From South Africa to Hollywood: Top South African Producer ‘Ciaran de Chaud’ rises from garage studio in South Africa to Grammy winning Los Angeles Studio
South African music producer/engineer, Ciaran De Chaud (27) enters 1416 North La Brea Ave Hollywood for work each day. It’s the historic location of Charlie Chaplins’ 1917 studio and today it operates as Henson, one of the music industry’s top recording facilities collaborating with artists like Taylor Swift, John Mayer and The Rolling Stones.
De Chaud started out in a garage studio in Johannesburg South Africa, pitching for music for commercials against industry veterans in swanky studios. His was a makeshift backyard set up, yet through his extraordinary talent and determined work ethic, he landed the pitches. He quickly built a reputation as a young producer/engineer with exceptional skill and versatility.
Executive producer and owner of award-winning Cape Town production agency, 7Films Lourens Van Rensburg views Mr de Chaud as a rare rising star in the industry.
“There are very few people worldwide who are able to use the language of music to elevate our products in the way Ciaran can. His soundtracks always hit the mark emotionally and that is a true and rare talent”
Within a year, Ciaran had produced and engineered music for commercials for a range of major brands including Gillette, Mercedes Benz, Checkers, and Globacom. His sensitive story-driven work with Gillette in 2018 became a cultural phenomenon and earned a mention from SA President Cyril Ramaphosa. Cieran played a pivotal role in its success garnering over 508 000 views on YouTube alone.
He has an innate ability to understand and lift the vision of a brand to create soundtracks that leave a lasting impression. Whether it’s the engaging music and audio production of the Globacom – Glo Super Value Pack commercial or the soulful compelling message conveyed in the Checkers Grow campaign, de Chaud’s contributions consistently set him apart as a master of his craft.
De Chaud was set for a bright future in the advertising space in South Africa, but when he was offered a scholarship to hone his skills at Berklee in Boston and broaden his career horizons, he gathered his hard-earned savings and set off for the States.
He arrived in Boston in 2019 and he left 4 years later as the top student in the sought-after Music Production and Engineering Department. Ciaran was the stand-out inaugural recipient of the Al Schmitt Award in 2022, given in recognition of the most exceptional upcoming engineer.
De Chaud worked under many industry icons, including Grammy winners Prince Charles Alexander (Notorious B.I.G, P Diddy), Leanne Ungar (Leonard Cohen) and Susan Rogers (Prince). He soon established collegial relationships with these leading industry figures and was entrusted with teaching and mentoring for Berklee College. Ciaran developed and managed a successful engineering mentoring initiative and established himself as an integral team member. He was first among a group of students hosted by Abbey Road and Real World Studios in the UK.
While in the US, de Chaud worked alongside multiple Grammy winner Larry Klein, known for his work with Joni Mitchell, Herbie Hancock, Tracy Chapman and many others. De Chaud and Larry Klein co-produced the debut album ‘The Space Between’ with Norwegian Artist Ingrid Saga. Reflecting on Ciaran’s contribution, Ingrid said “Working with Ciaran is both serious digging for depths and pockets of meaning, and just a great freaking hang! He helps shape my music into what it is becoming”.
Mr. de Chaud made significant waves in the music industry as a recording engineer on Jon Ranes’ album “Loverboy.” With his meticulous attention to detail and astute technical expertise, de Chaud helped shape the sonic identity of the album, resulting in an impressive cumulative total of approximately 8.8 million streams on Spotify alone. “Loverboy” soared to number two on Spotify’s “Top Albums – Norway” chart, solidifying de Chaud’s status as a force to be reckoned with in the music world.
More recently, Ciaran firmly set his sights on a position at Henson Recording Studios as his next step:
“Hensons’ history, its insane studios and equipment, the A-listers who come through the doors every day, all offer me an escalated leap into the top echelons of the music industry. It is an opportunity I had to take”
In a competitive industry in the heart of music country, Ciaran was quickly offered a position at Henson. His outstanding track record and the esteem in which industry masters hold him sealed the contract. Ciaran is now part of a team of seasoned staff who serve the studio’s prolific and legendary artists His journey from the backyard to the top end is characterized by strength of character, a remarkable team spirit, and limitless talent.
Ciaran de Chaud is not just a master of sound but a true visionary whose contributions will resonate for years to come.
INDUSTRY ACCOLADES:
Cieran De Chaud is an accomplished audio engineer known for his remarkable work in composing, producing, and engineering various projects. His career highlights include:
Composing, producing, and engineering the culturally significant Gillette – Nosizwe Commercial, which garnered over 508,000 views on YouTube and earned recognition from South African President Cyril Ramaphosa.
Collaborating with major brands like Globacom, White Star Super Maize Meal, and Checkers on impactful advertising campaigns, showcasing his talent and expertise.
Contributing as a recording engineer on Jon Ranes’ album “Loverboy,” which amassed approximately 8.8 million streams on Spotify alone and reached number two on Spotify’s “Top Albums – Norway” chart.
Accomplishments Summary:
Successfully composed, produced, and engineered commercial projects for globally recognized brands like Gillette, Globacom, White Star Super Maize Meal, and Checkers, achieving significant online views and industry recognition.
Garnered acclaim and impressive streaming numbers as a recording engineer on Jon Ranes’ album “Loverboy,” contributing to its chart success and solidifying his reputation in the music industry.
