Audeze interviews Niles City Sound engineer, mixer, and producer Jimi Bowman
August 10, 2024
Jimi Bowman is an Engineer, Mixer & Producer at NILES CITY SOUND STUDIOS in Ft Worth TX. He's worked with artists as diverse as The Flaming Lips, Slow Joy, Robert Glasper, and Black is a Country presented by Erykah Badu, among many others.
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"I think the biggest thing I’ve noticed is my ability to get a vocal sitting right where I want it incredibly fast. The MM-500’s have just been fantastic for that." - Jimi Bowman
Here's our chat with Jimi:
Can you pick out any highlights from your work that you're particularly proud of?
How would you define your main role on most of the projects you work on these days?
I would say my main role currently is engineering and recording at NILES CITY SOUND STUDIOS … Secondly would be mixing some of those projects as well as others that get sent to me.
How did you get started in music? What kind of music did you listen to while growing up and how has that progressed?
I started off in high school playing in a metal band (Morbid Scream)… Our first gig was at a place in Arlington Texas, named Metal Works. At that show was the lead singer of Pantera (Phil Anselmo). He was really kind and into what were doing. From there we started playing a bunch of shows, gaining a following and had a pretty wild ride for a few years! I’ve played in a lot of different bands and genres which then lead me to engineering. I went to Dallas Sound to study and become a recording engineer... The rest as they say is history! I really love all types of music… They all offer something slightly different and rewarding depending what your role is in the process.
Can you name any factors that influenced the course of your musical life? Heroes, role models, moments, interactions, etc?
My dad was a musician… So that was definitely my initial inspiration. I am constantly inspired working with talented people… I always try to learn something new from whomever I work with. As far as someone I look up to, I’ve always been a tremendous fan of Nigel Godrich. I’d absolutely love one day to have a long chat with him.
Can you briefly describe a moment of frustration from your past work, and what you may have done to overcome the obstacles? Would you approach it differently now?
I think a frustration can be when you are working with an artist that isn’t quite sure what they are wanting to do with their project or song… I think the only way to overcome that is with patience and guidance. Thankfully I’m very patient. :)
Is there any gear you find yourself turning to most when working on a project? What are some of your favorite tools/instruments recently?
We recently got a custom Neve board at Niles and it is an absolute joy to record on… It sounds incredible! I’ve been having a lot of fun with my ARP-2600… It is such a wonderful piece of gear and just so much fun to play with! I also recently picked up a Black Lion Audio BLUEY and have been having a fun time with that… It sounds really great!
Do you have any words of wisdom for people who might aspire toward a similar path for their own careers?
Always follow your path of being a creative… Sometimes it is not an easy path, but it will always be more fulfilling and rewarding in the end.
How long have you been working with headphones, and how do you typically use them in your workflow?
I’ve always worked with headphones. I use them in mixing mostly, but tracking as well. When my daughter was a baby we had a smaller house and I had to lean in on my headphone use heavy.
Do you have any additional comments or stories you want to share?
My first experience with Audeze was working on a record at Niles City…. Josh Block was playing drums with me in the control room and I needed something to be able to properly monitor the session with. The LCD-XC’s did just the trick… I’ve been bugging him ever since.
How have your Audeze headphones affected your work?
I think the biggest thing I’ve noticed is my ability to get a vocal sitting right where I want it incredibly fast. The MM-500’s have just been fantastic for that. The imaging is a thing of beauty. When I switch over to my monitors it’s just there where it needs to be.
Can you tell us what you've been working on with them recently?
Currently I’m working on Silver Skylarks second record. It’s a really neat project that pulls from a lot of different genres. The MM-500’s have been really great for dialing all of that in. I also recently mixed a duet with Robert Ellis and Parker Millsap. Being a very acoustic heavy tune they were perfect for it!
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Artists may receive discounted Audeze product in exchange for interviews and opinions. Audeze does not solicit specific outcomes as part of any artist agreement.
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