Welcome to the official website of Connecticut based musician, photographer, and filmmaker Preston Hazard!
Here you will find all of my most recent projects as well as updates on my new endeavors! Most recently my newest record, recorded on 1" analog tape, "Human Circus" was released across streaming platforms and to cassette! If you would like a physical copy of the album, please request one in the contact section of my site! *While supplies last*. For commercial sound recording and custom video composition, please scroll to the next section! Thanks for visiting PrestonHazard.Com!
Need a film, commercial advertisement, series, or other project composed? Let me help!
My name's Preston Hazard! I'm a musician, composer and Emmy nominated television producer with over a decade of professional media and audio experience! From podcasts, film, television, to recording countless full length LP's, EP's, and singles, if it's media, I've done it all! With access to modern industry standard equipment, as well as a huge collection of vintage analog gear, my private studio is equipped for any project both big and small!
Are you looking for a custom composition for your next commercial/film/series/Youtube video/ect? Click the button down below to learn more about what I can bring to the table for your project!
Why Analog Tape?
When I began my musical journey back in the early 2010's I was still a very young child. I had no concept of analog VS. digital recording. For all I knew, music had been made on laptops and Protools since the dawn of the recording industry. All I cared about was my guitar and 50's - 90's rock n' roll! With just a dream and a basic understanding of pop song composition, I set out to make the absolute best rock songs I could muster up! At first I was a bit shaky, but after a while I slowly began to understand the process, and before long I was writing and recording complete songs.
Finishing lyrics mid "session" C. 2018
With my new found ability to write and record exactly what was on my mind, I quickly began to realize the important roll production played on my music. So like any Gen-Z musician, I did my best to learn everything I could about the world of in the box mixing and mastering. As I grew more comfortable with my DAW, I began to copy the production styles of my favorite producers. Among my greatest inspirations was the late great Paul Rothchild, Rick Ruben, Brendan O'Brien, and. of course George Martin. As I honed in my skills and began obsessively learning each and every nuance of the process, I started to realize that something in my mixes was lacking. The more I would compare my songs to classic tracks by the Doors or modern hits by Pearl Jam, Tom Petty and even Marilyn Manson, the more I'd wonder what they had that mine didn't. Then it hit me, each and everyone of my favorite records was at least partially recorded using analog tape.
Just like that, I decided I had to get my hands on a tape machine. I search and searched for months on end until I found a late 70's Tascam multichannel recorder. When I finally got my 80-8 home, I immediately began experimenting with it. After much trial and error, I managed to record a basic eight track demo. I then digitized the song and hooked my phone up to my car so that I could listed to what I had just made. That is what I finally heard what I had been chasing for years. The magic that all my favorite songs had in common was indeed analog tape! My first few (or few dozen) analog recordings left much to be desired, but after countless hours of practicing (and a few YouTube 'How To' videos) I finally got the hang of analog production. All in all, my journey through tape was an amazing experience. So after five years, and thousands of dollars spent on 91% isopropyl alcohol, cotton swabs, leader tape, razor blades, and miles of cables, I can honestly say I'm proud to posses the knowledge that so many of my hero's before me had! If there's one thing I hope you can take away from my story, It's that never let the fear of the unknown stop you from pursuing your dreams and creating what you want to create! If I can do it, so you you!
~ Preston Hazard
