Laurie Irvine, 22.

So how did it all begin?

I got a tape recorder for my fifth birthday, and I would record my own “radio shows”. I had a catchphrase and everything! I come from a very musical family and I’ve been playing musical instruments for as long as I remember (to various degrees of proficiency), so music’s always been the only road I ever wanted to go down.

What made you give it a bash?

I started a band with my brother at 15 and we didn’t really have the resources to go to a proper studio and record our songs. Our Dad had a computer and a microphone, so we had a go ourselves. When we’d recorded our first song, I just couldn’t stop listening to it and thinking of the ways I could improve the sound. I wasn’t too long before I was helping out friends and family recording their music too.

How did you get started?

• Equipment/instruments?

In between the wee tape recorder and using computer-based recording, I had a four-track tape recorder. This got me going with multitrack recording and overdubbing, as well as some “sonic experimentation”. After familiarizing myself with my Dad’s Digital Audio Workstation, I got myself an iMac and started building my own recording setup, which I have gradually expanded up to the present time. I am now just about as capable as most small recording studios!

• Training/Education?

I learned a great deal from Mark Lough at the Tolbooth arts centre, in Stirling. As well as recording us, he gave me some pointers on basic concepts like compression and equalization. Aside from this, I was mainly self-taught and tried to build my skills by taking on lots of projects for practice. After high-school, I went to Stow College in Glasgow to study an HND in Sound Production, the idea being to gain some specialist knowledge before going to university to study a more general music course. I’m currently at Edinburgh Napier, studying BA (Hons) Popular Music, though it’s become more of a hobby, as my freelance work has taken over a bit!

• Direction?

I suppose I’ve always been of the opinion that trying is the best way of learning. I don’t say no to a project because I’ve never done that particular task before; I’ll just learn how and wing it, so that the next time I’m asked I can be ahead of the game! I’d like to keep up this direction and continue to branch out and try to always be what potential clients need me to be.

Who/what inspires you personally and professionally?

I do have some “hero” engineers, but they often seem to be at odds to one another in terms of ethos. I love Steve Albini’s recordings (Nirvana, Pixies, Shellac, Joanna Newsom) because they are true to the source: what you hear is what you get. If it doesn’t sound right, change the amp/instrument/microphone rather than using computer trickery later on. All his stuff is recorded to tape and sounds all the better for it. Rich Costley (Fiona Apple, Muse, Foo Fighters) goes for the “more is more” approach, eschewing realism for an experience that could only come from a recorded work. I like to think I’m somewhere between the two in my approach.

These guys are mega-famous and successful, so I guess they should really influence me professionally too!

What kind of music do you make?

I’m quite an “all over the place” kind of guy, personality wise and I think that’s reflected in the music I make. My three bands couldn’t be much more different from each other!

• Two Light Town is my theatrical epic pop band. I play piano and my songwriting partner Erica plays harp. We both sing. The songs are mega-melodic and have no attention span.

www.myspace.com/twolighttown

• (pronounced “Dash”, or “Dash The Band”)" is a two-piece ambient project. My friend Fraser and I decided to start an “unlistenable” joke band, but it’s ended up being fairly pleasant to listen to.

http://dashtheband.bandcamp.com/

• Pinky Suavo make manly post-hardcore with a funky edge, inspired by bands like Fugazi, At The Drive In and Les Savy Fav. I play bass and shout, my brother plays guitar and shouts even more.

http://soundcloud.com/pinkysuavo

What environments have you applied your sound engineering skills? (E.g. supporting gigs/clubs, recording music)

I try to be as versatile as I can – I’ve engineered live gigs and theatre productions, recorded bands, produced my own music and done smaller jobs like mixing and mastering recordings. Lately I’ve been getting really into film in a musical context; I’m currently working on a DVD featuring live performances of bands in unconventional spaces, which has been a pet project for a few years that I’ve finally got together.

What type of musical event do you most enjoy working on/with?

Recording has always been my main passion, so recording is always the most enjoyable thing to work on.

What’s your favourite event you’ve played at/provided technical support at?

The recording I had most fun with was the Super Adventure Club album, “Avoid Zombies”. We recorded it in two nights working from dusk until dawn. Those guys are so much fun to work with, and a great band to boot!

The best live gig would have to be a flat gig at my brother’s last year. We set up a small PA in the living room and had 6 bands on. We got given an ASBO warning, which is now framed.

What’s the best thing about performing/recording/providing technical support?

It’s that great feeling of capturing the essence of a performance and a moment in time and knowing that it wouldn’t be the same without you!

How do you intend on using your studies in the future?

I’d like to build on the business I’ve been running already. Video and multimedia are in demand, so I’ll try and incorporate that more and more and build my skills. I don’t think I’ll never be finished learning!

Who would be your ideal person to work with/do sound for?

I had a dream that I got to record the next Joanna Newsom album. It was awesome!