Student Spotlight: Mateo Londo o The producer talks about leaving Berklee to grieve the passing of a close friend and fellow student and then returning to finish his degree. He chronicles these emotions in his new song Pachanga.
By
Editorial Staff
September 6, 2024
Mateo Londo o
What's it like to study at Berklee? Our Student Spotlight series asks students all about their Berklee experience-what they're learning in class, what kinds of projects they're involved in onstage or behind the scenes, how they recharge, and of course, what they're listening to. In this edition, get to know Mateo Londo o, a percussionist and producer from Bogot , Colombia, who recently completed his degree in music production and engineering (MP&E).
Check out Londo os work on his website and follow him on Instagram.
Tell us about your path to Berklee. What made you decide to come here?Music has always been my true passion in life. I am the only musician in my family, and growing up, I was constantly immersed in some form of musical art, driving my parents crazy with all the noise in the garage. Berklee is a dream school for many contemporary musicians, and obviously it was a dream for me too. I knew I would regret not applying, even if it felt out-of-reach. So I prepared my absolute best work and focused all my effort on the potential opportunity of a Berklee acceptance letter. And you know what? It paid off!
My experience at Berklee has been everything and more than I could ever imagine. It wasn't easy, but I wouldn't trade a single moment for the world. In fact my experience was a bit unique, in that I took a seven-year hiatus before returning to finish my degree. In 2015, with only two semesters left before graduating, my close friend and Berklee peer Stacey Park passed away. Her death was extremely unexpected and traumatic. Transparently, my sadness was so consuming that I wasnt able to focus on my education; so I stepped away from Berklee for a little while. It took a long time (a lot of personal growth and healing) to be ready to return to a place that I associated with tremendous pain and joy.
I might not have gone the traditional route, but I accomplished something that I am so proud of.
- Mateo Londo o
Going back to school farther into adulthood meant working multiple full-time jobs, while also balancing classes and more responsibilities than I had my first time around. If I'm being honest, it was really hard. But here I am-a Berklee graduate! I might not have gone the traditional route, but I accomplished something that I am so proud of. I now think of each new opportunity and endeavor with a similar mindset-always give it your all; you never know unless you try.
Whats been your favorite class so far, and what has it taught you? I have truly enjoyed so many of my classes. One that I found endlessly engaging and interesting was MTEC-420 Advanced Mastering, Editing, and Delivery with Jonathan Wyner.
Whats a project youve worked on since coming to Berklee that youve been especially excited about? Pachanga has been my biggest vision goal in all of my Berklee career since joining the MP&E Department. During my first orientation with MP&E in Studio 1 (Shames Family Scoring Stage), the department leaders explained the capability of recording all three Berklee studios simultaneously. It was at that very moment that I made it my mission to be the first student to make it happen. After months of organization, dedication, creative collaboration, and persistence, I received approval from the MP&E Department to move forward with my huge team to make this dream a reality.
Watch Londo os ambitious project come to life in the video for Pachanga, featuring vocalist and Berklee student Gaby Villamizar, who performs as Zesi:
How did the song Pachanga come about, and what does it mean to you?
The Pachanga artwork is an original design by Berklee student Pierangela Dozsa.
In Colombia, our culture is very rich in music, food, and community-but above all, we are joyful. We try to have the mentality that even when life is hard and brings you down, there is still a reason to celebrate. I wanted to write a song that encompassed the feeling of community, with a Latin twist that honored my Colombian heritage. The meaning of pachanga roughly translates to party in Spanish, and I wanted to create something that portrayed the importance of celebrating life regardless of life's ups and downs. Pachanga is meant to take the listener on a celebratory journey of emotions-where a melodic hornline is repeated throughout the song in variations, demonstrating a party through all seasons of life. In addition to pursuing a unique and never-done-before engineering challenge, this project provided the platform for representation and appreciation of Latin culture.
What's next for you? Any projects or opportunities you're looking forward to?I am currently packing up my life in Boston and preparing for a cross-country move to LA. I am mixing three albums, all to be released within the next few months, and I am trying to find a mastering assistant position out in LA.
5 Songs from Mateos Favorite ArtistsWe asked Mateo to pick five songs from some of his all-time favorite artists. Heres what he said:
1. PaMayte, Carlos VivesCarlos Vives is a Colombian artist that I grew up listening to. My parents would play his music while cleaning the house or driving to the store. Carlos Vives's Pa'Mayte is the epitome of happiness in my opinion and always lifts me up when Im feeling down.
2. Beat It, Michael JacksonNeed I say more? The king of pop will always hold the crown, and this song combines my two favorite genres: pop and rock.
3. Halleys Comet, Billie EilishHalley's Comet is an absolutely beautiful song that has had a choke hold on me since it was released. From the pro
Most recent headlines
05/01/2027
Worlds first 802.15.4ab-UWB chip verified by Calterah and Rohde & Schwarz to be ...
07/10/2026
Dalet, a leading technology and service provider for media-rich organizations, today announced the latest Long-Term Supported (LTS) release of Dalet Flex. Build...
06/09/2026
June 9 2026, 23:00 (PDT) Dolby and MagentaTV Bring Fans Closer to the FIFA Worl...
19/08/2026
World Cup Games Generate 84 Billion Minutes Across FOX, Fox Sports 1 and NBCU...
19/08/2026
July brought typical peak-holiday drops in viewership, driven primarily by viewers stepping away from screens and a visible decline in reach across both traditi...
19/08/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
19/08/2026
Henry joins BCE as the company accelerates its commercial strategy and expands its international presence across the media, broadcast and technology markets. He...
19/08/2026
iWedia, a leading provider of software solutions for connected TV devices, today announced a major milestone in Android platform optimization with the successfu...
19/08/2026
NTP Technology announces that ST 2110-30 audio-over-IP connectivity with AES67 and RAVENNA capabilities is now available for the brand's world-class audio i...
19/08/2026
Net Insight has been selected to provide its Nimbra platform by the service provider Big Blue Marble, formerly ORS Group, as the core media transport solution f...
19/08/2026
LiveU has supported Coventry City FC and several other top-flight UK football clubs through one of their most demanding live production challenges of the year, ...
19/08/2026
Nature Seekers Documentary Shot with Blackmagic URSA Cine 12K LF
Brie Clayton August 18, 2026
0 Comments
Filming endangered turtles required camera...
19/08/2026
Neyrinck Brings D-Control Consoles Back to Life on Apple Silicon with D-Control ...
19/08/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
19/08/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
19/08/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
19/08/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
19/08/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
19/08/2026
Riedel Communications today announced that Edith Cowan University (ECU) in Perth, Australia, implemented a comprehensive communications infrastructure that brin...
19/08/2026
QuickLink, a leading provider of award-winning video production and remote guest contribution solutions, will spotlight a major leap forward in remote guest con...
19/08/2026
Integrated platform melds media asset management, playout automation and newsroom workflows
EMAM, PlayBox Neo and SNEWS have officially launched Nuvex, a conne...
19/08/2026
Screen Australia releases the Private Investment Toolkit to strengthen screen in...
19/08/2026
Do Aussies truly value local content? Unpacking Screen Currency 2026 with Deirdr...
19/08/2026
On Saturday September 5 Katie Taylor will step into the ring for the fight of her life against Flora Pili in front of 80,000 fans in Croke Park. A legendary fig...
18/08/2026
SportStream 2026, a free three-day virtual event, will take place September 15-17. One registration provides access to all three days of live programming and on...
18/08/2026
BeckTV will introduce BeckFlow to the European market at IBC2026, demonstrated on the Providius stand (10.F53).
BeckFlow is a web-based schematic documentation...
18/08/2026
Boland Communications will introduce a SMPTE ST 2110 input option for its 4K monitors at IBC2026, along with a new 55-inch super-narrow bezel display for video ...
18/08/2026
Dolby Laboratories and the Seattle Seahawks have announced a partnership integrating Dolby OptiView into the Seahawks' live streaming coverage, making the S...
18/08/2026
For BMG Executive Producer of Sports Production, Graham Taylor, producing live s...
18/08/2026
TMRW Sports has appointed Rufus Hack as President of Golf, a newly created role in which he will lead the company's golf businesses including TGL presented ...
18/08/2026
SMT will provide race technology for FOX Sports' coverage of the Freedom 250 Grand Prix of Washington, D.C. on August 23, when the NTT INDYCAR SERIES races ...
18/08/2026
The live, YouTube-native roundtables combine fan voices, credentialed reporters,...
18/08/2026
Behind The Mic provides a roundup of recent news regarding on-air talent, includ...
18/08/2026
The industry legend sounds off on replacing the Heat's iconic Medusa score...
18/08/2026
William F. Rasmussen, the sports fan-turned broadcaster and entrepreneur whose out-of-the-box idea of a 24-hour cable sports network, ESPN, changed forever the ...
18/08/2026
DAZN Group has completed its acquisition of ViewLift, a provider of streaming and digital solutions for sports content owners. The acquisition was first announc...
18/08/2026
The American Association of Professional Baseball (AAPB) has added SI TV, Sports Illustrated's 24/7 streaming channel, as a broadcast partner for the remain...
18/08/2026
The Esports Foundation has announced that the inaugural Esports Nations Cup (ENC), originally scheduled for November 2026 in Riyadh, will be postponed to Novemb...
18/08/2026
Diversified has announced a new Global Managed Services Practice, consolidating the company's managed services capabilities into one organization. Rob Mello...
18/08/2026
Appear has completed a proof of concept with Thoroughbred Racing Productions (TRP), demonstrating multi-camera remote live production over bonded 5G cellular an...
18/08/2026
Riedel Communications has announced that Edith Cowan University (ECU) in Perth, ...
18/08/2026
Company launch with stereo-imaging tool
Panoramic is the debut release from Panorama Labs, a new company formed by mastering engineer Nicholas Di Lorenzo. C...
18/08/2026
Control software now available for older interfaces
Focusrite have just announced the launch of an update that extends Control 2 software support their Scar...
18/08/2026
The National Film and Video Foundation (NFVF), an agency of the Department of Sp...
18/08/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
18/08/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
18/08/2026
Lightware announces an integration with SpectralBot that helps system integrators and AV operators troubleshoot faster using augmented reality (AR), AI-assisted...
18/08/2026
Command Frame for After Effects
Scott Black August 18, 2026
0 Comments
Free download, demonstrations, hands-on tests, and creator resources
Want to t...
18/08/2026
At Stand 14.A57, the data company will demonstrate GreenDot and IBM Aspera together, giving media and entertainment businesses real-time visibility of what thei...
Student Spotlight: Mateo Londo o The producer talks about leaving Berklee to grieve the passing of a close friend and fellow student and then returning to finish his degree. He chronicles these emotions in his new song Pachanga. 
