Today we’d like to introduce you to Jeremy Woods.
Jeremy, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
I’ve always had a love for music. I started singing at four, rapping at nine. By then I knew I wanted to make a living in entertainment in some capacity. I’ve sang with different choirs and have been a musician (drummer) for a number of churches. As I got older and started studying the moves of successful entertainers and I realized most of them wore multiple hats. Not only were they great performers, but also musicians, DJs, writers, engineers, producers etc. So I wanted to diversify. I was comfortable writing my own songs and was used to recording my own material although it didn’t sound the best after I “mixed” it. I dabbled with djing in high school with a virtual DJ which was a free program you could download onto your computer and “DJ” simply using a keyboard and mouse. The more I played around the more I liked it. My first paid gig was a wedding for a friend. By this time I had purchased a USB controller, laptop and speaker system. I felt I did an “ok” job but not long after that, I began receiving calls from other people looking for a DJ. I declined most because at the time I still wasn’t serious about djing it was just something I did for fun, but I stayed with it. Woodworks was a dream I had long ago, so I began investing in myself to make it a reality. I went to school for audio engineering because I wanted to own and operate my own recording studio. By by the time I finished school, I was a certified engineer, I was djing more, Woodworks was starting to bud, and had landed a job at FUNimation recording some of the biggest titles in anime.
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
No, not at all. There have been many changes in direction from artist to musician, to DJ, to engineer. I had to find my lane. Dealing with inconsistency in gigs, a growing family and self-doubt was tough but it was all necessary for my growth. Because my mind was set on making music, I almost didn’t accept the job at FUNimation. I knew a typical 9-5 wouldn’t satisfy me but I also had a family to provide for. I accepted it because it was an opportunity to diversify my talents and my portfolio of work. The experience has been great and it’s allowed me to work and network with some pretty awesome people. Since there a couple of audio schools here in the DFW the engineering market place is pretty competitive. I don’t really advertise a lot so other than FUNimation all of my gigs, whether recording or djing, have been 100% referrals and for that I’m grateful. I’ve been apart of some very special days and moments with a lot of amazing people.
We’d love to hear more about your work.
I’m the owner of WoodWorks Ent. We are all about audio. From studio and live sound recordings to mixing services and DJing. I’m certified in Pro Tools and audio engineering so I specialize in the recording process. I’ve been recording full time for the past five yrs and have had works on Adult Swim, Cartoon Network and Toonami. I’ve been privileged to travel the state of Texas djing weddings and private parties and recently got to take my talents to New Mexico. I’ve recorded a couple of independent artist as well, with more projects lined up for the future. I’m flexible and affordable. As a DJ, I focus on sound quality and music. As an engineer, my goal is to take the song or dialogue you imagine and make it a reality. After all, we all have a song to sing.
What were you like growing up?
Growing up everything was either a basketball hoop, a drum set or a microphone. My mom probably has had to replace all of her countertops because I was constantly banging on them. Music and sports were the only things that would hold my attention. Basketball, football, baseball, track, it didn’t matter. I think the competition aspect is what fueled it all. As the oldest of four, I was a quiet kid, unless there was a RnB battle going down before school or if I was being a distraction in class when I got bored. I was content being alone or with a small group of friends. I questioned everything. I took things apart to see how they worked and put them back together. I still believe I can work on or fix anything man made. I loved learning not just at school but from people and their experiences. I knew early one what I wanted to do with my life so I pursued those interest, even when it wasn’t the popular thing to do. I graduated high school at 16 (Nacogdoches High Class of 2001 #WeDaBest) and went straight to college. (Axe Em Jacks).
Contact Info:
- Phone: 6827068881
- Email: jaiwoodsthelegend@gmail.com
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/jaiwoods
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/JaiWoodsSr
- Twitter: www.twitter.com/mrjaiwoods
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