Sonic-Rocket Productions
Sonic-Rocket has always been more than a recording studio. It's been a labor of love, made possible by some extraordinarily talented and generous people. Three individuals in particular have left an indelible mark on the studio and on my life.
Shea Thompson in the control room.
Chief Engineer | 2016–2021
Not long after I finished putting up the walls and running cables through the floor, I placed an ad on Craigslist looking for an engineer. After interviewing a parade of less-than-promising candidates, I met a young man named Shea Thompson.
From the moment we shook hands, I knew there was something special about him. He had a twinkle in his eye and an easygoing charm that told me our clients would love him.
When I asked about his experience, he pulled a photograph from his pocket. It showed a living room packed wall-to-wall with synthesizers. Rick Wakeman meets Modest Mouse.
"Holy crap! Where is this?" I asked.
"Oh, that's my dad's music room," he replied. "I help him make tracks for his audio therapy business."
I knew I'd found my guy.
Shea dug right in and was instrumental in getting our Rocket off the ground. His talent, enthusiasm, and natural ability to connect with people helped shape what Sonic-Rocket would become.
I was sad when he left to run his father's business full-time, but I knew it was the right move. And, like most everything Shea touches, he's made a tremendous success of it.
I'll always be grateful for what Shea brought to Sonic-Rocket, especially during those critical early years.
Matt Day at the Kronos.
Chief Technology Officer | Former Chief Engineer, 2022–2026
In August 2022, I unexpectedly found myself without a chief engineer. Fortunately, former client Daniel Martin came to the rescue, helping with sessions and introducing me to Matt Day, who had been working at a studio in Temecula.
What a stroke of luck that turned out to be.
Matt is, quite simply, one of the smartest people I've ever met. His knowledge of professional audio is encyclopedic, his production skills are extraordinary, and his musical tastes run the gamut, with a particular passion for EDM and dance music. He's also an award-winning producer, with a win in a Cymatics competition for original production.
To this day, nobody knows more about how Sonic-Rocket actually works than Matt.
But as impressive as his technical skills are, they're not what makes him truly special. Matt is a kind, generous soul who genuinely loves helping others bring their creative visions to life.
When other commitments made it difficult for him to continue taking regular sessions, Matt graciously stepped aside as Chief Engineer and became our CTO. He continues to keep us current with technology, explore the possibilities of AI, and rescue us whenever we encounter a problem nobody else can solve.
Without Matt, I would have been hard-pressed to keep Sonic-Rocket going. His technical brilliance was only part of the story. It was his kindness, encouragement, and compassion that helped me through some particularly difficult times.
I'm eternally grateful that Matt remains part of the Sonic-Rocket family.
John Saccoman mid-repair in the Shuttle Bay.
Electronics Genius, Musical Mentor & Dear Friend
I met John before Sonic-Rocket ever opened its doors. Despite being hopeless at anything athletic, I'd joined a local bowling league just for fun. John was randomly assigned to my team.
I adored him instantly.
John is hysterically funny, goofy, irreverent, and just plain fun to be around. We soon discovered our mutual love of music, started recording together, and became the closest of friends.
When I undertook building Sonic-Rocket, I quickly found myself in over my head with the technical details. Typical of me to bite off more than I could chew.
John to the rescue!
Simply put, there is NOTHING John can't figure out or fix. He did much of the studio's original wiring and, after numerous emergency deep dives into the guts of our mixing console, probably knows more about the Allen & Heath GS-R24M than the people who built it.
But John's talents go far beyond electronics. He's an extraordinary musician, the finest bassist I've ever had the privilege of playing with, a wonderful singer, and a brilliant arranger.
When he joined my band, I named it The Brilliant Deductions, largely in his honor. John has an uncanny ability to listen to one of my songs, deduce what's worth pursuing, figure out exactly what it needs, and help me bring it to life in ways I could never have imagined on my own.
John means the world to me. His musical gifts and technical wizardry never cease to amaze me, but it's his honesty, generous spirit, and unwavering friendship that I treasure most.
I'd be lost without my best friend. I love him dearly.
Sonic-Rocket Productions · Fallbrook, California
