Workshops

About

Manitoba Music is celebrating International Women’s Day throughout the month of March with the launch of a new three-part speaker series: GEAR UP (Gender Equity in Audio Recording and Music Production). 

Women have been massively underrepresented in the audio production world, making up only 2% of all producing positions across the 2020 Billboard Hot 100 songs, according to The Annenberg Inclusion Initiative’s 2021 report. Women and non-binary people working in music production – and particularly BIPOC producers and engineers  – face substantial barriers to participation and a lack of opportunities for mentorship, experience, and career growth. 

Featuring prominent women engineers and producers, the virtual speaker series aims to create connections with aspiring women and non-binary audio engineers and producers and established professionals alike, and build awareness of the issues in the music community through discussion of career journeys, creative and business mentorship, and lived experiences. The GEAR UP Speaker Series is made possible by the support of FACTOR and Manitoba Film & Music.

About the Speaker

Simone Torres is a Multi-Platinum, Grammy Nominated Engineer, Vocal Producer, and Vocalist from New York. She has worked with people such as Normani, Jessie J, Camila Cabello, Cardi B, Monsta X, Sia, Justin Trantor, Nija, Kelly Rowland, Chloe Bailey, Usher, The Backstreet Boys, Dua Lipa, and more. Some notable accomplishments include Vocal Producing Normani’s “Motivation” and engineering Cardi B’s “I Like It” and “Be Careful.” 

Outside of the studio, Simone also is passionate about working alongside organizations such as Women’s Audio Mission and We Are Moving The Needle to help educate and encourage young women to take on careers in the music industry. As a vocalist herself, Simone understands how stressful it can be to perform in the studio and thus aims to bring comfort and ease to her artists. The trust between a vocalist and their producer is of the utmost importance.