Erik Madrid: From Grammy-Winning Mixes to UCLA Classroom

Erik Madrid, a UCLA alumnus and Grammy Award-winning mixing engineer, is shaping the next generation of music professionals. For over a decade, Madrid has balanced a successful freelance career mixing tracks for top artists with a growing commitment to education at the UCLA Herb Alpert School of Music.

A Career Built on Collaboration and Dedication

Madrid’s journey began in the Bay Area before relocating to Los Angeles to attend UCLA. He gained early experience through internships, including a pivotal role at Westlake Recording Studios in Hollywood, where he honed his skills with large format consoles and analog hardware [1]. He then spent six years working alongside legendary mixer Manny Marroquin at Larrabee Studios, contributing to over 1,000 songs [1], [4].

Transitioning to a freelance career allowed Madrid to work across multiple genres, mixing for artists such as Jazmine Sullivan, Kehlani, A$AP Rocky, Khalid, Demi Lovato, Ledisi, and many others [1], [4]. His work on Jazmine Sullivan’s “Heaux Tales” and Ledisi’s “The Crown” has earned him Grammy recognition, including nominations for “The Crown” in 2026 for Best R&B Album and Best R&B Performance for “LOVE YOU TOO” [3].

Bringing Industry Expertise to UCLA

For the past two years, Madrid has shared his expertise as a lecturer at UCLA, teaching Music Industry 188: “Analog Mixing in Digital World” [1]. The course combines technical instruction with a business component, and occasionally features guest speakers [1].

Audio engineer Migui Maloles, a former mentee of Madrid’s, highlighted his attentiveness to both the music and the artists involved. “When I first moved to LA, he was one of the first guys I reached out to… because I was looking for some guidance on navigating the business down here,” Maloles said [1].

Madrid emphasizes the importance of perseverance for aspiring mixers, recognizing that a strong mix is crucial for gaining recognition in today’s music landscape [1]. He hopes to expand the curriculum and continue teaching at UCLA for years to come, believing the program fills a vital need for students seeking to excel in the music industry [1].

A Unique Approach to Mixing

Music producer Jacques “Joc” Pierre, who collaborated with Madrid on Ledisi’s “The Crown,” praised Madrid’s spacious taste and ability to create harmonious mixes where each element shines. “To be a mixing engineer, you have to have really good ears, but Erik takes it a step further,” Pierre said. “He doesn’t just listen to the music. He listens to the artist. He listens to the producer. That level of attentiveness is really special.” [1]