James Auwarter
Grammy Award Winning Engineer in London, UK
Grammy Award-Winning Engineer James Auwarter started out as a musician himself, first on the trumpet and then in a rock band as the guitarist/front man. His early musical foundation was formed while attending Stivers High School For the Arts (in Dayton, Ohio)…interning at ReFraze Recording Studios…and finally by graduating with a 96.31% GPA, and a degree in Recording Arts from Full Sail University (in Florida). Having then opted to return to the Midwest, and initially taken under the wing of Craig Bauer (owner of Hinge Studios), James began to make a name for himself in Chicago, and quickly rose through the ranks.
“Studio James” is known for his diversity, working within practically every genre of music over the years. His ears are highly sought after by leading acts in the rock, jazz, classical, gospel, and hip hop communities, among others. A few of these notable clients have been: Kanye West, Yo-Yo Ma, PJ Morton, Jamila Woods, Kirk Franklin, Kurt Elling, Adam Levine, Cowboy Troy, Tom Higgenson (Plain White Tees), Donald Lawrence, Lupe Fiasco, Hezekiah Walker, Rihanna, Anthony Hamilton, John Legend, Rodrigo Y Gabriela, Saba, Mavis Staples, etc.
James has officially been credited on 32 Grammy nominations, and in 2008 he earned his first Grammy statue.
James' passion for his craft has him constantly sharpening his skills further in preparation for whatever opportunities may present themselves next. Beyond recording, mixing, mastering, and doing Dolby Atmos for music, he has had successful endeavors writing and producing, working live sound (both FOH and monitors), and even mixing an award-winning short film. James has led many workshops and masterclasses throughout the world, and has enjoyed part-time teaching at the university level, where his experiences and knowledge can be passed along to an entire new generation in the field of audio.
After working out of countless big studios as a freelancer, in 2016 James launched his first public studio in Chicago, branded Coda Room Audio. In 2019, James received Arts Council England’s formal endorsement for a UK Tier 1 “Exceptional Talent” visa, paving the way for a new adventure and expansion across the pond. While still retaining a presence in the Chicago/USA scene, James now also resides in London.
He remains available for hire both inside and outside of Coda Room Audio. Please feel free to email James for rates, availability, or just to say "hi!"