SoundGym Hero: Jose Guzman

A bassist-turned-audio engineer with a global footprint, Jose Guzman blends his Korn-inspired roots with a passion for production, DJing, and sonic precision. From karaoke nights in Japan to studio sessions in Tijuana, Jose Guzman this month’s SoundGym Hero!

How did you first find your way into making music?

I started nearly 15+ years ago when I first picked up a guitar. Rock was my introduction to music. I first started to listen to Korn and Pantera because of my brother.

In 2013 while I was getting some Reese’s Puffs (the greatest cereal ever invented), for some reason, I had the idea of switching from guitar to bass because of Korn. Fieldy has always been a huge inspiration to me in terms of that instrument because he pioneered a totally different sound with the bass. That and because I was in a band that needed a bassist at the time so I just went ahead and made the switch. I wonder sometimes what would've happened if there weren't any reese's puffs at my disposal that day.

The bass guitar kick started my journey into music for sure.

After that, I went into the military and didn't necessarily have enough time for music until I got to Japan. From 2016-2018, I picked up karaoke for a couple of years on the weekends until I left. To this day, Japan is a main motivator to make it as an audio engineer for the fact that I would be able to work from anywhere. I would love to go back for another two years.

Anyway, in November/December of 2020, I picked up DJing, music production, and eventually within the same timeframe, I picked up audio engineering. I did focus more on music production until 2022 but regardless, all those skills are sharpened daily. I've been going strong since then. Achieving a healthy balance between production and engineering.

Aside from music, what hobbies or activities do you enjoy?

I like to go to the gym. It’s something that I’ve been taking seriously since 2023 and has helped me not only get stronger but has helped me mentally. I also like to take walks in public and/or in nature to keep my mind sharp and healthy.

What’s something you're surprisingly good at that has nothing to do with music?

This is an interesting question. Now that I think about it, my life really does revolve around music. Does dancing count? Hahaha Since that might have something to do with music, I guess I was a really good electrical engineering technician when I was working with the Marine Corps and Intel.

If you could play or create with any artist, who would it be and why?

I have multiple artists that come to mind. Fieldy from Korn, Flea from the Red Hot Chili Peppers, Anuel AA, etc. Those are the first 3 that come to mind. Right now I’m blessed to work with artists from Tijuana, Mexico, USA, and the UK. Too much talent.

What piece of music gear do you love the most, and what makes it irreplaceable in your creative process?

My Apollo Twin X skyrocketed my workflow when I first got it. Not to mention the plugins and software that it came with made it a staple in my studio.

What daily or weekly habits do you have in place to keep you creating?

I like to read, watch educational videos and music videos to keep me creative. My personal ethos is “1% better everyday”.

What keeps you motivated to continue making music?

Music is a huge part of my life. It’s my destiny to be someone huge in the music industry. I’m talking about CLA, MixedbyAli, Pensado, Scheps, Metro Boomin level.

What song would you choose as the soundtrack of your life?

This is a very difficult question. I have quite a few tracks on the top of my head but if I had to choose, it would be “Dark Necessities” by Red Hot Chili Peppers. This song was my favorite to sing during karaoke sessions back when I was living in Okinawa, Japan. Red Hot Chili Peppers were my go to for karaoke. “Dark Necessities” was my wildcard.

What's your favorite feature on SoundGym, and how has it helped you in your musical journey?

The SMART training has helped me quite a bit. When this is turned on, you will get the worst daily workouts hahaha but it is necessary to be well rounded. Getting my butt kicked on the EQ games has definitely helped me irl thanks to SMART training.

What’s something exciting you're working on or looking forward to?

I'm looking forward to going back to my studio in Tijuana and working with even more artists in person! I'm currently in Illinois for a couple of weeks until school starts back up. I definitely also want to go out in San Diego and do more networking for more opportunities.

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