Recording Connection grad Jesse Rhodes: Head Engineer and member of indie duo Dire Docks!

Recording Connection graduate Jesse Rhodes is the perfect example of how hard work, diligence and making connections can really pay off when it comes to building the career you want.

Since starting with Recording Connection in 2011, Jesse has worked with artists like T-Boz (of TLC), Jedward and Sharon Leal. Alongside his success as an engineer, he’s also making quite a splash as one member of the indie duo Dire Docks whose song “Georgia Line,” was just featured in You Tube phenomenon Shane Dawson’s comedy “Not Cool.”

Speaking of the flurry of activity leading up to the album’s release, Jesse says:

It’s been really intense getting it all ready to release on time, and I have my training to thank for all of it. Without Recording Connection, Donny, and my growing through the work I’ve done at ES Audio (in Glendale, California), I don’t think I would have been where I am today. I’m incredibly proud of what we’ve produced, and I don’t think that I could have ever imagined all the things I’ve gotten to do and achieved in the past 3 years. It’s been an incredible ride. I’m really excited to see where it all leads.

So how did Jesse get onto the path he’s on today? The first thing Jesse did was to really apply himself during his apprenticeship. Whereas previously he’d been less than excited about “schooling,” with this program he found he was inspired to learn the work: “For the first time I found myself taking my studies seriously and I soon got noticed by my mentor, Donny Baker. When I completed my studies, I got hired at the same studio, ES Audio, where I’ve been working as the head engineer for about 3 years now.”

Former RRF Student Services advisor and now ES Audio staff-member, Doug Boulware, says a big part of what he thinks contributed to Jesse’s success was being at the studio as often as possible. He was “basically camping out at the studio during his time as an apprentice and Donny offered him a permanent gig.” The more time a student spends in the studio, the more they learn, the more quickly they can advance in their careers. According to Doug, the other big thing Jesse did right was to know his Pro Tools: “He took the things he knew about music going in and became one of the fastest Pro Tools operators I’ve ever seen. Now he’s able to be completely fluid as both engineer and producer.”

So what advice does Jesse have for those who want to get started working in the music industry? He says:

If I was going to leave the current and future students at Recording Connection with one bit of advice, it would be, Keep at it! If you really believe in what you do, and that you have something to offer, you will get where you want to go. It might not happen exactly the way you envisioned but you will get there. Just keep on pushing. Show that you want to be where you are and put in the work. You never know who you’ll meet or work with.

What do we call that? We call that sage advice for anyone who’s serious about working in the music industry.

Jesse Rhodes has got a pretty bright future ahead of him and we’re happy to have played an instrumental part in that success. Hard work and dedication are what people like Jesse have to bring to the table. Jesse sums it all up pretty nicely: “I always wanted to work in music and production and Recording Connection provided me the opportunity to pursue it.”

Check out Dire Docks “Georgia Line” below.