bio

Los Angeles based eleven-time Grammy-winner mixer/engineer Rafa Sardina has built an eclectic and impressive client list in the recent years: Macy Gray, Stevie Wonder, Dr Dre, Dru Hill, Jessy Moss, Mariah Carey, Luis Miguel, Sheryl Crow, Soul Coughing, Marc Antoine, Angie Stone and Alejandro Sanz, among others.

As a musician (bass and guitar), arranger and producer Rafa connects easily with artists and has tremendous respect for creating a studio vibe that's performance-friendly for both new and established talent. Rafa has had the pleasure of working with top flight musicians including Vinnie Colaiuta, Luis Conte, Michael Landau, Anthony Jackson, to name a few. He has worked with numerous high-profile artists and producers including Dr Dre, Camara Kambon, Lulu Perez, Babyface, Scott Litt and David Foster.

Best known for pop/rock and R&B sounds, Sardina's passion for audio began when he was doing live sound for folk, world and jazz music in Northern Spain and the South of France. He served his engineering apprenticeship at Hollywood's Ocean Way and Record One studios where he landed his first independent engineering gig with Warner mega star Luis Miguel. He has since collaborated with him on seven albums.

Sardina mixed the top 10 album for Antonio Orozco's third and debut cd on Universal Music. According to label sources, Orozco's cd entered the charts at Nº 1 in Spain and has maintained its Top 10 position to-date. Rafa engineered Meditteraneo for Rendez Vous artist Marc Antoine and is currently in the studio co-producing with Cheche Alara.

In February 2008, Sardina received his eleventh Grammy for Alejandro Sanz' El Tren De Los Momentos on Warner Music at the 50th Annual Grammy Awards. The Warner superstar Sanz also took Grammys in 2005 for "No Es Lo Mismo," recorded by Sardina, which won Record of the Year, Album of the Year, Song of the Year, Best Male Pop Vocal Album and last but not least, it also took a trophy for Best-engineered album. Mr Sanz also won Best song and Best Record of the year for "Tu No Tienes Alma," recorded by Sardina in 04. Rafa earned two Latin Grammy Awards in 2000 for Album of the Year and Best Pop Album by Luis Miguel --"Amarte Es Un Placer" for WEA Intl. Subsequent Grammy nominations for Mr Miguel's albums have followed in the years 2001 to 2003, for "33" in 2004 and in February 2006, Sardina received his 10th Grammy for Luis Miguel's Mexico en la Piel at the 48th Annual Grammy Awards.

Most recently Sardina has launched a production company focusing on developing new talent in his state-of-the art studio After Hours open since 2006. Look for releases from Dublin singer songwriter, Gerry Scullion. "We crossed paths with Gerry when a trusted musician recommended him. Working with him is quite exhilarating. He's a prolific singer/songwriter. The hardest part of my job with Gerry is to choose the right songs for the album. Most of them are good ones. This album is collaboration with many great musicians and my friend and fabulous arranger and co-producer, Cheche Alera.

Sardina Gear Musts: DUY Plug-ins, JBL LSR speakers, Apogee AD 8000 SE Special Edition and Trak2, Audio Technica and Telefunken Microphones and Solid State Logic AWS 900+

"My studio philosophy is simple - I'm there to make sure the artist is having fun. I see my work much like a photographer's, as transparent as possible when required but always providing the creative edge to affect the song and performance in a positive way. To achieve that goal, I like to create a comfortable and inspiring environment using the best acoustics and tools available."