Next Generation Spotlight: Fela Davis

Audio Media International, in association with  Genelec, is thrilled to present our latest Next Generation Spotlight. Today, Fela Davis discusses the biggest challenges facing up and coming audio professionals and ambitions for the future…

What is your name and what do you do?
I’m Fela and I co-own One of One Productions podcast studio in Fort Lee, NJ. We record, edit, and create music for podcasts. We provide clients that are not comfortable with being in our studio with One of One podcast/livestream kits for one or two people and edit online. These kits can be purchased and it includes our exclusive video on how to set up all of your podcast equipment.

What inspired you to get into studio work?
In the eighth grade, I took a career placement test and my result was an audio engineer. I was obsessed with audio engineering after that and found Full Sail University to study studio engineering. After graduation, I went into live sound engineering and later touring. My live sound career was interrupted once podcasting began to explode. One of One Productions Studio was inspired by the lack of studios dedicated to podcasts in the north NJ area. My business lets me explore my passion for music and storytelling.

Tell us about your route into the industry?
I was a FOH engineer for six-time Grammy Award winner Christian McBride but I decided at the beginning of 2020 not to go out on the road. I decided to concentrate on One of One Productions podcast studio. The timing was amazing considering the pandemic destroyed the live sound industry this year. Our past clients include SiriusXM, iHeart Radio, Atlantic Records, and more.

Tell us about some of the key projects you’ve worked on over the past 12 months?
The last year has spurred an amazing growth spurt for the studio with podcasting exploding over the last couple of years. We record and edit Forever FAB Podcast for plastic surgeon Dr. Shirley Madhere. We were able to make her independent podcast a top 200 beauty podcast in the past year with no major backing! That’s been one of the biggest accomplishments we’ve hit so far.

What is your approach to work in the studio?
My approach to working in the studio is to make the client feel as comfortable as possible. The production part is second nature with the gear that I’m used to having in my studio. My concentration is to have that client book my studio again because of the great services they received.

Who/what have been some of your biggest influences in your career to date?
My biggest influence has been my parents and for letting me figure out what I wanted in my career. I also read a book called Think and Grow Rich. It guided me to be more disciplined about going after my dream and not giving myself an out.

What have been some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced in the industry?

My biggest challenge was getting my foot in the door in audio when I first moved to NYC. I worked every small club I could find to get better at mixing live and started recording the bands I liked. I started posting the recordings I liked to social media and it slowly made me a better mixer. I started hearing the nuances that I could change to get better mixes.

What projects do you have coming up?
Our latest podcast client is Holding Court with Eboni K. Williams. It’s part of Charlamagne Tha God’s Black Effect Podcast Network with iHeart Radio. Eboni is also a cast member on the hit Bravo show Housewives of NYC and co-host on Revolt’s State of the Culture. We take care of Holding Court’s audio/video recording and editing for the top 30 news podcast.