Meet Collin Brewer | Musician & Engineer

We had the good fortune of connecting with Collin Brewer and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Collin, what was your thought process behind starting your own business?
Graduating from engineering school with a load of student debt seemingly limited my options. I had started to develop my passion for music late in my college career, and I felt like the people around me had invested too much into my education for me to slow down and pursue something else. Starting my own side business gave me the freedom and stability to build and grow at my own pace. I could do my Monday through Friday thing and then record music all weekend. I was exhausted, but there was a part of my brain that was more charged up Monday morning than if I had relaxed all weekend. Being creative takes energy, but you get it back in so many ways. I think a lot of people are missing that in their lives.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
Creating music is at the heart of what I do. I’ve been a DIY musician as long as I can remember, and I want to share that with others. Music technology has exploded in the last 15 years, and it’s no longer a dream to record a platinum record in your bedroom (see Billie Eilish). With most of the technical barriers gone, there’s now an emphasis on delivering fresh content as quickly as you can. Unless you’re already successful, you have to do it all yourself. That’s why when someone works with me, I want them to come out the other side a little more capable than they were before. The COVID era has highlighted the importance of being able to work from home, and as more and more people are settling into their makeshift home offices, I would ask why not do the same for you home studio? Five years ago, I would have expected every piece of a project to be recorded with me at my studio. Fast forward to today, and I’m asking artists to do some of it on their own. While making sure the quality doesn’t suffer, I am trying to give artists the freedom to experiment where they are most comfortable. Along the way, they make mistakes, but they also try things that I would never consider. We end up with something totally unique that way.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
My wife and I live in East Dallas, so we don’t have to go far for some great hangs. During the day we would have to hit up the Dallas Arboretum and White Rock Lake. We could probably squeeze in a round or two of disc golf at B.B. Owen Park. You need coffee from Cultivar (mornings) and White Rock Coffee (afternoons) every single day, and you get your breakfast and lunch from Goodfriend Package. There will be plenty of time for patio hangouts at Goodfriend, White Rock Ale House, and Lakewood Growler. Sunday night we would go to Lounge Here for the vibe and live music. As for food, we would have to hit up Wabi House for some excellent ramen, Cedar + Vine for a nice meal, and Homewood for the best dang food in Dallas. As always, save room for Andy’s.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
It has to be my wife. Lindsay paid me the ultimate complement after working with me on her debut record by marrying me. It’s worth noting that she is the first and only client to offer such a deal. Ever since, she’s encouraged me to pursue music in whatever way I could. I remember looking at potential floorplans for our first house, and the one we liked had this big open area and an extra bedroom. Before I could even suggest it, Lindsay had already allocated the space for music. There’s been a version of that in every stage of our life together so far. I think she’s on the losing side of that original deal, but I made out big.

Website: collinbrewermusic.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/collinthebrewer/