Brandon Blackwell images courtesy (L) Matthew Cook (R) Kevin Abel
When Brandon Blackwell was only nine years old, he was already mixing live sound for his local church in New Jersey. It all started when he went to a Sade concert as a child. He noticed the sound board and was mesmerized. It launched a career that started at church, sailed through college and landed on the stages of international artists like Alicia Keys, Kendrick Lamar, Drake, Camila Cabello, Tori Kelly, and many more. Now he’s adding award-winning author to his resume, publishing a children’s book called, “The Beat in My Head.” It’s based on the true story of how Blackwell became an audio engineer.
In the book, the boy Brandon is always hearing a beat in his head and tapping it out, often to the chagrin of his teachers and parents. They struggle with what to do about this “problem” and take him to a therapist and try several sports as energy outlets - none of which are helpful. Finally, the family attends a concert just for fun and Brandon is exposed to the man at the sound board. He is fascinated and the next Sunday at church they meet the church’s audio engineer who, it turns out, also has a beat in his head.
“We were driven by a profound desire to challenge prevailing misconceptions about misunderstood children and the quick recourse to medication as a solution by some parents and educators.”
‘The Beat in My Head’ transcended being just a children's book; it became a platform through which we sought to advocate for a more compassionate and empathetic approach to understanding and nurturing the potential of all children, especially those with unique perspectives and talents that may not conform to traditional norms,” says Blackwell.
Although the story's origins date back to Blackwell's childhood, the book was written during the pandemic to foster a message of resilience and creativity.
“It symbolizes our ability to find light in challenging times and to pursue our dreams even when faced with adversity. We hope readers will be inspired by our story of perseverance and the creative spark that can emerge during difficult periods,” he says.
Brandon and Ariel Blackwell at the United Center in Chicago, Illinois. Image courtesy Anastacia Gilmore
“The Beat in My Head” marks the beginning of a series of children’s books the couple plans to release and has received a Mom’s Choice Award. The Blackwells have had the honor of reading the book aloud to inner-city school children in Chicago, including those with special needs. And it’s also having an impact on audio professionals and their kids.
“It's heartening to hear from industry professionals who have reached out to me, expressing how our book has helped them explain their work to their own children. This underscores the practical value of ‘The Beat in My Head’ in bridging the gap between professional lives and family conversations,” Blackwell enthuses. “Additionally, adults have found a personal connection to the characters in the book, recognizing reflections of themselves in the narrative. This widespread resonance highlights the universal themes we've explored and emphasizes the transformative power of storytelling to foster understanding and empathy across generations and professions.”
Blackwell's childhood roots in church tech led him to believe that church tech teams have a valuable opportunity to engage and inspire youth who are wired for production work.
Blackwell graduated from Full Sail University in 2013 with a degree in Show Production and Touring and afterward returned home to New Jersey to begin his own company, Blackwell Productions. This eventually launched a remarkable career in the music industry, working in the demanding world of monitor mixing for artists like Chaka Khan, Jennifer Hudson, The Isley Brothers, and Angie Stone. He says the pivotal moment arrived when he was hired to mix monitors for R&B icon Ne-Yo. Then during his first major tour, Blackwell found himself standing shoulder to shoulder with TLC as their monitor engineer and production manager.
Brandon Blackwell at Full Sail University’s Studio A. Photo by Ariel Blackwell.
Amidst this illustrious career, Blackwell yearned to give back. He extended his expertise to aspiring studio and live audio engineers, as well as students from pre-K to college, forging partnerships with Diversify the Stage, My Brother's Keeper, and Guitars Over Guns Alliance through the Obama Foundation.
His childhood roots in church tech led him to believe that church tech teams have a valuable opportunity to engage and inspire youth who are wired for production work. “The first step is to create an environment that is welcoming and inclusive for young individuals of all ages,” he says. “Much like my own journey, starting from duplicating cassette tapes and CDs, it's essential to offer entry-level tasks that allow them to get their feet wet and discover their interests within the tech team. These seemingly small tasks can serve as the foundation for a lifelong passion for production work.”
As kids become more skilled Blackwell says it’s crucial to provide opportunities for growth and exploration within the team and encourage them to try different roles to find their own personal niche and develop diverse skills sets.
“This exposure can be transformative and may lead them to discover a deep passion for a specific aspect of production work, as it did for me with audio engineering,” he says.
In closing, Blackwell says, if feasible, he promotes the idea of compensating youth for their contributions to church tech teams within legal standards and requirements.
“Paying them not only shows appreciation for their efforts but also introduces the concept of a potential career opportunity in production work. It's a way to convey that their skills and dedication are valued, and it may inspire them to pursue a career in this field. Ultimately, by creating an inclusive, exploratory, and rewarding environment, church tech teams can make a meaningful difference in the lives of youth who have a passion for production work, helping them develop both personally and professionally.”
