Alumni Spotlight: Kaliyah Escoffery aka Sapio From aspiring engineer to industry-ready professional

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Find the right opportunity

Kaliyah discovered Sound Academy through social media but had almost forgotten about her application until she received a call that would change her future. “I was so happy to hear from you. I was worried my application hadn’t gone through, so getting this information was a huge relief. I was already familiar with Quad Studios, so that motivated me even more.”

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Before joining Sound Academy, Kaliyah had experience as an intern at several studios, but she felt something was still missing. “My recordings were good, but not good enough to really make the music come through. Now, after completing the training, I find my tracks have much more clarity. I think my songs are radio-ready.”

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Immediate immersion in practice

From day one, the learning was hands-on and immersive. “Every week, we worked on the patch bay, setting up the microphones, and using the equipment. I really felt like I had a complete university experience. I had studied audio engineering at LIU Brooklyn, but I hadn’t learned everything I needed to know—Sound Academy really gave me that knowledge.”

She attributes her newfound confidence and technical skills to the program’s teaching approach. “Lucho made sure we learned exactly what we needed to. He always answered our questions precisely.”

Lucho is recognized by all his students for his expertise and effective teaching approach. The program's environment allows creatives to grow together, and Lucho has made their goals more attainable thanks to his attention to detail and commitment.

"Every student in the program was a creative in their field, and I made many enriching connections. We even had the opportunity to mix unreleased tracks from various artists, including an unreleased track by Sexy Redd—it was an incredible experience."

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Overcoming challenges & always going further

One of Kaliyah's biggest challenges has been learning to record professionally under pressure. "Focusing on timing and speed in every session was difficult. But I'm going to keep practicing on my own to improve."

She also acknowledges that feedback from her instructors played a crucial role in her progress. "I was able to mix my own music and get feedback from Lucho. It really helped me refine my mixes and bring them to a professional level—an outside perspective makes all the difference."

Learning audio engineering is challenging, with obstacles to overcome. But with professional guidance, everything becomes more accessible.

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Advice for future students

Kaliyah encourages new students to stay committed and attend every class. The program is fast-paced and intensive, and every studio session is valuable. “It’s a worthwhile opportunity. Come to every class, because missing a session means missing out on a lot of information. If it were easy, everyone would do it.”

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And now, what's next for Kaliyah?

With her newly honed skills and valuable studio experience, Kaliyah is ready to make her mark in the music industry.

“I want to work in a studio as soon as possible. The more my resume grows, the higher I aim—I don’t set any limits for myself.”

We are incredibly proud of Kaliyah’s journey and can’t wait to see how far she goes!

🚀📅 Ready to take the next step? Book a call with us today!

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🎵 Follow Kaliyah on :
🔗 Linktree - Sapio