Nate Zivin

Recorded Austin’s virtuoso teen rock band Apollo (formed 2019) for my Texas State sound recording technology capstone project at Fire Station Studios, then mixed the full album at my home studio. Completely blown away by these kids—Nate’s unreal drumming, Austin’s jaw-dropping guitar solos, Anna’s killer bass, Connor’s soulful keys/vocals, Elisabeth’s badass vocal power, and Chris’s colorful guitar work rounding out the 6-piece with classic/modern rock fire. Their live performance energy and stage presence always impressed me at their many shows after the record dropped; honored to capture their talent before they scattered to college.

Live audio engineer and full Pro Tools mixer for Oliver Rajamani’s Flamenco India performance broadcast on KLRU’s In Context TV show (I’m credited on IMDb), managing 30 microphones during the 1.5-hour live taping at the historic Studio 6A (old ACL broadcast space). Spent many hours polishing the final 30-minute episode mix to make Rajamani’s innovative fusion—tracing flamenco’s Indian Romani roots through original pieces like Thani Rupakaria (7-beat Rupak tal + Solea por Buleria) and Adi Solea (16-beat teen tal)—sound massive and pristine.

Our decade-long collaboration started when my friend Lauren (now mom with my old bandmate Andy from The Mr. Clark Experience) introduced us at Kenny Dorham’s backyard in Austin. I’ve done sound for him everywhere: ZACH Theatre, Carver Museum, Paramount Theatre (1000+ attendees in 2024), MATCH Houston, Dallas shows, even touring Germany with Flamenco India. He gives me opportunities because he trusts my work ethic—I always pour everything into making his shows hit hard.

This project highlights my live TV mixing skills for complex world music ensembles blending flamenco passion, Indian rhythms, and Romani storytelling.

Moon Grooves – Motions of Uncertainty (EP)

        Recorded, mixed, and mastered by me at Austin Community College’s Northridge studio and my home setup. This project was the brainchild of Hayden Steckle (vocals, guitar), featuring Katie Sanchez (vocals), Trey St. Romain (drums), and Kali Bramble (vocals, drums).

        Moon Grooves’ Motions of Uncertainty remains one of the most heartfelt records I’ve worked on—raw, honest, and beautifully unpredictable. I first met these musicians back at McCallum High School, and seeing Hayden’s evolution through projects like The Death Aquatics, World Map, Moon Grooves, and now Glasshealer (plus his solo work as Wolf Bradley) has been incredibly inspiring. Listening back years later, I’m still moved by their energy, the interplay of voices and drums, and the tones we captured together.

Indie‑folk concept album written by my longtime friend Jesse and produced on location at his family home in Abiquiu, New Mexico, then finished in my Austin studio. I handled arranging, multi‑instrumental performances, recording, mixing, and mastering, blending family players into a warm, organic ensemble sound. This project shows how I can take intimate songwriter material and build it into a cohesive, heartfelt folk record. 

Kyle and I met at Ghost Ranch on college staff, stayed tight after he moved to Austin where we became roommates, then he started Jolly Rancher with my high school friend Drew and asked me to produce their debut EP Good Neighbor. In 2019 during my Texas State sound recording technology program, we tracked it at Fire Station Studio in San Marcos—each instrument separately with 22 mics on Cam’s drums, 16 on Josh’s bass, then I mixed and mastered in-the-box at home after studying Blink-182 techniques from their mixing videos.

The 4 tracks (Jolly Rancher 3:12, Worst Song On The Ugliest Guitar 3:39, Star Dawg 5:01, Grow 4:03) dropped on chillwavve records via Bandcamp in January 2020, described there as “blissful, melancholic, and endearing… mathy trills and belting emotions” that leave “trembles of euphoria.”

Cam, Josh, Drew & Kyle were a total blast to record. Most later formed Rose Ceremony doing TX screamo (drummer Cam started a family, Kyle stepped back after his masters and marriage—I officiated that wedding). Roots all here at Jolly Rancher.

My very first recording project in 2018 for Austin Community College’s music business performance and technology degree—recording, mixing, and mastering this spoken word poetry album by Bucholics Anonymous featuring Darrel Mayers (from his band Mundi) and Austin legend Tom the World Poet. We’d all collaborated for years on Darrel’s Wassail Austin solstice show (which I worked on for over 10 years as a kid growing into adulthood—playing classical guitar, and running lights/sound while Mundi and later Bucholics Anonymous provided the music for this whimsical, all-ages medieval holiday celebration donating proceeds to kids in Darfur). After Mundi disbanded—that folk/classical/rock group blending ancient songs with violin, cello, and found percussion that Darrel directed—I captured Darrel and Tom’s raw spoken poetry with clean, supportive mixes that let their words breathe, all done in my college setup while honoring our Wassail family history.

First met Rowan from Parker Clone mixing sound at McCallum High School’s Battle of the Bands fundraiser (my alma mater, class of 2015 from the classical guitar program)—loved his music instantly and asked if I could record him. A few years later while in ACC’s audio program, he texted ready to go, so we tracked their Music for Other People EP at Ice Cream Factory studio in Austin (tracks 1-2) plus one at my home Phrygian Recordings setup (track 3), with me engineering/production on all, playing bass on the title track, and handling all final mixes alongside Rowan.

The 3 tracks (Music for Other People 4:20, Liquid Bread 2:18, Clementine 6:22) came out May 2018 on MRVIDEORECORDS via Bandcamp—raw garage rock/indie/lo-fi with Rowan’s killer vocals/guitar/synth, Eric Stanfield crushing drums (plus horns on Liquid Bread), and Reid Ronsonette on bass for the closer.

These guys are awesome and were a total joy to work with—Rowan’s voice is incredible.

 Golden Hornet 3rd Annual Young Composers Concert Mix (2018)

Proud to have mixed the live recording of Golden Hornet’s 3rd Annual Young Composers Concert on March 25, 2018, at The North Door in Austin, TX, while working as a recording studio assistant for Graham Reynolds—Artistic Director of Golden Hornet and composer for acclaimed films like Richard Linklater’s Hit Man (Netflix) and Blue Moon (Sony).

Golden Hornet, founded by Reynolds and Peter Stopschinski, reimagines classical music through collaborative programming supporting composers at all levels—from youth like the Young Composers Collective to professional series.

I mixed all 10 original student compositions (ages 12-18) for sonic consistency, performed by Tetractys during the Bernstein 100 Austin celebration with the Austin Symphony.

Using Reaper DAW and FabFilter plugins, I delivered a polished mix synced seamlessly with video by the Golden Hornet team.

This program empowers young Austin composers via mentorship, production skills, and pro performances—promoting equity in classical music.

Oliver Rajamani from Flamenco India asked me to record the Austin Troubadours (Austin Symphony and UT faculty members) performing Medieval/Renaissance music like their “Greensleeves and Variations” set “From Austin with Love” inside the reverberant First English Lutheran Church on 32nd Street. I set up multiple mics to capture the space’s natural reverb beautifully during mobile recording. The audio was then synced  to their video footage shot at historic Austin spots like the Capitol and Stevie Ray Vaughan statue. Honored to contribute to this evocative project blending Elizabethan-era sounds with Austin’s landmarks—funded in part by the City of Austin Cultural Arts Division.

I handled videography, editing, color correction, audio, original music composition and band performance (with Betty & John) for this iconic welcome center video played millions of times on repeat, seen by tens of thousands. Covers Ghost Ranch history from dinosaurs and Spanish thief Archuleta brothers to dude ranch days, built for broad appeal and social media sharing.

I shot, edited, color corrected, recorded/edited audio, composed original music, and wrote interview questions for this promo highlighting Ghost Ranch’s horse program. Features wrangler interviews, guest rider clips, horses, and rides past Georgia O’Keeffe’s house and painting sites using a personal storytelling approach amid New Mexico’s red rock beauty.

I managed videography, editing, color correction, audio recording/editing, and original music composition for this trailer promoting Laurie Magoon’s fall 2020 retreat “Diving into Your True Nature: Stirring the Soul.” Showcases paddling, hiking, yoga, meditation, and dance amid Ghost Ranch landscapes for spiritual connection.

I shot, edited, color corrected, recorded/edited audio, composed original music, wrote copy, and provided voiceover for this professional COVID-19 response video outlining Ghost Ranch safety measures and guest preparation, reassuring visitors during uncertain times.