). "Tony Maserati". Mixonline. Retrieved 2018-03-09.
^ "Tony Maserati on Mixing with Jason Mraz". June 1, 2008.
^ Brown, Janice (May 2, 2013). "Tony Maserati & Bedrock.LA Teaming up to Build Modern Day Brill Building". Sonicscoop.
^ Staff. "Tony Maserati". Pulse Music Group. Retrieved 2018-03-12.