Exclusive Interview with Laszlo Gajda – Universal Music and Sony Music as Director of A&R for over a decade.

First, I’d just like to thank you for taking the time out to sit down with us for this interview.

Randy: Let’s start with your work at Universal Music and Sony Music as Director of A&R for over a decade. When identifying new talent and understanding the labels investment in the artist and the artist’s role as a revenue stream for the Label – what type of factors did you consider before inking a deal? What did you look for?

Laszlo: Charisma. I think that this is the most important. I always say that a producer can correct the pitch of a vocal track but there is no “feeling knob” on the gadgets. Several times I offered a contract to kind of artists who e.g. were not the best singers but they had something unexplainable feature. My colleagues were unwilling to offer a contract to them but I was insistent and the time verified my intuition. If the artist is a singer – songwriter then the songs he/she comes up with also must be remarkable.

Randy: You’ve been in the music business for over 25 years and now you’re working at Universal Music Publishing Group – providing financial and operational support to the team. Can you tell us what a day in the world of Laszlo Gajda is like?

Laszlo: I spend my mornings with emails, calls and meetings. Then I always take an hour  lunch break which is very important. I think that we all should spend at least an hour during the day taking a breath, switching off and just simply enjoying life. This break energizes me so I am more productive than without it. Then I go to the studio to produce songs and make my A&R job. I like to pull out 100% from everything in my life so when I am working I am focusing only to it. However, after working hours I turn my mobile phone’s data connection off. No emails, no Facebook, no Twitter. Just relaxing and being dedicated to the family. Hundred percent.

Randy: What made you decide to do this? At what point in your life did you decide a career in the music business was right for you?

Laszlo: I decided it when I was 14. Becoming a musician or a music expert was complicated in my country that time. I had to live many other things while the opportunity came. I used to be a university student of chemistry, salesclerk and sometimes unemployed. The key of the future success was not giving my dreams  up even in that period when I could not see how it would end up. I was just working on reaching my goals, learning more about music and the music industry. I was sparing all of my money to buy gears in order to build up my first own studio. While other guys went to cinema I put the money into my piggy bank instead of going with them…

Then one day I was in my studio and mixing a song for an upcoming artist when the phone rang. Mr Hegedus called me. His name might not sound familiar with you but he is the most famous manager in the music industry of my country and he used to be the Managing Director of PolyGram (later Universal Music) that time. His question was very simple and got to the point: “Laszlo do you want to be the A&R Director of PolyGram?” Later, I got to know that he had been watching me and my works for long time before; he had listened to all of my demo recordings, had analyzed my decisions and had checked my all background. Then we worked together for 6 years. I have to thank him this period as I learnt a lot from him.

Randy: What advice do you have for people that would like a career in the music business? Did you receive any tips or advice that has really stuck over the years?

Laszlo: You have to be conscious about your goals, the way you would like to reach it and you should not leave anybody to discourage you from it. But at the same time you should take the advice of more experienced people who can help you to improve your skills. This, combined with talent as well, will bring you the success. Okay, some luck might be also required.

Randy: As the Music Producer, Songwriter and Sound Engineer of several Gold and Platinum Records as well as A&R to many Gold and Platinum Artists; what other producers / industry pros do you see as your primary inspirations?

Laszlo: The 70’s and 80’s determined my taste in music. Alan Parsons, the Kraftwerk – just to mention some names who impressed me from this era. I have also learnt a lot from ABBA and the Queen. Regarding the producers, I do like Timbaland’s ideas – it happens many times that he realizes something that I have also been thinking on. But I cannot talk about inspiration without mentioning names such as Phil Spector, Joe Meek, Quincy Jones, Roy Thomas Baker, Trevor Horn, Max Martin, George Martin and Steve Booker.

Randy: What do you like to do for fun outside of working on music?

Laszlo: The essence of being an artist is the richness of your soul. For me it can be reached through exploring more cultures, traveling, gardening and spending as much time with my family as I can. I would mention here that my wife and I expect our first baby at the end of the summer so I am about to live one of my most exciting stages of my life.

Randy: Let’s talk a little bit about www.musicproducer.hu/ and Soundlab. Tell us about some of the Gold and Platinum Albums that were created there.

Laszlo: My own website, musicproducer.hu was created in 2005 to help talents getting in touch with me. Since then, I have been focusing on discovering new talents and helping their improvement.

My private studio ’Soundlab‘ was established in 1989. It did not require more than 6 years and productions of the most remarkable dance and house artists were also created in my studio. Many records that left my studio became success. Just to mention a couple of examples: Soho Party, famous dance band in my country, whom hits went gold within weeks or Caramel, pop artist, whom first release went platinum.

One of the productions that I am the most proud of was also produced in Soundlab. In 2002, I was commissioned to create the music for Hungary`s most spectacular annual event, the grand National Holiday`s fireworks show.  I had to work in the press as the work had to be completed within 22 days including the compositions, producer-work, recording, mixing and mastering. I can say that the final result was gorgeous and a great success as the event was seen by more than 3 million people who were very impressed by both the music and fireworks show.

Randy: What was it like in 2001 when you made the push for television with TV2’s “Popstar” as a judge and producing the show-winning pop troupe Sugar & Spice?

Laszlo: It was a great experience but also a challenge. As an example, I had never stand in front of a camera before! So, besides doing the same A&R activity that I did day by day as the A&R Direction for Universal Music, I had to acquire some practices on how to appear and work in front of a camera.

However, as to mention also the other side of the coin, I had to realize that this kind of shows are not only about talents… but there is a huge part of show business in there. It is a serious problem and risks the credibility. I do not want to share many details at this stage but I can reveal that I am working on the format of a talent show which aims to dissolve this conflict.

Randy: If you could work with any artist right now; who would it be and why?

Laszlo: I think that life is about continuous improvement and you always have something to learn. Music is the same. If you work together with the right people, then there is always something to pull out from the project that helps your individual improvement. I do not want to highlight anybody to avoid missing somebody from the list. However, as a final conclusion I can tell that would be glad to work with anybody who we can learn from each other.

Randy: Are there any up and coming projects that you’d like to talk about or anything in store for the rest of 2015?

Laszlo: I have just finished a project in collaboration with Gabi Knoll who is a very talented singer. The production will be released soon in the US market. Besides it, I am working on my own synth pop production called Hypnotix and, as mentioned before, I have some ongoing projects to help, give guidance and produce the first record for upcoming young talents.

Randy: Laszlo, thank you so much for taking the time to sit down with us for this interview. I know our readers will gain valuable insight and hopefully shed some light on the inner workings and life of one of the most successful A&R reps to grace the music industry.

By Randy Morano – Founder @ Exposed Vocals