James Auwarter

James Auwarter is a Grammy Award-Winning audio engineer and owner of Coda Room Audio. In his 2 decades in the music industry, he has been officially credited on Grammy Award nominations. He splits his time primarily between the United States (Chicago) and The United Kingdom (London). Also called "Studio James," he is known for his diversity, having worked successfully in nearly every genre of music. Some of the music industry heavyweights who he has worked with include: Kanye West, PJ Morton, Yo-Yo Ma, Adam Levine, Kirk Franklin, Rihanna, Hezekiah Walker, Rodrigo y Gabriela, Cowboy Troy, John Legend, Donald Lawrence, Tom Higgenson, Lupe Fiasco, Kurt Elling, and many others.
== Life and Career ==
James started out as a musician himself, first on the trumpet and then in a rock band as the guitarist/front man. His early musical foundation was established while attending Stivers School for the Arts in Dayton, Ohio. In 2004, James graduated with a 96.31%, and a degree in Recording Arts from Full Sail University in Florida. He then returned to the Midwestern United States, making a name for himself in Chicago, working with Craig Bauer, the owner of Hinge Studios. Beyond Hinge Studios, James ran countless sessions out of many of Chicago's finest studios including Chicago Recording Company, IV Lab Studios, Gravity Studios, Engine Studios, Pressure Point Recording Studio, Rax Trax Recording, Transient Sound, etc.
While still freelancing out of numerous different studios, James and long-time friend Marty Abezetian founded Coda Room Audio from within Marty's Park Ridge, Illinois, primarily for mixing work. In September 2016, Coda Room Audio relocated, expanded, and launched as James' first public studio, in the Noble Square, Chicago.
In 2019, James received Arts Council England formal endorsement for a United Kingdom Visa requirements for British citizens, paving the way for a move and expansion overseas, to London.
Beyond mixing, recording, and mastering music in the studio, James has had success writing and producing, working Live sound mixing (both Front of house engineer), and even working on the award-winning short film Falling Up. James served as Music Director, coordinating between music composer and director for this film, hiring musicians, producing live performances of all music parts, and mixing in 5.1 surround sound. He's dabbled in the occasional audio post work, engineering commercials for huge companies such as Coca-Cola, Allstate, and Flintstone vitamins. James edited and mastered the entire audio book Progress and Poverty for the Henry George School of Social Science. James has led many workshops and masterclasses around the world, including at Abbey Road Studios, and has done formal part-time teaching at the University|university level for over 5 years. James' teaching has even extended to his daughter, Miela Marley Auwarter, who has assisted on productions, building her own discography. 
Auwarter has been credited with 32 Grammy nominations, winning one for his work with The Clark Sisters. His collaborations include high-profile artists such as Kanye West, Rihanna, and John Legend. 
Auwarter is involved in education, delivering guest lectures on Dolby Atmos Mixing and teaching at institutions like ICMP (Institute of Contemporary Music Performance).
== Grammy Recognitions ==
* Grammy Award Winner (2008): Best Traditional Gospel Album (The Clark Sisters - Live - One Last Time) - Engineer
* Credited on 32 Grammy nominations to date
63rd Annual Grammy Awards Nominations:
* Best Gospel Album (PJ Morton - Gospel According to PJ: From the Songbook of PJ Morton)
59th Annual Grammy Awards Nominations:
* Best Gospel Performance/Song (Hezekiah Walker - "Better")
55th Annual Grammy Awards Nominations:
* Best Gospel Song (Bill Winston & Living Word Featuring Donald Lawrence - “Released”)
53rdAnnual Grammy Awards Nominations:
* Best Traditional Gospel Album (Vanessa Bell Armstrong- The Experience)
52nd Annual Grammy Awards Nominations:
* Best Traditional Gospel Album (Donald Lawrence & Co. - The Law of Confession, Part I)
* Best Traditional Gospel Album (Various Artists - Oh Happy Day)
* Best Contemporary R&B Gospel Album (Heather Headley - Audience of One)
51st Annual Grammy Awards Nominations:
* Best Rap/Sung Collaboration (Lupe Fiasco Featuring Matthew Santos – “Superstar”)
 
* Best Rap Song (Lupe Fiasco Featuring Matthew Santos - "Superstar (Lupe Fiasco song)")
 
* Best Rap Album (Lupe Fiasco - Lupe Fiasco's The Cool)
 
* Best Contemporary R&B Gospel Album (The Murrills - Family Prayer)
50th Annual Grammy Awards Nominations:
* Best Urban/Alternative Performance (Lupe Fiasco Featuring Jill Scott - “Daydreamin' (Lupe Fiasco song)’”)
* Best Jazz Vocal Album (Kurt Elling - Nightmoves)
 
* Best Contemporary R&B Gospel Album (Coko - Grateful (Coko album))
 
* Best Gospel Performance (The Clark Sisters - "Blessed & Highly Favored")
 
* Best Gospel Song (The Clark Sisters - "Blessed & Highly Favored")
 
* Best Gospel Song (Donald Lawrence - "Encourage Yourself")
 
* Best Traditional Gospel Album (The Clark Sisters - Live – One Last Time)
 
* Best Traditional Gospel Album (Donald Lawrence & The Tri-City Singers - The Grand Finale': Encourage Yourself)
49th Annual Grammy Awards Nominations:
* Best Rap Album (Lupe Fiasco - Lupe Fiasco's Food & Liquor)
 
* Best Rap Solo Performance (Lupe Fiasco - "Kick, Push")
 
* Best Rap Song (Lupe Fiasco - "Kick, Push")
 
* Best Gospel Performance (Donald Lawrence & The Tri-City Singers - "The Blessing of Abraham")
 
* Best Gospel Song (Donald Lawrence & The Tri-City Singers - "The Blessing of Abraham")
 
* Best Traditional Gospel Album (Donald Lawrence & The Tri-City Singers - Finalé Act One)
48th Annual Grammy Awards Nominations:
* Album of The Year (Kanye West - Late Registration)
* Best Rap Album (Kanye West - Late Registration)
* Best Gospel Performance (Hezekiah Walker & Love Fellowship Choir - "Lift Him Up")
* Best Gospel Song (Hezekiah Walker & Love Fellowship Choir - "Lift Him Up")
 
* Best Gospel Choir or Chorus Album (Hezekiah Walker & Love Fellowship Choir - 20/85 The Experience)
 
* Best Gospel Choir or Chorus Album (Donald Lawrence & Company - I Speak Life)
* Best Traditional Soul Gospel Album (Marvin Sapp - Be Exalted)
== RIAA Platinum/Gold Awards ==
Artist 	Title 	Award
Kanye West 	Late Registration 	4x Platinum
Kanye West 	Heard 'Em Say 	Platinum
Kanye West 	Graduation 	5x Platinum
Kanye West 	Flashing Lights 	3x Platinum
Rihanna 	A Girl like Me 	2x Platinum
Rihanna 	We Ride 	Gold
Ludacris 	Disturbing tha Peace (album)	Gold
Shawnna 	Gettin' Some 	Platinum
Donald Lawrence and The Tri City Singers	Finale Act 1 	Gold
Donald Lawrence and The Tri City Singers	Finale Act 2 	Gold
Lupe Fiasco 	The Cool 	Gold
Lupe Fiasco 	Superstar 	Platinum
== Partial Client/Project List ==
* Kanye West
* Lupe Fiasco
* Rihanna
* Rodrigo y Gabriela
* Flavor Flav
* Rhymefest
* Shawnna
* Twista
* KRS-One
* Crucial Conflict
* John Legend
* Bump J
* Jennifer Hudson
* Kurt Elling
* Laurence Hobgood
* Bob Mintzer
* Adam Levine
* PJ Morton
* Yo-Yo Ma
* Sense8
* Jon Guerra
* Tom Higgenson
* Jersey Boys
* Stranglehold (video game)
* Coko
* Patty Griffin
* Mavis Staples
* Donald Lawrence
* Hezekiah Walker
* Marvin Sapp
* Fred Hammond
*Percy Bady
* Bobby Jones (singer)|Bobby Jones
* Vanessa Bell Armstrong
* Heather Headley
* DJ Khaled
* J. Moss
* Byron Cage
* Jamila Woods
* Smokie Norful
* Saba (rapper)
* JoAnn Rosario
* The Clark Sisters
* Vickie Winans
* Yolanda Adams
* Howard Levy
* Steve Rodby
* Steve Cole
*Rob Parton's Jazztech Big Band
* DeWayne Woods
* Theodore Bikel
*Jay-Z
* Malik Yusef
* Dennis DeYoung
* Matt Walker (drummer)
* Anita Wilson
* Dave Hollister
* Anthony Hamilton (musician)
* Kirk Franklin
* Kirk Franklin|Lil' Ed & The Blues Imperials
* Wayne Baker Brooks
* Percy Gray Jr. / Chicago Mass Choir
* Really Doe
* GLC (rapper)
* Cowboy Troy
* King Louie (rapper)
* Rico Love
==In the media==
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Category:Audio engineering
Category:Record producers