Hidden Gems: Meet Tony Burkhart of BlackLite Productions

Today we’d like to introduce you to Tony Burkhart.

Hi Tony, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
My father and his brother (my uncle) are professional songwriters/musicians who won many national songwriting competitions throughout the 80s/90s, as well in playing in a variety of bands for 40+ years.

As a child, I fell in love with listening to music, but did not pursue learning instruments or recording techniques despite the constant music creation happening around me. I guess some of it sank in through osmosis.

After my sports “career” ended in high school, I suddenly had a lot of extra time on my hands. I began experimenting with my father’s small basement studio and recording new beats, then laying vocals over them. I then started including my sister and other family members in my songs. I was instantly obsessed despite my horrible technical skills at the time.

I kept pushing as a self-produced artist throughout college and was able to maintain a steady progression while working day jobs, squeezing in as much music as possible on nights and weekends. I eventually started collaborating with other artists, who also wanted me to produce/engineer their own music. Before long I was spending so much time working for other artists that I had no time for my own music anymore.

In 2012, my wife Samantha (whose dad is also an incredible musician) and I started BlackLite Productions professional recording studio out of our basement in a small house in the suburbs of Cincinnati, OH. We had a TON of help from our amazing family and friends, and are forever grateful for their help getting our business off the ground. Within 3 years we had enough clients for me to quit my day job and go 100% full-time with BlackLite while supporting our two beautiful new children, and moved our studio to an official space in the historic Longworth Hall corporate building in Downtown Cincinnati.

Our awesome employees and myself have now worked with thousands of successful singers, rappers, bands and businesses across the globe. We have also been fortunate to have written hundreds of original songs & instrumentals, some of which have been featured on TV, radio and viral YouTube videos, as well as winning awards. I truly feel blessed to get to work everyday doing what I love, and working with so many amazingly talented artists!

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
It was definitely not a smooth road… there have been an insane amount of challenges along the way. Finding time, money, space, gear, making countless sacrifices, keeping up with music trends, marketing, websites, social media, scheduling sessions, taking payments, responding to emails/texts, creating more efficient processes and workflows, constantly improving quality, etc. The workday never ends.

We’ve been impressed with BlackLite Productions, but for folks who might not be as familiar, what can you share with them about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
Many recording studios are simply that… “recording” studios. They set up the equipment, press the “record” button to track artists’ vocals and instruments, then mix and master the tracks. While we do all the above, our team excels far beyond traditional studios by focusing on instrumental production, editing, arrangement, and mixing/mastering of artists’ tracks from scratch.

Our unique Blacklite Studio is packed with premium audio gear & equipment, and is home to our award-winning team as we professionally produce, record, mix and master music for hundreds of artists per year. In addition to its masterful acoustic sound design, the Blacklite Studio also provides dynamic lighting and mood-inducing artwork to help artists deliver their best performances.

We are most proud of our attention to detail, as we truly go above and beyond to make each song as perfect as possible. And it shows in the sound and satisfaction of our artists!

We all have a different way of looking at and defining success. How do you define success?
To me, success is simply when you have accomplished the goals you have set.

Pricing:

• Music production starting at $45 per hour
• Studio Recording starting at $45 per hour
• Song Mixing starting at $45 per hour
• Song Mastering starting at $45 per hour
• Songwriting starting at $45 per hour

Contact Info:

• Email: blacklitepro@gmail.com
• Website: BlackLite Productions.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/blacklitepro/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BlackliteProductions/
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/blacklitepro
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCfReZpdaKjPVZtGoRAdG6sg
• SoundCloud: https://soundcloud.com/blackliteproductions