Behind the music: Grammy-nominated Fox alum finds success as an audio engineer and producer

Upon graduating from Temple, Ben Thomas, FOX ’18, declared a lofty target: to earn a Grammy. He was so fully commited to this aspiration that he even turned down a position offer at Deloitte to go after new music complete time as an audio engineer, producer and mixer.

Betting on himself paid off. In 2021, he received his initial particular person Grammy nomination for Album of the 12 months for his contribution to Justin Bieber’s album Justice, recording the tune “There She Go.” 

“I was at lunch in New York with my good buddy (audio producer) Charlie Warmth when I saw my nomination,” stated Thomas. “I was shocked. I called my mother, and we have been incredibly excited.”

He also labored on Ingrid Andress’ debut album Woman Like, which was nominated for Greatest Place Album, and he took part in the manufacturing of Jazmine Sullivan’s Grammy-winning album Heaux Tales. 

He’s all over again invited to the 2023 Grammy Awards on Sunday, Feb. 5, for his do the job on a track from Pusha T’s It’s Virtually Dry, which is nominated for Very best Rap Album.

In addition, Thomas has worked on initiatives nominated for the Bet Awards, Soul Teach Awards, NAACP Impression Awards and American Tunes Awards and has contributed on Platinum- and Gold-accredited data as very well as 4 Billboard No. 1 albums. He has even completed a track with previous President Barack Obama and collaborated with fellow Temple alum Kalen Allen, TFM ’18, on new music for The Ellen Present. Above the previous couple of a long time, his primary gig has been engineering for Lil Uzi Vert, which include his newest single “Just Wanna Rock,” which has recently absent Platinum.  

Thomas has contributed on initiatives that have been nominated for a variety of new music awards and licensed Gold and Platinum. (Courtesy of Ben Thomas)

Thomas also owns and operates Right after5 Studios, which specializes in single vocalists, duets, rappers, acoustic singer-songwriters and podcasters, in Philadelphia’s Kensington neighborhood, as is also co-proprietor of impartial record label and administration business nicethingsMUSIC. 

He formulated his enterprise acumen at Temple as an entrepreneurship and innovation management big. In addition to interning at economical firms this kind of as Firstrust Bank, Thomas served as direct audio engineer at RECPhilly and Studio Breed, 1 of the premier recording studios in Philadelphia, and was a campus ambassador for GrammyU, the university division of the Countrywide Academy of Recording Arts and Science, the corporation liable for the Grammy Awards.

At Temple and over and above, Thomas has labored with big names—Post Malone, Bryson Tiller, Potential, Ty Dolla Indicator, Lauryn Hill, Meek Mill and Chloe Bailey, between several others—but his beloved encounter is producing music with pals. One particular of his very best close friends is West Philadelphia indigenous Chill Moody, who Thomas has a short while ago worked with on music from impartial artists all over the metropolis to be played at Eagles’ household online games.

But it’s not just the audio that issues to Thomas. He likes to give back to his liked types and group. In addition to offering for his household, he was capable to utilize good friends in the course of the pandemic at Right after5 Studios. He’d also like the studio to sooner or later present a free of charge summertime camp for little ones to master music generation.

Thomas supports his alma mater much too. Each semester, Temple learners intern at Immediately after5 Studios. He also speaks in the Hip Hop and Black Tradition class, taught by Affiliate Professor of Africology and African American Scientific studies and Director of the Centre for Anti-Racism Timothy Welbeck, a shut mentor of Thomas. “I want to encourage many others and aid people I care about,” explained Thomas. “The accolades come, and that is lovely, but it’s not about that for me.”

At first from New York, Thomas moved to Philadelphia although in superior faculty and feels grateful that he selected to continue being in the town and attend Temple. “Anytime I point out I went to Temple it’s achieved with smiles and heat stories,” he explained. 

“I had amazing chances remaining in Philadelphia. It was the best profession final decision I designed simply because it allowed me to get mentorship and possibilities that I do not believe I would have been in a position to get at other spots.”