Welcome to A2IM’s Featured Executive column, where we highlight executives making moves and supporting the growth of the independent community. To submit yourself or a friend for a potential feature, fill out this form.
A passionate multi-instrumentalist, “Leven” is a musical factotum that specializes in audio production/engineering, songwriting, performance, sound design and Creative directing. Founder and CEO of I Am Leven, LLC, Leven is also an inaugural BIMA fellow.
Follow him on Instagram, and Linkedin, and I Am Leven on Instagram and Linkedin.
Life begins when you leave your comfort zone.
Hey Leven! Can you tell us about how you got your start in the music industry?
Early in my career I focused heavily on establishing myself as a performer and singer/songwriter working with various musicians to tackle any stage I set my mind on.
I had the opportunity to perform for Lalah Hathaway & even Oprah Winfrey’s father, Vernon Winfrey. I quickly learned that I needed to satisfy my creative hunger by nurturing all of the aspects of my musical career. This inspired my move to Atlanta where I would become an intern at world renown TreeSound Studios which was my first real taste of the Industry.
It was there I found my love for engineering, being mentored by Grammy award winning mastering engineers and getting to sit in the same spaces with some of the top artists and producers in the industry. This allowed me to find a new purpose working behind the scenes to help other artists bring their creative visions to fruition.
Are there any projects that you’re currently working on that you’re most excited about?
I was recently invited by Music.com and Sony to be one of the first producers to test the Sony 360 Spatial Audio Creative Suite. Spacial audio is future of music and I feel super blessed that I was chosen to demo the software.
This technology will be instrumental during the production of a new meditation album I’m working on. Using spacial audio will allow each listener to feel like they are the heartbeat of a natural setting, surrounding them with elements that can contribute to their mindfulness experience.
Also I’m currently working with a non-profit in Miami called Young Musicians Unite. This organization is vital to the community, helping to keep the arts alive in schools and providing music opportunities and education for youth across Miami-Dade County. 2021 has been amazing so far!
Is there a success story or career milestone that you are most proud of?
In 2017, I heard a very talented young duo at a talent show I was judging. I chose them to win! Their talent was so amazing I decided to reach out to their parents to see if they were interested in recording a project.
After meeting with them, and explaining how I could see them going as far as Disney or even bigger they decided to contract me to develop there first 8 song EP. One year later, one of the girls, Sadie Stanley, was cast as Kim Possible on the Disney Channel!!
This experience showed me my ability to recognize talent in people, and foster that talent which is the main reason why I converted my business from a production company to an Artist Development company.
Outside of your work in music, do you have any other hobbies/ particular areas of expertise/interest etc.?
My newest venture is tech. I have been fascinated by AI, data science, and cryptocurrency for a while, so Ive been working on building skills in programming and across the tech landscape.
Before we end, are there any final words of wisdom you’d like to share with our readers?
Life begins when you leave your comfort zone. Embrace uncertainty! Life is full of possibilities and the only way to find our path sometimes is to leave what is comfortable in order to test out unfamiliar spaces.
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