Craig Burgess

What did you do before joining dBs?  

Before joining dBs, I spent over 16 years as a course leader and senior lecturer on a BA (Hons) Music Production course, helping students develop their creative and technical skills in sound production, composition, and audio branding. Alongside this, I founded ‘Deft Ear’, an audio branding agency, and later ‘One Stop Podcasts’, a podcast production company specialising in branded content and white-label services for marketing agencies. My work has spanned audio branding, podcasting, music production, and education, with a strong focus on how sound can tell stories, shape experiences, and connect with audiences.

Why did you first get into music production?  

My fascination with sound began as a child when I would listen to music and ask myself, ‘How do they make it sound like that?’ This curiosity led me to experiment with a Fisher-Price tape recorder at age six, capturing sounds and layering recordings. In my teenage years, I began to play guitar, formed bands, and set up a small recording studio at my school, discovering the joy of producing music. The combination of creativity and technology was something I found irresistible, and it sparked a lifelong passion for exploring the emotional and technical aspects of music and sound design.

Any special areas of interest?  

I’m particularly interested in the relationship between sound and storytelling—how music and audio can shape emotions, influence perception, and create immersive experiences. My work in electroacoustic composition and audio branding explores this deeply, whether through experimental sound design, podcast production, or composing for visual media. I’m also fascinated by the intersection of sound and space, leading to projects that blend field recordings, photography, and film to capture unique sonic environments.

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What do you love most about what you do?

I love experimenting with sound, pushing creative boundaries, and discovering new ways to communicate ideas through audio. Whether I’m composing, producing a podcast, or working with students, I enjoy the challenge of transforming raw sound into something meaningful. Teaching is especially rewarding - I love seeing students gain confidence in their creative abilities and watching them take their skills into the industry. The collaborative nature of music and sound production means there’s always something new to learn, and I thrive on that constant evolution.

Tell us about your proudest career moment?

One of my proudest moments has been mentoring students who have gone on to compose and produce music and sound design content for major film, TV and game productions. Seeing them apply the skills and techniques we explored together - whether in sound design, composition, or storytelling - to high-profile projects is incredibly fulfilling. Helping students develop their creative voices, refine their technical skills, and gain the confidence to push their work further is a constant reminder of why I love teaching.

Beyond technical skills, I take great pride in helping students understand the industry landscape and develop professional pathways. Whether it’s preparing them for careers in music production, sound design, or creative media, supporting students as they transition from education to industry has been one of the most fulfilling aspects of my career. Many of my former students are now working across music, film, TV, and gaming, and knowing that I played a small part in their journey is something I’m truly proud of.

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What do you get up to outside of your role at dBs? 

Beyond my work at dBs, I run One Stop Podcasts, a podcast production company that helps businesses, agencies, and creatives develop high-quality audio content. I collaborate closely with branding and marketing agencies to produce podcasts that not only tell compelling stories but also align with their clients’ identities, using sound as a powerful tool for engagement and brand recognition.

Alongside podcast production, I work on audio branding projects, crafting unique sonic identities for businesses and media platforms. This involves designing bespoke sound palettes, sonic logos, and immersive audio experiences that enhance a brand’s personality and connect with audiences on a deeper level.

Looking ahead, I have a long-term vision of creating a dedicated creative space - an audio and media hub where musicians, podcasters, and artists can collaborate, record, and produce high-quality content in a purpose-built environment. This space would bring together cutting-edge technology, industry expertise, and a strong sense of creative community, offering a platform for both emerging and established talent to develop their work.

Tell us something our students may not know about you?

One of my most interesting sound projects involved recording crowds at Manchester City football matches, using field recordings to capture the energy, movement, and emotion of live match atmospheres. I then transformed the material through audio processing and manipulation, creating immersive sonic textures that highlight the unique rhythm and dynamics of a football crowd. The result was a multi-channel surround sound piece that explored the connection between sound, space, and collective experience presented at an event at the Etihad Stadium.