Weaving Sounds Into Stories: The Sonic Journey of Kauner Michael MM ’20

Kauner Michael MM ’20 is a producer dedicated to the art of storytelling through sound. His work spans music, film, advertising, and broadcast. After graduating from Berklee Valencia, he began his career at Westlake Recording Studios in Los Angeles, world-renowned home to artists like Stevie Wonder, Michael Jackson, and Beyoncé. Since then, he has mixed hundreds of records, produced countless hours of radio programming, and shaped the soundscape of film and advertising through his distinctive audio craftsmanship. 

A month after earning his master’s in Music Production, Technology, and Innovation (MPTI) from Berklee Valencia in 2020, Michael moved to Los Angeles to begin a role at the legendary Westlake Recording Studios. Despite a music industry reeling from a global pandemic that year, he credits landing the role to the networking and industry insights he developed during his time in the MPTI program.

Since then, Michael has continued to score career milestones in sound design and mixing. One of his recent highlights includes his work in mixing sound for a paid partnership advertising campaign between Artnet and Lexus, titled “You Only Live Once,” featuring the work of land artist Jim Denevan. For Michael, this project marked a defining moment: blending high-end commercial storytelling with his ability to elevate visual art through immersive sound design.

He has also expanded into audio production for radio, leading a team of audio producers to design top-tier immersive listening experiences for platforms like iHeartRadio, Sonos Radio and Audacy.

At the core of his sonic craftsmanship is a deep commitment to intentionality, creativity, and storytelling through sound. “First, I need to figure out what the intention is with whatever I’m working on,” he said. “That’s the puzzle and challenge for me: how do I decode what they’re going for, and then make it 10, 20, 30 percent better?” When designing sound for visual media, Michael often enters at the final stages of the creative process, looking to elevate the experience. “You’re pretty close to the finish line. So how do I elevate it? How do I present it in the best light?” he explained.

While traditional mixing forms the bulk of Michael's work, his approach goes beyond the technical. For him, sound is a tool for impact and narrative depth. His attention to dynamic range and movement reflects a commitment to making every sonic decision serve the story. “I really find it interesting to play with things, to have dynamism flowing through a mix. Maybe the vocal is really tiny here, and then maybe it’s distorted and wrecked in this next section. Maybe that connects with the story. Maybe that helps tell the story.”

That creative sensitivity, paired with an innovative approach to technology, is something he carries with him from his time at Berklee Valencia. “It's easy to get caught up in all the flashy new tools and software and the tech talk. But I think the most valuable lesson that I got out of Berklee was learning to stay grounded and to always remember what we're doing.”  

That philosophy extends to his work with artists as well. One of his most meaningful partnerships has been with Nasir AlBashir MM ’20, a producer and close friend he met in class at Berklee Valencia. Together, they worked and shaped the entire catalog of zeyne, an emerging artist in the Middle East and North African region. “The ultimate superpower of going to Berklee is the network,” Michael expressed. If he were to offer one piece of advice to students looking to make their mark across the music industry, it would be to invest in building strong relationships early on, as the greatest opportunities lie in one another. “There’s so much raw talent at Berklee. To have that as your resource is so rare.” 

Looking ahead, Michael is working for the first time ever on an artist’s debut album, having previously worked only on singles. “I wish I could tell you more, but I would get myself in trouble. To be able to work on an album is truly special and I’m really excited for that,” he said. As his career continues to expand, Michael is in the process of transitioning into new creative territories, moving beyond music mixing to further exploring the worlds of film, TV, and advertising.