About this interview
In this 2009 interview with Ryan Minic of Ryan's Rock Show, producer and engineer Ryan Boesch reflects on his early days in the industry, including an unexpected first gig engineering for Tupac Shakur at Westlake Studios. Boesch recalls how no other assistants wanted to work with Pac due to his intense entourage, but eager to move up the ranks, he took the opportunity—only to realize he had been thrown into the deep end. Without prior experience, he had to think fast, improvising his way through the session as Tupac laid down multiple tracks.
Boesch went on to work with a wide range of artists, from hip-hop legends like The Pharcyde to post-hardcore and metal acts, engineering and mixing records for Emery, Norma Jean, and From First to Last. He shares insight into the controversy surrounding Emery’s shift in sound, revealing that hardcore fans blamed him for softening the band’s style—though he insists he simply helped them achieve the vision they wanted.
The conversation dives into Boesch’s passion for music discovery, including how MySpace led him to work with Iwrestledabearonce, a band he supported long before they were signed. He also tells hilarious studio stories, including accidentally hearing his own instrumental track in a Playboy Channel adult film, bands showing up to sessions completely stoned on pot brownies, and recording From First to Last in the secluded mountains of Weed, California.
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