Hidden Gems: Meet SMOOSH
Smoosh + Smoosh Recording Studio | Engineer | Tallahassee, FL
Background & Journey
BTH: What inspired you to pursue music engineering?
Smoosh: It all started when my homeboy Hambo and I made a song in our high school gym locker room… in a janitor’s closet, to be exact. That was my first taste of making music, and I fell in love with it right there. But I didn’t fully dive into it until college, when I linked up with my homeboys at Famu. That’s when I really started taking music seriously.
BTH: Can you take us back to the moment you realized this was your passion?
Smoosh: I remember it clearly. I was struggling, I had no money, DoorDashing just to get by. Then I finally landed a job interview at Aeropostale in the mall. They were offering about $100 a week. On my first day, I woke up, got dressed, and pulled up to work. Right before I walked in, an artist hit me up asking for a two-hour studio session for $80. At that moment, it clicked, why would I work an entire week for $100 when I could make almost the same in two hours doing something I love? That’s when I knew music was my path.
BTH: What challenges did you face starting out, and how did you push through?
Smoosh: One of the biggest challenges was getting comfortable with my mixing and myself, feeling confident that I could create a solid product for artists. On top of that, I was running a home studio out of my apartment, and I got hit with constant noise complaints. The way I pushed through? I just kept going. If you do something every single day, you can’t stay bad at it forever. Eventually, it all started to click.
BTH: Who were some of your biggest influences or mentors along the way?
Smoosh: Some of my biggest influences or mentors along the way , I have to thank God first for blessing me with these abilities and putting me on this path. Without Him, none of this would be possible. And of course, I have to thank the gang my Jay Dnero, AYO Choppa, GGG ELI , Juice Hvncho, really the whole team. Anybody who had a part in my music journey, whether they helped me out, gave me advice, or even just listened and told me they liked my music, that’s what keeps me going.
Building a Platform
BTH: You’ve said your goal is to create a platform that helps others do what they love what does that look like in your vision?
Smoosh: I want to build something that can truly change people’s lives. If I put you on my platform, if I repost your work, it should have the power to elevate your career. My goal is to climb up in the industry and bring everybody with me—especially the ones who genuinely love making music. If I can help people make a living off their passion, pay their bills, and sustain a good life through music, that’s success to me.
BTH: What are some steps you’re currently taking to build this platform?
Smoosh: Right now, I’m fully rebranding my social media. I started my studio page just a couple of months ago (as of February 2025), and I’m focusing on the visual aspect of my studio, which is something I neglected in the past. I’ve been doing this for years, but now I’m really locking in on making everything look as professional as it sounds.
BTH: How do you plan to make sure it benefits not just artists, but also engineers, producers, and other creatives?
Smoosh: I’ve always been open to sharing what I know. I’m not the type to gatekeep—I’ll show anyone how I engineer, because if I can help you get better and make money from it, that’s a win for everybody. Artists go up when engineers are great, and producers and creators all play a role in that. I love supporting all aspects of the creative process, from music to visuals to branding. It’s all connected.
BTH: What are some key elements that you believe make a strong music platform?
Smoosh: Authenticity and consistency. People connect with what’s real, and if you stay true to yourself and your vision, the right audience will find you. Nothing forced, nothing fake—just real, quality work.
Opportunities & Industry Impact
BTH: How do you think the music industry is evolving in terms of opportunities for independent creatives?
Smoosh: It’s evolving in a way where people are more independent than ever. If you’re somewhat tech-savvy and have patience, you can record your own music, make your own cover art, and shoot your own videos. It’s way easier now compared to back in the day, and we’re seeing artists who wouldn’t have had a shot years ago making it big on their own. That’s a good thing.
BTH: What gaps do you see in the industry that you hope to fill?
Smoosh: I want to shift the focus away from chasing quick hits just for money. I want to help artists who take pride in their craft—the ones who live and breathe music every day. I miss when albums told full stories, where the first track connected to the last, where everything was carefully put together like a masterpiece. I want to bring that back.
BTH: How do you balance business growth with staying true to the art?
Smoosh: I just love making music, so it never really feels like work. The hardest part is balancing sleep—there’s never enough hours in the day. But after recording or editing, I always make time to create for myself. The best part is making music with my homies, vibing out in the studio, just creating for the love of it. Whether we release the song or not, the experience itself is what keeps me going.
BTH: What advice would you give to young engineers looking to carve out their own lane?
Smoosh: Stick with it every single day. When I first wanted to get into Pro Tools, I spent an entire year saving up for my studio equipment. But during that year, I was watching YouTube tutorials every night for hours. By the time I finally got my gear, I already knew what buttons to press and how to navigate the software. I didn’t know everything, but I had a solid foundation from day one. And from there, I just kept going.
The Bigger Picture
BTH: What does success look like for you beyond financial success?
Smoosh: Success is about putting everyone on and enjoying it together. My homeboy always says, “What’s the point of making a million dollars if you can’t bring your people with you?” That’s real.
BTH: How do you handle self-doubt or setbacks on this journey?
Smoosh: I used to doubt myself a lot. But after putting in years of hard work, I know I do this every day—there’s no way I can be trash. Confidence comes from repetition and dedication. If you put in the work, the doubt fades away because you know you’re built for this.
BTH: If you could fast-forward five years, where do you see yourself and your platform?
Smoosh: In five years, I see a huge studio, a major platform where everyone around me is eating. I want to build something where anyone who’s ever rocked with me can benefit. I’ll be deep in the music industry, hopefully with a Grammy under my belt.
BTH: What’s the legacy you hope to leave behind in the music industry?
Smoosh: I want to show people that it’s possible. I had no musical background before this—I taught myself everything. A lot of people don’t have that voice in their ear telling them to go for their dreams. I want to be that voice. It took me a while to realize music was my passion, but looking back, I was freestyling every single day for years. It was always in me—I just had to recognize it. I want my story to inspire others to chase what they love, no matter where they’re starting from.
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