Discover our financing options
.png)
Eloise Lauro
London
@cielatcentre
Eloise is no stranger to the music industry. Before joining Sound Academy, she was already a signed artist with Island Records/Universal. But after stepping away from her label deal, she found herself at a crossroads.
“I wanted to have more control over the music I was making,” she explained. “I’d been signed as a singer and writer, but I wanted to understand production. I’d been trying to develop that skill on my own for years.”
When she saw the Sound Academy course, something clicked.
“I thought it was really cool… I just said, why not?”
Despite her industry experience, Eloise walked into the studio on day one feeling nervous. “I didn’t really know what to expect… I was the only girl in the room.” But the nerves faded quickly. “Everyone made me feel really comfortable. It was a nice environment.” That warmth extended into the classroom environment as well, especially with her instructor, Eoghan.
“Eoghan’s lovely. He’s so knowledgeable about everything, and he really wanted us to be hands-on. He encouraged us to make mistakes, try things, touch the equipment, actually feel it. That’s how I learn.”
Marco the lead engineer at Snap! was also a regular presence in her cohort.
“He gave us so much industry insight. We even knew people in common from past projects—it was cool.”
If there's one thing Eloise emphasizes over and over, it’s the people. The cohort she joined bonded instantly, something she remembers fondly. “Everyone in that class was really nice… they were all really cool, solid dudes. Even though I was the only girl, I felt really welcome.”
From lunchtime chats to sharing works-in-progress, the group built connections that lasted far beyond the course. One of those connections turned into real collaboration: her classmate Joe Armstrong is now helping her mix a track from her upcoming album.
“We’re still in touch—we’re actually meeting up next week.”
Even with years of professional experience, Eloise arrived at Sound Academy without formal training in key areas, “Mixing was something I never really understood.”
That changed quickly.
“The course made me listen to music differently. Now I know the purpose of EQing, leveling, removing frequencies I never noticed before… I can’t listen to music the same way anymore, in a good way.”
She also gained new confidence working with analog gear.
“I wasn’t used to any of it. It was daunting. But they encouraged us to try things, handle things, and make mistakes. It was a safe place to explore.”
And while she doesn’t use Pro Tools as her main DAW, she valued learning it.
“I have a way better understanding of how it works. I never had hands-on practice at school like I did here.”
Sound Academy’s approach—collaborative, practical, and personal—was key to Eloise’s growth.
“I didn’t have a good experience at school before. I never went to university. I was worried about learning again… but the teaching style really worked. It wasn’t patronizing. It was collaborative. We were doing it together.”
This is a normal occurrence for our students that come with a University background in Audio Engineering. They almost always tend to not have enough hands-on training with the studio equipment, an essential skill to have when seeking employment. Without the practical skills one cannot expect employment in a professional studio, that is why people come to Sound Academy.
Today, Eloise is fully independent and deep into the creation of her new album—an imaginative blend of electronic production and fairytale-inspired themes. “It’s electronic-focused… dark dance music mixed with fairytales. I wanted to create something unique.” She’s producing and mixing much of it herself. “I learned a lot from the course, and I’ve carried those skills into the production I do now.”
When asked what she would tell someone considering joining Sound Academy, Eloise didn’t hesitate.
“Talk to the people in the room. Honestly. You’ll get the most out of it if you connect with people. Even if nothing comes from it—just talk. That’s the key.”
For her, Sound Academy wasn’t just a course. It was a community. A place where she learned, collaborated, and rediscovered her confidence as a producer. As her upcoming album continues to take shape, that experience remains woven into every track.
Eloise was able to elevate her Sound through our practical and accelerated training at Snap! Studios in London. We helped her. We can help you too, schedule an appointment via our website and get your journey started!
