Audio Media International started this series for our newsletter and, by popular demand, we’re picking five interviews every now and then and putting them on the site while we miss the usual shows and conventions. If you want to be featured or want to nominate someone, email rosie@audiomediainternational.com.

Deirdre J. Moore, Director of Marketing, Indy Audio Labs

Where are you right now?  
I’m in my home office, near Indianapolis, Indiana (USA)

What is the last album you listened to? 
Hmm, don’t really listen to albums, but I do have a killer Spotify playlist!

Describe 2021 so far in one sentence.
So far, so good — now if the supply chain would just sort itself out.

What skill have you developed in lockdown?
Taught myself how to schedule and attend video meetings without looking like an amateur!

Apart from friends and family, what have you most missed this year?
I’ve missed going out to restaurants!

What event do you most want to go to in 2021?
I’m really looking forward to the CEDIA Expo! It’ll be here in Indianapolis so no traveling for us!

What’s the biggest change to the industry from the last year and will it stick with us? 
I suppose the biggest change is virtual events, though I don’t imagine they’ll last as most people prefer face-to-face meetings and gatherings.

Tell us something you’ve never told anyone else?
I’m such an open book, I can’t think of a single thing I haven’t already blabbed! LOL

Gabriel Antonini, Business Development Manager, DPA Microphones

Where are you right now? 
In lovely Bucks County, Pennsylvania, working from home.

What is the last album you listened to?
I can’t give just one, that is difficult for me. So here are three. Okay, I said three but here are four…
1.     Maurizio Pollini: “Frederic Chopin Nocturnes” in the morning.
2.     Khruangbin: “Texas Sun” in the afternoon.
3.     Lord Huron: “Strange Tails” early in the evening.
4.     Son Little: “Aloha” in the evening.

Describe 2021 so far in one sentence.
I must learn to walk on the ceiling, or I may fall through yet another hole that just appeared below.

What skill have you developed in lockdown?
Hosting live events with our wonderful end-users. Also, I am getting much better at talking to myself.

Apart from friends and family, what have you most missed this year?
Working with the next crop of engineers through university workshops and our yearly visit to Europe to see the whole DPA family in person.

What live event do you most want to go to in 2021?
A show at Red Rocks, preferably Lord Huron… Or, NAMM would be great too!

What’s the biggest change to the industry from the last year and will it stick with us?
This Covid thing has brought intelligibility to the forefront of production. Whether we are doing remote meetings, remote church streams, or live shows, if we cannot understand what we are saying to each other, the brain gets confused, and frustration sets in quickly. We are participating in online meetings everyday instead of once a week as was more common before the pandemic. This change has driven home the need to capture the source accurately, and that starts with a clean microphone setup, no matter if it’s for a Zoom call or a Broadway show. We need to listen with our ears not our eyes… Now you have me working.

Tell us something you’ve never told anyone else?
Well, to start with, I have never been asked to tell the world something I have never told anyone before. Here is another: sometimes I wish I was born an animal, like a dolphin or wolf instead of a human. Weird, eh?

Freddy Vinehill-Cliffe, Product Specialist, NUGEN Audio

Where are you right now? 
At home in Halifax, hoping to be back in our office in Leeds before too long.

What is the last album you listened to? 
I’ve had “The Menace of Mechanical Music” by Team Picture on heavy rotation this week.

Describe 2021 so far in one sentence. 
We can see the light at the end of the tunnel.

What skill have you developed in lockdown? 
For the first few months I was playing the drums a lot, but sadly I’m still terrible.

Apart from friends and family, what have you most missed this year? 
Going to local gigs and club nights, Leeds has such an amazing music scene. I’m also excited to start visiting NUGEN customers in-person again.

What live event do you most want to go to in 2021? 
I’m still cautiously apprehensive about booking anything, so I think I only have one event planned so far ― ArcTanGent festival in Bristol, where I’m actually supposed to be performing!

What’s the biggest change to the industry from the last year and will it stick with us? 
I think a lot more people will continue to work remotely, even if not full-time. I also hope the trend of live streamed gigs continues even when in-person gigs start up again, because it makes live music so much more accessible.

Tell us something you’ve never told anyone else? 
Nope.

Trevor Fedele, Director, MXL 

Where are you right now?
In my studio in Torrance, CA.

What is the last album you listened to? 
It doesn’t count as a full album, but the 2 early releases on the new St. Vincent Album.

Describe 2021 so far in one sentence. 
Optimistically stagnant.

What skill have you developed in lockdown? 
BBQ and smoking meat. When this all started, I decided I was going to learn how to cook meat really well. That turned into an obsession with smoking meat and BBQ (go Traeger!).

Apart from friends and family, what have you most missed this year? 
About now I’d say just the ease of checking out new places to eat or breweries to go to. Now it’s more of a production; knowing the seating situation in advance, deciding if you need to bring wipes, knowing if the place is clean, etc.

What live event do you most want to go to in 2021? 
Listening to live music (outside of my car) would be fun, and I’m looking forward to getting back to baseball games.

What’s the biggest change to the industry from the last year and will it stick with us?
One of the biggest changes we’ve noticed is now EVERYONE is capable of recording and streaming at home. Don’t get me wrong, pre-pandemic, pretty much everyone had a studio setup, but now it’s increased tenfold.  As someone who grew up in traditional studios, it pains me to say, but I think this will just further accelerate the path we’re on of most production shifting out of major studios and to homes. Once the pandemic is over, everyone is still going to have their own interface and mic and speakers and will continue to make music at home.

Tell us something you’ve never told anyone else? 
While they may look nice from afar, I think horses are terrifying.

Trevor Coley, CEO/Founder, Sontronics

Where are you right now?
In the living room at home

What is the last album you listened to?   
The Bee Gees Greatest Hits 

Describe 2021 so far in one sentence.
Thanks to the chaos the Brexit has caused to European exports, 2021 has thus far been a complex rollercoaster of events, but all-in-all, it’s been very positive indeed!

What skill have you developed in lockdown?  
I have become an artisan pie-maker in my spare time! (Orders are being taken for Christmas!)

Apart from friends and family, what have you most missed this year? 
International travel. Over the past 20+ years, I have travelled on an almost weekly basis to visit my clients and to be grounded for over a year has been really difficult to adjust to.

What’s the biggest change to pro audio industry this year?
The absolute devastation of the live-sound sector of our industry is clearly one of the biggest concerns, and my heart goes out to everyone affected by this terrible situation, however, it’s also very encouraging to see how quickly recording artists and educators have adapted to collaborating and teaching remotely.

What live event do you most want to go to in 2021?
This may sound a bit odd since it’s neither a gig, nor a festival, but for me would be listening to the house jazz band while dining at the Brasserie Zédel in Central London. The musicians are exceptional, the food and wine are great, and the whole atmosphere is just perfect.

Tell us something you’ve never told anyone else?
I have always wanted to take part in the Paris-Dakar Rally!