Today we’d like to introduce you to Hugo De Bernardo.
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 began playing drums when I was 3 years old. Growing up I always played music with my father. He played guitar and piano and I played the drums. Over the years I picked up many of the other instruments and learned to play them on my own. I was also exposed to so many different music styles and genres from classic rock to pop, Jazz to Latin American flamenco, and modern alternative to progressive metal. I’ve listened to it all.
Throughout my adolescence, I played in jazz bands, concert bands, and rock bands where I honed in my performing abilities. At 16, I received Logic Pro X, a Digital Audio Workstation and music recording software, and began writing, composing, and producing music.
In 2017, I started a band called Paradise Drive with a close friend of mine (Gavin Brenner), and over the years played many shows, wrote many songs, and improved my aptitude for recording. I am the front man in the band and Gavin plays electric guitar.
It wasn’t until 2019 where I started taking Music Production seriously. In 2020, Paradise Drive recorded its first EP “Luminosity”, which was co-produced and mixed by Long Island mixing engineer Nicholas Starrantino. Though I was pleased with the result, I felt as though it did not capture what was entirely in my head. So, from that point on, I began learning more about production, mixing, and mastering techniques. Over hundreds of hours of watching tutorials, reading articles, and asking question to industry professionals, my skills had improved exponentially.
In April of 2022, Paradise Drive released its first fully self-produced single “Let’s Be Clear”. Everything from the recording, production, mixing, and mastering was done by us in-house. No professional studio, and no certified engineer. Just an audio interface, a laptop, some mics, and a pair of speakers.
Today, I (Hugo) currently play in two bands. Paradise Drive and Signal For Pilot. In Signal For Pilot, I play the Synth and sing backup vocals. I am also responsible for creating many of the poster designs, album artwork, and help the band in the songwriting/demo-making process. I am working with the Signal For Pilot on its new upcoming album “Next Level”, which is being produced by Joey Bradford, guitarist for the platinum-selling rock band “The Used”.
I’m am so grateful that I get to be a part of that project because I am learning so many production techniques from Joey. In turn, he and his band are working with legendary producer John Feldmann (The Used, Avril Lavine, All Time Low, 5 Seconds of Summer, etc.). Joey is learning so much from him, and I am learning so much from Joey. It is like a trickle-down effect of knowledge.
Today, I have created my own music production business where I am mixing clients of my own and am looking to expand my clientele. I have currently worked with two Guatemalan rock bands where I have produced, mixed, and mastered both their records.
I hope to be an active participant in the music creation process and inspire and help new artists craft their sound. With my ear conditioned to match any style of music and my awareness for contemporary music production techniques, I consider myself a modern music producer. My favorite and preferred style of music is modern rock/alternative.
I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey has been a fairly smooth road?
Life would not be life without challenges. I suffered in school a lot because I would spend so much time involved in music. So many relationships that ended because my desire to work in music seemed too far-fetched and out of reach. People see it as a waste of time and underestimate my potential to succeed in the industry. People are almost repulsed by the fact that I see my music career as a long-term objective. The number of band members who came and went because they couldn’t see, understand, or align with my vision. The list goes on and on.
In life, you can only focus on so many things. Tony Robbins says, “where focus goes, energy flows”. And music is where my energy will go.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I am a designer who is working their way in to being a full-time musician, music producer, and mixing engineer. I have a background in design and marketing and hope that those skills can bring me closer to my goal. What separates me from others is that I can do many things very well. I am not a one-trick pony. Life is about balance and the best way to reach your full potential as a human is to excel in as many areas as you can.
In my bands and professional career, I have to act like the CEO, the manager, the sales rep, the designer, the marketer, the A&R guy, and the engineer. I am a full record label in disguised as a guy in his 20s.
Another important aspect that separates me from others, especially when it comes to design and music production is that I will be assertive in my opinion. I will offer well intentioned-constructive criticism. I push back. I am not going to just do a job and get paid. If I get paid, I intend on providing the most amount of value that I can to my clients. If you bring a song to me, I will embellish it. If you like red, I will push for blue. However, all of this is done with a valid reason and explanation. Since everything in the creative realm is subjective, I want to be that objective person who will bring balance to the equation of creative decision-making. I want to show people that I care about their vision and want to bring out the best in it. There is always room for growth, improvement, and collaboration. Collaboration breeds timelessness.
We’re always looking for the lessons that can be learned in any situation, including tragic ones like the Covid-19 crisis. Are there any lessons you’ve learned that you can share?
Everything is temporary and nothing is forever. Whatever situation you are in will change. You could be at your lowest low and there will still be a light at the end of the tunnel. You just have to embrace that idea and be aware of the fact that no circumstance will remain a constant.
Just follow the First Law of Thermodynamics: Energy can never be created or destroyed. It is merely changing from one form to another. That’s what life is like.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://linktr.ee/HugoDeBernardo
- SoundCloud: https://soundcloud.com/hugovdebernardo
Image Credits
Micala Austin
