My first steps into mastering

Around the year 2000, I was working on a project as the recording engineer where there was no budget for external mastering. In that situation, I ended up mastering the material myself. The results were well received, and it led to occasional requests to master other projects as well. It wasn’t until 2013, however, that I decided to step away from everything else I was doing and focus fully on building a dedicated mastering studio.

In January 2014, after completing a handful of additional courses in mastering, Saintpid Mastering opened its doors in a studio in Gubbängen, just south of Stockholm. A year later, the studio moved to the Högdalen industrial area, and today Saintpid Mastering is located in a purpose-built studio in Stuvsta, Huddinge, completed in the autumn of 2020.

When I started out, my philosophy was very simple: “Do no harm.” The idea was that the mastering process itself shouldn’t be heard — the mix should shine through, as that’s where the art and the artist’s intention live. While I still believe that, in a perfect world, a transparent master is often preferable, I’ve come to realise over the years that every project is unique. The key isn’t so much what I do to the music, but the dialogue with the artist, producer, mix engineer, and, when applicable, the record label.

I’ve delivered masters across most genres and formats. Sometimes the result stays very close to the mix, and sometimes it’s transformed into something entirely new. What never changes is the responsibility I feel towards the music. Every project is treated as something personal — and the final result should always reflect the artist’s vision, whether it remains close to the mix or takes on a new form.