"What's most important to me is creating the sounds I imagine, sharing them with others and conveying emotions," says Princeton Brown.  

Of Jamaican descent, Princeton Brown is a local Minnesota music producer, mixing & mastering engineer, singer-songwriter, and entrepreneur who has his own “Princeton Brown Mastering" company. His father is a DJ in Jamaica and his mother is a classical pianist. His parents were a significant influence in sparking his musical journey. At the age of 4, he joined a music school and became a musician before mixing and mastering. He mainly played the piano, drums, and bass, which allowed him to help produce the sounds he makes today.  

Noëmie G - "How did you come up with the idea of ​​working in music?"  

Princeton B - "The desire to work in music came to me naturally, but also thanks to my family. I was raised in a musical household where piano lessons where a must and music never stopped playing. My music foundation comes from, and will always remain, from my family."  

Creation is for him the most important thing in his work. He has the ability to reproduce the sounds he imagines in his head for real, and the fact that everyone can listen to them as well as helping people produce songs makes his work wonderful. That's what music does to him, the sharing of emotions with everyone is a fabulous thing for him. 

Noëmie G - "What types of music do you produce?"  

Princeton B - "I specialize in the creation of Reggae, Pop, and RnB musical genres. Many of my inspirations for creating music are inspired by the journeys I've made and the cultures I’ve experience, specifically my Jamaican culture.  

He has had many collaborations. He collaborates with everyone, for example, with artists from Norway, South America, Jamaica, South Korea, South Africa, and many other places around the world. 

Noëmie G - "Who inspires you the most in music and what you do?" 

Princeton B - "At the level of creativity in general, I would say Bob Marley, Michael Jackson, Pharrell Williams and Timbaland for his production excellence. There is also Scott Storch, Prince, and Stevie Wonder to consider. Bob Marley has most inspired me because he managed to get positive messages, messages of his mind, into his songs, translated his messages into music and changed the perceptions of many issues for many people in the world.” 

He describes music in 3 words: emotion, for how music makes him feel. Connection, for the sharing of his emotions through music as well as the collaborations involved. And finally, growth, for the ability of sound and music to transform oneself into a new being. 

Noëmie G - "What is mixing and mastering?" 

Princeton B - "Mixing and mastering are the final stages in the production of a song or album before it's released (post-production phase).The mixing process is, essentially, like baking a cake, and adding the right amount of each ingredient to get the perfect balanced taste. If there is too much of any one ingredient within the cake mix then these elements will overpower other great tasting elements within the cake, creating an imbalance and not as desirable outcome. Every sound has its own space and it’s time to shine within the song. Without mixing, the music would not be as good or enjoyable through the speakers and headphones with which we listen to music. Mastering is the last process that a song undergoes. In mastering, I make sure the mix sounds optimal on every sound source (from car speakers and hifi stereos all the way to earbuds) so wherever the song is heard all instruments and sounds are clear, full, punchy, strong, and together. Mastering is the icing on the cake that makes a cake special, tastier, unique, and what it is. Both processes (mixing and mastering) are necessary to obtain “radio-ready" or "commercial" results.” 

Noëmie G - "What does music mean to you?" 

Princeton B - "Music for me is a tool most importantly. It’s a tool that all musicians, singers, producers, or anyone can use for better or for worse. Music has the power to spread messages, make people happy, sad, angry, teach, dance, empower, and take action. If music were to be banned from the world we live in, there would simply be war. That’s how powerful music is. Music also tells the story of each generation. If you want to know what it was like in the 40s, 70s, 90s, or even early 2000s, all you have to do is add some music form these decades to your playlist. If you listen well enough, music can tell you everything you need to know.”