Alumni
Profile
Ryan Castle , OIART Grad 1998
Recording Engineer
Hollywood, CA
It's a long way from Watersmeet, Michigan (population 1472)
to the Engineer's chair in the top studios in Hollywood, but
Ryan Castle has managed to make the trip after graduating OIART
in 1998.
This year, Ryan's engineering has captured a second Grammy Award, the 2007 Best
Hard Rock Recording for Wolfmother's self-titled album. Ryan's client list reads
like a who's who of rock - and classic rock - royalty. He's worked in studios
at the legendary Capitol Records Tower in Hollywood, the great Sunset Sound (home
of the Doors, early Van Halen, Frank Zappa, and Led Zeppelin to name just a few)
and the Village Recorder (whose client list has included basically everybody
Steely Dan, Elton John, George Harrison and Fleetwood Mac are a few examples)
amongst others.
It's taken many years of hard work and dedication to reach the
pinnacle of the recording world. After graduating OIART, Ryan
was hired on as an OIART Lab Instructor 1998-1999. With
his internship completed, it was time to return to the United
States. Ryan began as an intern at Ocean Studios Burbank, eventually
landing a Assistant Engineer position at Sunset Sound. At
Sunset, Ryan honed his engineering and Pro Tools skills, assisting
on sessions with the likes of Sheryl Crow, Sparta, Yellowcard,
New Found Glory and Joe Cocker.
Gradually becoming a freelance engineer and leaving the assisting behind, Ryan
has twisted the dials for artists as diverse as Hot Hot Heat, Billy Idol, and
Elliott Smith. In 2005, Ryan began to work extensively with noted producer
Dave Sardy, and together they have recorded albums for The Rolling Stones, Oasis,
Jet, and the recent Grammy winning album by Wolfmother.
Ryan remains humble about his work, and is reluctant to call attention to himself
or drop the names of his bigger clients. Yet, he says, there are still opportunities
to be a little star-struck. "One situation comes to mind...watching Zak
Starkey lay down a drum track on the Oasis record was a little spooky... Zak
looks eerily like his dad (Ringo) playing drums out there in the big room. While
working tirelessly through Saturdays at Capitol, when the building was vacant
except for our crew, I'd walk around the darkened studio floors during a break
and think... where are all my witnesses to this? Nobody would believe what I
get to do for a day job! I mean, I'm just kicking around unsupervised inside
a darkened Capitol studios with no one else around but the ghosts of Frank (Sinatra). Those
days are the coolest... a reminder of what the rest of the work is for."
"My best advice for anyone getting into this field is: Be sure you really
want to do it... the job can be disheartening. Persevere. Fight for
what you deserve. Be who you are... not who you think you need to be. And
watch your back. That's a good start."
Ryan's most recent projects include engineering much of the soundtrack for the
upcoming "Spiderman 3" movie, and the recording of the new "Nine
Black Alps" album which should be out shortly.
Congratulations from OIART on all your success!
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