Building Community in Pro Audio: A Conversation with JJ Catalyst

If you're active in the LA pro audio scene, you've probably heard of JJ Catalyst. Beyond his mixing work, he's become known for building genuine connections and creating spaces where people feel they belong. I sat down with JJ to discuss his journey, approach to relationship building, and advice for engineers looking to find their place in the industry.

On Musical Influences and Background

Something I discovered about you early on into our friendship was how you played in metal bands, but also watched Disney movies and were in choir. These seem like completely different universes - how did these experiences shape you?

Yeah, it's funny because during the day I'm in high school, singing and dancing show tunes and then at night I'm getting into full-on brawls at hardcore shows. But everything was a team, you know? You had your team at school, and then if you go to enough shows you're going to start seeing the same people and you guys kind of become a team as well. And both spaces were about expressing yourself authentically and finding your people. It's probably why I love, and have always loved, collaborating. Everything's more fun when you have more people involved.

In my coaching practice, I often talk about tapping into your past to fuel your present. I think people often say, "Well, I'm an adult now, so all this is behind me," but really nothing's behind you - it's your history. Even the speakers you used to use can have an effect on your approach.

How have these diverse experiences influenced your mixing approach?

Being in show choir taught me detail and precision work because everything is very exact. The dance moves need to be really sharp, the vocals need to be very on point. On the total opposite end, metal was all about feeling and expression. So one was very detail-oriented, one was very feeling-oriented. Being in bands also helped me learn working with real instruments, which influences how I approach programmed drums that need to feel live, or how I can jump to genres that rely on real instrumentation.

On Building Community

One of the things I always tell people that don't know you at all, that don't even live in LA, is that JJ is kind of like what I do in New York - bring people together, recognize what their gifts are, connect and create events and spaces for people. I'm curious, when did you realize the importance of that?

How do you approach bringing people together in the industry?

I love people, and people were so kind to me when I moved here. They'd say, 'Oh you do this, let me connect you to this person who might need it.' Having a space for people to show up and feel like they belong and not have cliques is really important to me. The people that I know now are the best people I've ever known in my life, and I think everyone should know them.

I think especially in this industry, it just seems like a very inaccessible, closed-off industry where if you're in that group, great, and if you're not, you're kind of screwed. What you've done is create your own circle and rather than limit who can enter, you've created like a center of gravity and kept bringing people in.

For someone new coming to LA, Nashville, or even a smaller city, what advice do you have for building authentic connections?

I only reach out to people I'm genuinely interested in being friends with. I don't hit anyone up saying 'let's work.' I'm not hitting someone up with an ulterior motive. If I am, then I'm doing it for the wrong reason and they're going to pick up on that. I reach out to people that I look up to and am inspired by, to grab lunch or coffee - something super low pressure and just get to know them.

I often recommend people reach out to those they admire and respect on Instagram. You don't need to message Ariana Grande, but there are people within your orbit that would be happy to respond.

What's your approach to connecting with people through social media?

Don't message people asking for something. If you're a producer or songwriter you could say, 'I'd love to work together.' But I've found that for my job specifically, it never works that way. People seem a lot more open to it if you're just giving them a compliment, you know? 'Hey, I really love this song that you worked on.' And then you just keep reaching out to them. Respond to a story, comment on their posts. People love feeling supported and championed.

One thing I always mention is patience. When people ask what skills they need to grow their career in mixing, I'm like, "patience." There's no plugin for it!

On Client Relationships

How has your diverse background affected your relationship with clients?

I am professional, but I'm not going to sit there and just be the most professional and that's it. I'm going to form an actual relationship with you. I want you to feel free to be yourself around me. Tell me your goals, even if you feel they're too lofty or not attainable. I want to know what the end game is. It feels more like I'm part of the team now than being a faceless email that just receives and sends back files.

Advice for New Engineers

What advice do you have for engineers trying to find their voice in the industry?

Be prepared to be patient. We all think that we are the exception, and we're going to come here and take gigs from the people we look up to within the first couple years, and it just doesn't happen. People don't talk about the slow season. People don't talk about how long they've really been doing this before they see success, whatever success means to you. Don't compare your journey to other people, because everyone's path is different. Just show up for the people that you're working with, and try and do as much work as you can, because that's the only way you're really going to progress.

Final Thoughts

Building a career in audio isn't just about technical skills or aggressive networking. It's about creating genuine connections, being patient with your journey, and showing up consistently for the people you work with. As JJ demonstrates, when you focus on building real relationships and creating inclusive spaces, the work often follows naturally.

Remember: Every journey is different, and there's no shortcut to building lasting relationships in the industry. Focus on being genuine, patient, and supportive, and you'll find your place in the community.