Today we’d like to introduce you to Mack Woodward.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
I was born in Cape Canaveral, Florida. From day 1, I seemed to be constantly surrounded by music. My mother sang in the choir, and my father would regularly sing and play guitar around the house. Additionally, my dad was in a band in the 60’s called “The Cherry Slush”. I was exposed early to some of the greatest music by way of vinyl records; The Doors, Kingston Trio, Fleetwood Mac, The Beatles, The Monkees to name a few. It was so great.
As I grew, I explored the things all children are curious about doing when they grow up – astronaut, firefighter, baseball player. I even seriously explored architecture in my later teen years. But being a music producer was always the common denominator. I was constantly in headphones or at the record player listening to Michael Jackson, Mariah Carey, Whitney Houston, and Janet Jackson imagining not that I was singing the songs but that I’d been involved in making them somehow. Being on stage was never a desire as I’ve always more or less been an introverted person, but the idea of being in the studio with artists and producing songs with the goal of hearing them played on the radio or at a concert was incredibly intriguing to me.
Through high school, I was aware that I was different and spent most of the days in class daydreaming about being a music producer. After graduating, I enrolled in Full Sail University in Orlando, FL and studied Audio Engineering – it was the best time. Upon graduating Full Sail, I drove to Atlanta, GA and interviewed at 3 or 4 different studios before landing an internship at Tree Sound Studios. I cleaned toilets, washed windows, changed lightbulbs, did food runs, and of course made a substantial amount of coffee. I worked my way into the studios and sessions and had the fortune of assisting some of the best recording engineers, mix engineers, and producers in the game. This was where my true education began. I got to see how records were made – it was incredible.
I continued working, assisting the best in music, but also began songwriting and engineering my own sessions. I spent about a year engineering sessions for Soulja Boy, Juvenile, Lil Wayne, among many others. In 2008, I began working with Elvis “Blac Elvis” Williams. This gig was the ever so elusive break anyone in the entertainment industry hopes for. Elvis and I, along with Harold Lilly, went on to make amazing records together for years, a couple of them earning us Grammy Certifications.
Today, I have a beautiful studio at Madison Studios in Chamblee, GA where I’m incredibly fortunate to mix records and produce music for clients from all over the world. I’m also co-writing, co-producing, and mixing house and tech house tracks with a great friend and incredible DJ/ Producer, Calo Vance.
I also have the great honor of working closely with The Recording Connection – a school based out of Los Angeles that puts students either in the studio or in touch with me virtually for a mentorship. I had great mentors coming up, so this is such a cool way for me to give back.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Choosing anything artistic for a career is a struggle. Music is especially tough. It’s so subjective. You’re at the mercy of people’s moods at any given time. You might write or produce a great song, but if somebody is not in the mood to hear that kind of music that day, it might go right over their heads. It doesn’t mean that your music is bad, or that you shouldn’t keep making music, or maybe even send the same songs to other people, especially when you’re shopping your music. But get used to the word “no”. I can’t say it enough, especially with my students that I mentor- the only way to make it in music is persistence. There’s no magic potion – “no” is about 90% of it. I think that’s why so many give it up. When rent is due, it’s incredibly scary. But with persistence, you can build your name and build relationships, at least enough to where you can make a living. You just have to be a little crazy and love it.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
Beyonce, Michael Jackson, Montell Jordan, J Howell, Stixx Taylor, SOSlo, The AP Factor, Say Rex, Fergie, Jamie Foxx, Maroon 5, Mama Jan (Jan Smith Studios), Mario, Usher, Soulja Boy, Ciara, Lil Wayne, Outkast, Nicki Minaj, NEEDTOBREATHE, Cherish, Geeked in the Garden, Paul Porter, Matt B, Calo Vance, LEFTI, K Michelle, Chrisette Michele, Bow Wow, Juvenile, Toni Braxton, Brandi, Cassie, The Pussycat Dolls
Alright so before we go can you talk to us a bit about how people can work with you, collaborate with you or support you?
Calo Vance Instagram: @calovance
Madison Studios
Instagram: @madisonrecords
Contact Info:
- Email: woodwardcompanyltd@gmail.com
- Instagram: @mixdbymack
