SoundGym Hero: Ericson Allibang

Songwriter, audio engineer, and podcast producer hailing from the Philippines with a diverse background in music and a passion for tinkering, sciences, and fiction. Ericson Allibang is this month's SoundGym Hero!

Who are you, and where are you from?

I’m Ericson Allibang - a songwriter, audio engineer, and podcast producer from the Philippines. I’m not one of those karaoke superstars that you see on social media. But they’re everywhere in my place, so I can say that my ears have extreme standards!

How did you get into music?

19 years ago, I had a toy xylophone that helped me recognize and play children’s music from my parents’ cassette tapes. Two years later, I joined my school’s marching band, where I used the glockenspiel and snare drum. I was doing great, so my parents gifted me electronic keyboards, violin, and guitar over the course of my school years.

One stormy night, there was a power outage that went on for three days. I then had time to sharpen my musical skills and influence. I promised myself that I’d make 300 songs or more, no pressure, just pleasure.

My horizons expanded to performing with local rappers, playing in rock bands, and joining the church choir. The journey continued to skyrocket when I got mentored by award-winning mixing and mastering engineers.

What do you like to do for fun outside of working on music?

I have four branches of interest where my ears are at rest - tinkering, sciences, fiction, and traveling. These hobbies helped me get a mechanical engineering degree, license, and jobs. They helped me achieve my dreams of making robots. I also enjoyed my time making airplane parts, airbag sensors, and fingerprint scanners in factories.

However, the corporate world constrained my pace, so I learned creative freelancing skills in my free time. When the pandemic came, my career shifted and helped me get back into my interests. My family is also involved - I tinker and experiment with my kid, and I watch movies and travel with my wife. They also fuel my music!

  What's your most useless skill or talent?

I can say mechanical engineering skills, but my kid is interested in it and asking me for guidance. So it’s back to Triple H’s entrance, spraying water through my mouth!

What inspires you to keep making music?

Definitely not money - but pure envy from other musicians who are making it. Just kidding! I want music to be my life’s purpose - I’m good at it, I love doing it, the world needs music, and it provides a livelihood to feed my family and my craft (ok, it’s money again).

If you could sit down to a session with any artist, who would it be?

I have many heroes, so I’d create a fictional band called “Halo-Halo” (Mix-Mix). The session is a set of 7 or more songs where every member has a highlight. Here’s how I’ll build the team:

I’d raise Chester Bennington and Joey Jordison from their graves and have them play beside Mark Morton, Daron Malakian, Ryan Martinie, and Lucas Mann. I’d have them play in a room beside where Andy Wallace is, and I’ll write what they do while I’m guided by Max Martin.

But I’m chaotic neutral, so I’ll throw in Eminem and Vitas. I’d also make BTS dance to what they’ll play and make all of them wear My Singing Monsters costume. I like making my wife and my kid impressed and cringe at the same time.

Any habits you have before starting a session?

Task list, because I enjoy seeing myself move forward to the direction I want when I finish the tasks.

Opening emails, because clarifying directions is a non-negotiable for any job.

Ear training, because I told my mentors that I want to have abs in the ears like them. Thanks Mastering.com for taking me to SoundGym!

If you could pick one, what would be the theme song of your life?

It changes every year. Right now, it’s Plant Island by My Singing Monsters. 

What is your favorite piece of music gear you own?

SM58 because it represents my standards and core values. It is already good untouched but still leaves room for a little personal tweak. It’s the best friend of any clumsy performer. Also works anywhere, and it pays for itself! When I’m holding it, it gives the feeling that I can protect all of the music gear I have, and I can defend myself from any music gear. (mic drop, mic is still ok)

What is your favorite SoundGym feature?

I love seeing my SPI rise. It objectively measures my sound skills through games. It tells me that you can only improve what you can measure and you can only learn and become strong through fighting, failures, and fun.

What does the future hold for Ericson Allibang?

I enjoy seeing myself as a guide for the dreamers who want to build their empires. But I love the luxury of doing my sound wizardry in my cabin in the woods in the middle of the islands. So I’ll continue being a freelance audio engineer and podcast producer. I’m excited to see where it takes me!

You can follow Ericson on Instagram, Facebook and LinkedIn