Hayden Lauersen: Mix Engineering, Vocal Production and a Life in Sound

In this episode, I’m joined by Melbourne-based mix engineer and record producer Hayden Lauersen. It’s an open and reflective conversation about life in sound, the music industry, and finding contentment in your role within it.Hayden shares his journey from songwriting and producing original music into building a career as a mix engineer, where his focus is on supporting artists through emotional expression and clear, intentional sonics. We talk about the realities of working behind the scenes, developing a niche, and how reputation, trust, and community play a central role in sustaining a career in music.Hayden Lauerson has a long list of credits with artists - including Kate Ceberano, Clare Bowditch, Haiku Hands, Kee’ahn, Woodes, Shannen James, and RARIA, - alongside collaborations with labels such as Future Classic, Universal Music, Island Records and Ivy League Records. His work has been featured on BBC Radio 1, KCRW, Triple J, Fox FM and Nova, and has accumulated over 60 million Spotify streams.The conversation moves between technical and personal — touching on vocal production, microphone choices for singers, life as a freelance mix engineer, navigating health challenges, and what it means to arrive at a place of balance and clarity within the music industry.A thoughtful discussion about craft, career, and the long road of working in sound.