10 Questions with ... Tom van Schil

BRIEF CAREER SYNOPSIS:

DEMO:

Audio Brothers is a modern music production & recording studio in the heart of Amsterdam. We compose, record, produce and mix music for commercial/film/video, radio stations and artists.

1) Where is your work currently heard?

Our latest work is currently heard in The Netherlands on Radio 538. But we are experienced in producing radio imaging for stations around the world: KTU New York, 1LIVE, Studio Brussel, BBC Radio 1, NRJ and many many more.

2) Do you have a specific specialty?

Our specialty is composing, mixing and mastering.

3) What tips would you suggest to maintain a positive/productive relationship with the sales team?

Take time to drink a beer once in while. In this digital industry it helps to make everything a bit 'human' again.

4) What's the most challenging project that you've been involved with?

Composing the Radio 538 news, weather and traffic imaging. The challenge was to keep the reports constantly interesting for the listener till the end without making any abrupt or unsubtle changes in the composition.

5) How many stations are you handling?

We focus on 1 radio station at the time. This gives us a highly focused collaboration where we can truly understand their philosophy, needs and wants.

6) What is your favorite part of the job?

Drinking a morning coffee in front of the studio watching the sun rise over the canals of Amsterdam.

7) What is the most challenging part of the job?

Taming the continuous urge to buy the latest gear and software.

8) These days, imagers have full plates with multiple stations and responsibilities. What's the best way to get everything done on time?

Start earlier than the rest, clean up your studio and maintain an iron discipline. And when a composition is finished, it is finished. Don't get tempted to constantly make minor adjustments, just move on to the next project. Keep in mind that every adjustment doesn't necessarily make it sound better, it only makes it sound different.

9) Where do you find new production and voiceover talent?

We find most of our talents at The Conservatory of Amsterdam.

10) What would you say is the one thing that "kills" creative?

Diversity in styles, genres, techniques and assignments makes the creativity flow, but doing the same thing every day over and over again really "kills" it.

Care to make a contribution to the Radio Recipe Cookbook?

Home made fried chicken thighs with maple syrup on a toasted current bun with a little drop of spicy hot sauce.