Check Out David Stecher’s Story

Today we’d like to introduce you to David Stecher.

Hi David, so excited to have you on the platform. So, before we get into questions about your work life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today. 
Hi, I am David, and I am a sound engineer from Austria. I started making music when I was 8 years old, and from that point, music never left my life again. I played in many bands, still play at Black Lashes & The Face with Florida-based artist Mia Scarpetta. But before we jump into the present, back to the past. 

After managing playing multiple Instruments ‘Sound’ attracted me a lot. Now and then I mixed some bands at small venues in Austria and got used to fast working, mixing, and finally got better. At this point, I was actually studying as a primary school teacher when I decided to do what I love – music. I completed a study at SAE Vienna and became a full-time audio engineer, and I am very lucky to know a lot of people in the industry who are helpful, friends, and just great artists. 

I’ve worked with ‘Die Fantastischen Vier,’ ‘Nik Kershaw,’ New Candys, ‘Elektro Guzzi’ and soon I will work with ‘The Black Angels’ and many more. Right now, is another big step coming up as I worked in a studio close to my hometown but leaving in fall this year and being completely on my own. 

I am lucky to be surrounded by great and kind people, so I am more looking forward to it than being scared. I am planning a tour as engineer with UK-based band ‘The Kundalini Genie’ and I met John Agnello, a fantastic Sound Engineer and even more humble human whose list of artists is just insane; he lives in Raleigh right now. See you again soon John! 

We all face challenges, but looking back, would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
The road of following what I really want to do was bumpy. Financially it was better than expected, but we still have to fight and clarify for our job. I often get asked what I do for a living, and after answering sound engineering most people don’t understand the amount of time and work and ask again: ‘And what else?’ or ‘And from Monday to Friday?’ 

At a point, you get used to this, and you have to understand that people don’t care as much about art as some other do. I don’t try to change people, but sometimes I do invite them to shows to get the a quick ‘behind the scenes view’, and after these evenings a lot of them have a better understanding, respect, and knowledge about what we do and that this is a serious job with a lot of responsibility, stress but also fun. 

I just keep wondering when we as humans decided that art is not that important anymore. Back in history, art as music, drawing, and inventing was one of the first things that the humans did, they were still naked when arts was already part of their life. 

As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar, what can you tell them about what you do?
Being an audio engineer is a business that can vary a lot. It is very complex to describe in short words what an audio engineers might do (or don’t do), it depends on the project. Basically everything that includes sound has been in the hands/ears of an audio engineer. Concerts, TV, Radio, Broadcast, News, Podcasts, Records, Amplifiers, FX Pedals, Headphones, Microphones, Stereo Systems, Record Players, etc.

There are so many great audio engineers out there. I’ve learned a lot from my colleagues. I think I am a friendly, supportive, sometimes a silly person to work with, and I know what I want on a job and what I don’t. I figured that not every artist fits me and vice versa, and that is ok, actually way better. You can’t be good in everything, and this is also a reason why there are many different arts and people in the industry. 

After I realized this, I do know what I am good at and what I am not, therefore I try to pick jobs that suit me and will create a spinning wheel between the artists and me – we benefit each other, and we work together because we understand each other’s ideas, have the same mentality and so on. 

I also try to give the best I can and want people to enjoy what they are doing and support them to perform at their best. 

Any big plans?
Like I said in the Intro: I am soon completely on my own as a one-man company and have to find my way, enough jobs, etc. I am looking forward to all challenges that will come. Most of all, I am looking forward to work a lot with my friends in the industry and hope to see some old faces again. Having fun on a job can even make a hard job a good one. 

Contact Info:

• Website: truepeaksounds.com
• Instagram: https://instagram.com/truepeaksounds?igshid=MzNlNGNkZWQ4Mg==
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/david-stecher-4420061b7/

Image Credits
Anika Pruenster
Mia Scarpetta
Hefti Impressions