About “hakim” on Gearslutz

Thanks for choosing to visit the url in my Gearslutz profile/signature. So now that you are here, let me explain a little about who I am and what I do.

My name is Hakim Callier (hakim) and I record music. I own very modest gear, but it suits my pre-production needs.

My DAW of choice is Cubase 4 and the Yamaha Motif XS works as a MIDI controller, synthesizer, sampler and control surface. I am very fond of Native Instrument soft synths and I own FM8, Massive and Absynth 4 as well as:

• Audix i5
• RODE NT1
• M-Audio DMP3
• FMR Really Nice Compressor (RNC)
• Sonalksis Essentials & Mastering Suite
• PSP Audioware Vintage Warmer 2 and more…

My first instrument was the drums, but like many drummers I know, I have  opted to become a bad-ass MIDI drum programmer as opposed to lugging around Ludwig Element PVCs.

I also play bass and guitar, an Ibanez SR300M with Elixir strings and Epiphone Les Paul Studio with Ernie Ball regular slinkies. I use an MXR MX80 DI +, Orange and Marshall combos and I particularly like Native Instrument’s Guitar Rig 3’s VST features for bass or guitar.

I graduated from the Institute of Audio Research. But I got the foundation of my recording knowledge from my own father. He was the Director of Music for most for of the DeBarge tours in the 1980s. He was also the first African-American to write, arrange performances and conduct the Grand Rapids Symphony and Indianapolis Philharmonic. I grew up with a modified SoundCraft, Summit Limiter/Compressors, Neumann U87s, AKG C414 (with the gold face) and Studer tape machine in my basement.

Yeah, I’m a GearSlut but I’d like to think of myself as an artist first. However, the truth of the matter is that I am better at recording and producing other people. I firmly believe in the first rule of “Rock ‘n Roll”, “There are no rules”  when it comes to recording. (well that might be less true in the digital age).

But I am an adventurous player, recordist, mixer and music producer. I like to do strange things with the bass, like pick rhythm guitar parts or play through a fuzzbox – preferably the BBM – with the sustained cranked to high heaven.

I also make music for media productions. You can read more about me and my music on the about page of this blog. But again, since you are here let me take a minute to give you a snap-shot.

My Music

I’m a 32 year old music composer and producer living in Harlem, New York with my wife, ‘Chi’ and three boys (born 2001, 2004 and 2006). I firmly believe in D.I.Y. music business and I am working as an administrator, music publisher, composer and music producer on my own projects. And I feel that I am quickening my own death!

Hakim Callier the Blog

Hakim Callier Logo

My blog is about… music for media productions. There are so many music blogs out there, and some are really great. Others are run-of-the-mill, I did not want to make another blog about the same old thing: artists, music and FREE MP3s. So I decided to blog about something that I do everyday, making music for media (film, TV and new media productions).

At the same time I know that there are also a lot of good musicians, bands and independent music producers out there that don’t know how to get started making music for media. Generally, musicians know very little about getting their music placed in media productions, its a tradition. Well, I am trying to break this tradition by providing information to musicians to help them along the way. I want to help other musicians get their music placed in the media. This blog covers a number of things like:

• Music Publishing for Beginners
• Finding an Audience for Your Music
• Composing and Producing Great Music
• Using Social Media to Promote Your Music
• Making Money in Music Licensing and Publishing
• Publishing Resources and Tools for the Indie Musician

Reading these articles does not guarantee that you will earn money from your music. But it does give you an idea or two that may help you along the way. Its a tough business and I want to offer a little help.

If you like what you have read and would like to read more please subscribe to my RSS feed or the Media Wire, an email newsletter I publish that offers regular updates on my blog and also unique opportunities for you to MAKE MONEY WITH YOUR MUSIC.

Hakim Callier on Gearslutz.com

OK, so you are a musician, engineer, music producer… whatever! That’s great so am I. And I would love to stay in contact with you via email, Facebook or Twitter.

If you become my friend on Facebook or follow me on Twitter you will not only get regular updates of my blog posts. But also a special dialogue with me in my most intimate work spaces, like my recording studio and even on tour or while on interviews. You never know just when or where I may strike up a conversation.

Lets Hook-up on the Web

Thanks for visiting my About page. I you haven’t already, don’t forget to follow me on Twitter so we can hook-up there.

I am also frequently on Digg, Stumbleupon, LinkedIn, Friendfeed and The Behance Network.