Sony Pixel Power calrec Sony

Student Spotlight: Joel Quatrocchi

12/07/2023

Student Spotlight: Joel Quatrocchi The producer and guitarist, whose path to Berklee was full of twists and turns, shares his sources of inspiration and breaks down the production on some of his favorite tracks.

By

Editorial Staff

July 11, 2023

Image courtesy of Joel Quatrocchi

What's it like to study at Berklee? Our Student Spotlight series asks current 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. This week, get to know music production and engineering major Joel Quatrocchi, an eighth-semester guitarist and producer from San Carlos de Bariloche, Argentina.

Follow Joel on Instagram.

Tell us about your path to Berklee. What made you decide to come here? While watching Rock Discipline by John Petrucci ['86], I learned about Berklee College of Music for the first time and how John was a student here. I did my research and became obsessed with finally receiving the type of education I had desired for so long. I could not believe a place like Berklee existed. I prepared myself for the audition and dramatically improved. Unfortunately, financial constraints prevented me from attending my audition in Boston. I decided to study computer engineering until I could find a way of making it to Berklee. After a few years, at the age of 20, I gradually gave up on music as a career, landed a job working for my government defense and aerospace agency on satellite and radar software development, had a stable economy, traveled the world, graduated, had everything I could desire but was lacking regardless. In December of 2016, in Guatemala City, while tracking guitars with a professional producer for the first time, it suddenly struck me: I could enjoy doing this nonstop, even at 77. Music is one of those things you never really retire from. That little snippet of studio life reminded me of how happy I was when writing my first songs while preparing for the auditions. From that moment on, I tried everything I could to get here. In 2018, I applied to Berklee, auditioned in March 2019 in Buenos Aires at EMC [Escuela de M sica Contempor nea], got accepted and awarded the Berklee World Tour scholarship, and finally started my dream studies at my dream school in the summer of 2020.

Whats been your favorite class so far, and what has it taught you? Choosing just one class from the 52 I took is no easy task. I had numerous professors who expanded my horizons and imparted the knowledge that shaped me into the person and musician I am today. I wish I could mention them all. One of them is Prince Charles Alexander, and his MP-460 Advanced Commercial Record Production Projects course played a pivotal role in my growth as a producer. The course challenged me to produce professionally crafted commercial songs every two weeks, covering songwriting, recording, production, and mixing. Pushing it even further project to project while keeping up with my other classes and student employment positions was a much-needed challenge. This experience set the bar high, exposing me to the industrys expected standards. It honed my ability to deliver exceptional results within strict time constraints. I learned to be resourceful and adaptable, as projects sometimes encounter setbacks with studio availability, artist schedules, and technical issues. Nevertheless, deadlines and expectations remain the same. When you respect your teacher and classmates, dropping the ball is never an option, so you get creative on command!

Whats a project youve worked on since coming to Berklee that youve been especially excited about? I am particularly thrilled about two current projects for international artists. However, I cannot disclose any details at this time, but hopefully, I will be able soon. There is a project that holds a special place as it grew and resonated within the industry. During Berklees 2022 Industry Bootcamp for the Billboard Hot 100 Club, I produced a track called Devil in the Details for Asia James. This song got selected by Mathew Flores, the A&R [representative from] Elektra Records (Warner Music Group), and received recent praise from Tate McRae during Asias Prot g sessions!

Watch: Tate McRae reacts to Devil in the Details, produced by Joel Quatrocchi:

How do you typically recharge or find new ideas outside of class? Lots of YouTube, Twitch, and Tidal. Watching other producers livestreams (shout-out to Ian Kirkpatrick, Dua Lipas producer) or critically listening to the music I love; deconstructing it in moments or strategic moves; and analyzing its writing, arranging, sound design, harmonic choices, and note choices helps me understand why certain music elements resonate with me. In the end, thats how I develop my sound. I like to share my findings with my teachers and colleagues, eagerly listening to their thoughts and feedback. I get outside of my box this way.

What careers are you interested in pursuing in the future? I love music production and every single task that comes with it. I also love writing, mixing, and engineering records. Being a music producer enables me to merge all of them under one roof.

When you think towards your own future, who inspires you most? I think Zedd is amazing. Zedd has pushed the boundaries of electronic and pop music. What I love about Zedd is his ability to fuse different music styles and create hooky songs while remaining extremely musical. He is always striving for perfection, and I am the same way. His sound design is just mesmerizing. He is also a generous and kind person. He supported charities, upcoming musicians, and fans. I hope to one day be able to say that I followed in his footsteps, pursuing my passion and making a positive difference in the world.

Whats one piece of advice youd give
LINK: https://www.berklee.edu/berklee-now/news/student-spotlight-joel-quatro...
See more stories from berklee

More from Berklee

02/12/2023

Berklee Artists Collaborate on Song for Grammy-Nominated Album

Berklee Artists Collaborate on Song for Grammy-Nominated Album Marianna Matyja and V ctor Badillo B.M. '22 contributed to Lupita Infante's Amor Como E...

01/12/2023

Terri Lyne Carrington Receives Luise Vosgerchian Teaching Award from Harvard

Terri Lyne Carrington Receives Luise Vosgerchian Teaching Award from Harvard Carrington was honored with the award at a ceremony from Harvard's Office for...

30/11/2023

Berklee to Partner with Music Managers Forum-US for Boston Summit

Berklee to Partner with Music Managers Forum-US for Boston Summit The inaugural event will provide a unique opportunity for artists and managers to connect wi...

29/11/2023

Beyonc, Taylor Swift, and the Soaring Popularity of Concert Films

Beyonc , Taylor Swift, and the Soaring Popularity of Concert Films Ralph Jaccodine of Berklee's Music Business/Management Department delves into the recen...

28/11/2023

Berklee Honors TuneCore CEO at Annual Music Business Lecture

Berklee Honors TuneCore CEO at Annual Music Business Lecture Andreea Gleeson was the featured guest at the 30th Annual James G. Zafris Distinguished Lecture S...

21/11/2023

For Elena Pinderhughes, Each New Release Is a Snapshot

For Elena Pinderhughes, Each New Release Is a Snapshot The sought-after vocalist and flutist, whose collaborator credits include esperanza spalding and Herbie...

18/11/2023

Dr. Rhoda Bernard Honored with Service Award for Arts Education Advocacy

Dr. Rhoda Bernard Honored with Service Award for Arts Education Advocacy The founder and managing director of the Berklee Institute for Accessible Arts Educat...

18/11/2023

Berklee Alumni Win at the 2023 Latin Grammy Awards

Berklee Alumni Win at the 2023 Latin Grammy Awards Cristina Abaroa 91 and Juan Luis Guerra 82, 09H are among this years winners. By Colette Greenstein Nove...

15/11/2023

Whos Laufey Now

Whos Laufey Now Just two years after graduating, the alumna breaks record for the biggest debut of a jazz album on Spotify. By Cheston Knapp November 14, ...

15/11/2023

Edward Moretas Strings of Good Luck

Edward Moretas Strings of Good Luck The fortuitous acquisition of a guitar opened up a path to success for Moreta B.M. 11 By Darry Madden November 14, 2023...

15/11/2023

Berklee Celebrates 40 Years of Singers Showcase Concerts with Madonna Tribute

Berklee Celebrates 40 Years of Singers Showcase Concerts with Madonna Tribute The interdisciplinary student production will pay homage to four boundary-breaki...

15/11/2023

Student Spotlight: Lumanyano Mzi

Student Spotlight: Lumanyano Mzi The Cape Town, South Africa, drummer and contemporary writing and production major discusses his winding path to Berklee, the...

15/11/2023

Representation Counts in Jazz Faculty

Representation Counts in Jazz Faculty Berklees Institute of Jazz and Gender Justice supported a new study documenting gender disparity among educators. By Te...

15/11/2023

Kurt Maas Award Builds Bridge with Berklee

Kurt Maas Award Builds Bridge with Berklee Now in its 10th year, the biennial competition honors the legacy of Maas 65. The top prize is a scholarship to Aspi...

14/11/2023

With Feeling: For Cheche Alara, Musicians Need to Know They Are Artists First

With Feeling: For Cheche Alara, Musicians Need to Know They Are Artists First Performer, composer, producer and arranger Alara B.M. 94 talks to Berklee Today ...

14/11/2023

Artistry in the Algorithms: Music in the Age of AI

Artistry in the Algorithms: Music in the Age of AI Berklee alumni and professors speak to Berklee Today about the promise and peril of making music with AI. ...

14/11/2023

Foundation Has Awarded Berklee Students Over $5 Million in Scholarships Since Inception

Foundation Has Awarded Berklee Students Over $5 Million in Scholarships Since In...

14/11/2023

Key Changes: Music Educators Change Curricula to Meet Kids Where They Are

Key Changes: Music Educators Change Curricula to Meet Kids Where They Are Music teachers from elementary schools to high schools are using a wider repertoire,...

14/11/2023

Electronic Arts Scholarship Helps Composer Katie Rupinski Play the Long Game

Electronic Arts Scholarship Helps Composer Katie Rupinski Play the Long Game Rupinski worked with video game developer Electronic Arts (EA) after graduation, ...

13/11/2023

Berklee Student, Alumni Aim to Help Veterans Heal Through Music

Berklee Student, Alumni Aim to Help Veterans Heal Through Music Berklee student Adam Rosario and board-certified clinician Rebecca Vaudreuil B.M. '08 shar...

09/11/2023

Signature Series Presents Saxophone Prodigy Braxton Cook

Signature Series Presents Saxophone Prodigy Braxton Cook Cooks latest album blends jazz and R&B with a message of social change. By Alicia Taylor Bard Nove...

08/11/2023

Berklee Celebrates 25th Annual BMI Day with Acclaimed Composer Trevor Gureckis

Berklee Celebrates 25th Annual BMI Day with Acclaimed Composer Trevor Gureckis Gureckis and BMI's Tracy McKnight presented the BMI Film Scoring Scholarshi...

08/11/2023

Berklee Receives INSIGHT Into Diversity 2023 HEED Award

Berklee Receives INSIGHT Into Diversity 2023 HEED Award This is the second consecutive year that Berklee has been named a recipient of the award. By Media R...

07/11/2023

Berklee Hosts Major K-Pop Creators and Executives

Berklee Hosts Major K-Pop Creators and Executives The 2023 Berklee K-Pop and Beyond program includes performances from students and guest artists along with i...

07/11/2023

Berklee Hosted Doja Cat's Manager at Business of Hip-Hop Music Symposium

Berklee Hosted Doja Cat's Manager at Business of Hip-Hop Music Symposium Executive Gordan Dillard shared his knowledge and experience with Berklee student...

02/11/2023

Berklee and NEAR Foundation Partner to Launch RAIDAR

Berklee and NEAR Foundation Partner to Launch RAIDAR RAIDAR is an innovative and creator-centric marketplace for Berklee students and alums to upload and sell t...

01/11/2023

Berklee's Africana Studies Division Celebrates 50 Years of Hip-Hop

Berklee's Africana Studies Division Celebrates 50 Years of Hip-Hop Roxanne Shant , Prince Charles Alexander, and Edo G. will be the inaugural inductees in...

26/10/2023

Berklee Faculty Lead the AI Conversation at AES Convention

Berklee Faculty Lead the AI Conversation at AES Convention Berklee educators Michele Darling and Jonathan Wyner will participate in discussions on AI at the A...

25/10/2023

Applications Open for Berklee in Santo Domingo 2024

Applications Open for Berklee in Santo Domingo 2024 Registration will run through November 24. By Colette Greenstein October 25, 2023 Students Berklee in ...

25/10/2023

Amplify Berklee Gala Raises Over $1.2 Million for Berklee City Music

Amplify Berklee Gala Raises Over $1.2 Million for Berklee City Music This year's event featured a DJ set by MC Lyte and performances from the Berklee City...

25/10/2023

Electronic Arts/Berklee Charting Change Scholarship Awarded

Electronic Arts/Berklee Charting Change Scholarship Awarded Carol Gao was named the fall 2023 scholarship recipient during a panel at the World Soundtrack Awa...

24/10/2023

TikTok Is Changing the DNA of Hit Songs, and Artists Are Taking Note

TikTok Is Changing the DNA of Hit Songs, and Artists Are Taking Note Berklee songwriters explain how the smallest details of a song's structure and themes...

20/10/2023

Music That Inspired Nite Bjutis Bold Debut Album

Music That Inspired Nite Bjutis Bold Debut Album The jazz trio, which includes Berklee faculty Val Jeanty and Mimi Jones, curates a playlist of their influenc...

20/10/2023

Four Berklee Artists Move to Battle Round on The Voice

Four Berklee Artists Move to Battle Round on The Voice With two vocalists on Team Legend and one each on Team Gwen and Team Reba, Berklee talent is set to hea...

20/10/2023

Berklee Indian Ensemble Presents the Shuruaat Tour Reloaded

Berklee Indian Ensemble Presents the Shuruaat Tour Reloaded The Grammy-nominated ensemble will perform in several U.S. cities this December. By Colette Gree...

12/10/2023

Berklee Signature Series Celebrates Cuban Troubador Pablo Milans

Berklee Signature Series Celebrates Cuban Troubador Pablo Milan s The concert will feature musicians Miguel N ez and Pavel N ez performing with a Berklee en...

12/10/2023

How Generative AI Is Changing College Classes

How Generative AI Is Changing College Classes Four Berklee professors explore the educational opportunities and concerns raised by new AI tools like OpenAIs C...

07/10/2023

Lacretia Johnson Flashs Ancestral Journey Is a Call to Stay Connected to History

Lacretia Johnson Flashs Ancestral Journey Is a Call to Stay Connected to History Featured on Reuters and NBCs Nightly News, the Berklee senior vice president ...

06/10/2023

Meet Barklee, Public Safetys Resource Dog

Meet Barklee, Public Safetys Resource Dog Working with Sergeant Felix Vicente, Barklees main job is to bring comfort and emotional support to the campus commu...

30/09/2023

New Pass the Mic Podcast to Highlight Inspiring Berklee Alumni

New Pass the Mic Podcast to Highlight Inspiring Berklee Alumni Listen to the first episode featuring Captain Marvel composer Pinar Toprak B.M. '00. By Dan...

29/09/2023

Berklee Abu Dhabi Convenes Community Leaders for Creative Arts Educators Symposium

Berklee Abu Dhabi Convenes Community Leaders for Creative Arts Educators Symposi...

29/09/2023

Conservatory Student Wows Gwen Stefani on The Voice Premiere

Conservatory Student Wows Gwen Stefani on The Voice Premiere Juliette Ojedas bilingual rendition of Hopelessly Devoted to You landed her on Team Gwen. By B...

27/09/2023

Laura Bibbs Comes into Her Own on Tour with Harry Styles

Laura Bibbs Comes into Her Own on Tour with Harry Styles The trumpeter and Boston Conservatory alum performed for record-breaking crowds across the U.S. and E...

23/09/2023

Kris Davis Makes DownBeat Cover with New Village Vanguard Classic

Kris Davis Makes DownBeat Cover with New Village Vanguard Classic With her band, Diatom Ribbons, the acclaimed jazz pianist makes a live record worthy of the ...

21/09/2023

Two Alumni Compete on Season 24 of NBC's The Voice

Two Alumni Compete on Season 24 of NBC's The Voice Taylor Deneen and Claudia B are the latest Berklee artists to compete on the hit singing competition. B...

21/09/2023

Berklee Alumni Nominated for 2023 Latin Grammy Awards

Berklee Alumni Nominated for 2023 Latin Grammy Awards Juan Luis Guerra, Miguel Zen n, and Kristhyan Benitez are among this years nominees. By Colette Greens...

18/09/2023

Why the Best Cover Songs Succeed

Why the Best Cover Songs Succeed From Fast Car to Heartbeats, there's no formula to making a successful cover song. But the best covers answer two imp...

18/09/2023

Berklee City Music Celebrates 30 Years with Amplify Berklee Gala

Berklee City Music Celebrates 30 Years with Amplify Berklee Gala The annual event, filled with world-class performances, will benefit Berklee City Music stude...

16/09/2023

Deepen Your Orchestral Skills as a Film Composer

Deepen Your Orchestral Skills as a Film Composer Ever want to score a horror film, perfect your MIDI glissandi, or learn what the heck the zed clef is? Faculty ...

15/09/2023

Signature Series Presents the Elena Pinderhughes Berklee Septet

Signature Series Presents the Elena Pinderhughes Berklee Septet Pinderhughes, an award-winning vocalist and flutist, will join Berklee students for a performa...