Get to know Mathias John
Originally from the suburbs of Chicago, IL now residing in Nashville, TN, Mathias John has worked in the architecture, audio engineering and acoustic design worlds for over 15 years. With a bachelor's degree in Architecture, he began his career designing high-end custom homes. This gave him the foundation for designing spaces that merge beauty and function. After returning to school and an Audio Engineering degree, Mathias moved to Nashville to pursue audio engineering and music production. Within 6 months of being in Nashville, Mathias started fusing the design and audio worlds in acoustics.
Over his design career, Mathias has been a part of multiple award winning projects (both acoustical and architectural in nature) working all across the states and internationally. The artists, musicians and producers he’s worked with have won over 50+ Grammys collectively - a humbling stat to be involved in spaces that facilitate such highly recognized work.
On design:
“Our job is to serve our clients creatively and practically. In doing so, we hold flexibility as an important design principle, saving rigidity for the project intent and the structure. While creating, we must be fluid, flexible and move with our clients. This is best done with an open, honest relationship, no matter what the scope.
“It’s a joy working on a wide variety of projects. It’s great being a part of a collaborative design team under an Architect and working with various disciplines of engineering firms. On the other side of the client spectrum, designing spaces for individuals on their own personal projects is incredibly rewarding. While recording studio design is at the heart of the firm, any and all acoustical environments are part of what we do.”
On recording studio design:
”The way I approach studio design is to draw parallels from a music producer. Having worked in studios, I’ve studied the role of all personnel, specifically the producer. I believe Rick Rubin put it best, and I’ll paraphrase - the producer's role is to facilitate the best version of the art and the artist.
Favorite Quotes:
”Architecture is frozen music” - Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
“Don’t explain your philosophy - embody it” - Epictetus