We recently had the chance to connect with Nick Johnson and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Nick, thank you so much for joining us today. We’re thrilled to learn more about your journey, values and what you are currently working on. Let’s start with an ice breaker: Would YOU hire you? Why or why not?
I would definitely hire me. Not to sound overconfident, but I truly have a deep love for what I do. I genuinely care about people, their art, and what it represents to them. I understand how important it is to create, to share that creation with others, and how personal and long-lasting that impact can be. I bring not only technical skill but also respect for the creative process, making sure every artist feels heard and supported.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
Yeah, absolutely. My name’s Nick Johnson, and I’m an audio engineer based in Atlanta. I actually started out as a recording engineer years ago, just spending long nights in the studio helping artists bring their ideas to life. Over time, I fell in love with the mixing side of things—taking all those raw pieces and shaping them into a record that really feels alive.
What makes what I do special is that I don’t just focus on the technical side—I really care about the artist’s vision and the emotion behind the music. I work a lot with hip hop, R&B, and pop artists, and I also do Dolby Atmos mixing, which is super exciting because it lets people hear music in a more immersive way.
Outside of that, I also serve with my city as a local firefighter, so balance and discipline are a big part of my life. Right now, I’m working on building my brand, Mixedbynickj / Nj -Engineering into a space where artists feel comfortable, inspired, and heard. For me, it’s really about connection—helping someone’s song sound its best so it can connect deeply with whoever listens to it
Okay, so here’s a deep one: Who were you before the world told you who you had to be?
Honestly, before the world tried to put labels on me, I was just a kid who loved music and loved creating and playing baseball. I’ve always been curious—taking things apart, figuring out how they work, and trying to make them better. (And Im still doing that). Music was my way of expressing myself and connecting with people, even before I fully understood that it could be a career.
At my core, I think I’ve always been someone who values authenticity, creativity, and helping others. The world will tell you to chase certain titles or fit into boxes, but the younger version of me just wanted to make things that felt real and lasting. And in a lot of ways, I’m still that person—I just have more experience now, and a clearer understanding of how to use those gifts.
If you could say one kind thing to your younger self, what would it be?
I’d tell my younger self to trust the process and not be so hard on yourself. Everything you’re stressing about—whether you’re good enough, whether you’ll make it, whether people will see your value—it’s all going to work out as long as you keep showing up and doing the work and keeping God first. I’d remind myself that it’s okay to take your time, to stumble, to learn, and that those moments don’t define you—they shape you.
I think our readers would appreciate hearing more about your values and what you think matters in life and career, etc. So our next question is along those lines. What are the biggest lies your industry tells itself?
One of the biggest lies I think the music industry tells itself is that there’s only one way to ‘make it.’ You’ll hear people say you have to have the biggest budget, or the biggest cosign, or be in the ‘right’ circles to succeed. But the truth is, music connects because of authenticity—because it makes people feel something. Some of the most powerful records didn’t come from huge budgets, they came from real stories and emotion.
Another lie is that the technical side is more important than the human side. Don’t get me wrong—I love gear, plugins, and all of that—but at the end of the day, the mix, the performance, the sound… it all comes back to whether you’re serving the song and the artist’s vision. The industry sometimes gets so caught up in chasing trends or trying to sound like someone else that it forgets the real magic is in individuality.
Thank you so much for all of your openness so far. Maybe we can close with a future oriented question. If you retired tomorrow, what would your customers miss most?
If I retired tomorrow, I think my clients would miss the way I really lock into their vision. For me, it’s never just about delivering a clean mix—it’s about listening to what the artist is trying to say and then shaping the sound around that. A lot of people can make music sound technically good, but I think what sets me apart is the care I put into making sure it feels good too.
They’d probably also miss the vibe in the room. I try to make every session feel comfortable, like a space where the artist can be themselves without judgment. That’s something I take a lot of pride in—building that trust so they know their music is in good hands.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://mixedbynickj.weebly.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/turnmeupnick/
- Other: https://engineears.com/mixedbynickj?fbclid=PAZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAafHSWv2AZ3dcUxa7T4G9dNsTH6nxIfGkbQlZfUatQmMXJNq3TO_vvT9Jmc4pg_aem_iqhixV3pwgxlqX8fhvd5Aw
