Every summer air brings forth its anthems, and 2024 was no exception. From the smooth vibes of Espresso to the rebellious energy of Brat, music enthusiasts were treated to a rich array of sounds. Yet, one track has not only captured attention but continues to dominate social media, making waves far beyond the usual circles. Hanumankind's "Big Dawgs" has emerged as a global sensation, resonating deeply with audiences.
The track, marked by its defiance and dominance, has become more than just a hit; it’s a cultural phenomenon. On Spotify, Big Dawgs has amassed over 65 million streams, while on Apple Music, it comfortably sits within the top 50 of global charts. Billboard reflects its widespread appeal, ranking it #11 on the Global 200 and #29 on the Hot 100. The song has also set new standards for Indian independent releases, cementing Hanumankind's place in the music industry.
With Big Dawgs ruling the playlists and charts, I had the pleasure of sitting down with one of the key figures behind this hit: Akash Shravan, the mixing and mastering engineer responsible for its polished sound. Our conversation covered his collaboration with Hanumankind, his life as an audio engineer, and his journey through the music industry. Akash also offers insight into the critical role of post-production in music, explaining how mixing and mastering are as vital as the composition itself and provides guidance for those aspiring to pursue this career path.
Concocting the Perfect Composition: Mixing and Mastering in Post-Production
Akash Shravan, a Chennai-based record producer and audio engineer, has quietly built a name in the music industry over the past decade. Starting with piano covers on Facebook and producing tracks in his spare time, Akash recently made his Bollywood debut with the song Khwabida from the film Crew, which he mixed and mastered. His portfolio also includes collaborations with prominent indie artists such as Char Diwari, Yashraj, Baby Jean and Dabzee.
Central to Akash’s work—and the music production process at large—are the often-overlooked steps of mixing and mastering. Mixing involves blending the individual components of a song, like vocals, instruments, and effects, into a cohesive whole, ensuring no element dominates the sound. Mastering, the final stage before distribution, refines the track by adjusting levels, enhancing clarity, and ensuring consistency across playback devices, making it polished and ready for release. These critical processes define the sonic quality of the music listeners hear, setting professionals like Akash apart in an increasingly competitive industry.
“It's my job to make sure everything is on point, while also following the international standards. You could have the best song in the world, but if the mix is not good, it's gonna sound like ****. But you could have a very mediocre song, but if it has good mixing, it's gonna shine,” explains Akash. “When it comes to mixing a song, it will be bare bones initially. It will be very dry. Nothing will have that emotion and this is basically my part: All that contributes to how the song is sounding,” he said.
