Stewart Cararas profile picture

Stewart Cararas

Producer, Mixer and Resident Poser

About Me

Karmina-The Kiss

N.E.R.D-Everybody Nose

Stewart is a proud user of A-Designs Audio Equipment & Pearlman Microphones

STEWART'S NEARLY COHERENT BIO

(A Narcissistic Embellishment of an Interview That Was Never Published...go figure)*2004

Stewart Cararas began his musical journey at the age of five immediately upon the discovery of a cheesy Sears Silvertone acoustic guitar found in his fathers attic. "This archeological wonder is what started it all. I used to douse the body of the guitar with Brut cologne and ignite it with a cigarette lighter in an attempt to emulate Ace Frehley."As a teen, he sequestered himself to a very isolated existence by resorting to the library for the express purpose of 'studying anything I could find with the word MUSIC printed on the cover.'

At the age of seventeen, he acquired a Teac 4-track tape recorder and began recording anything that moved. "On weekends, I would literally wake up at 2:00 pm and compose and record music until I had to leave for school on Monday morning. Of course, it wasn't abnormal to miss a few days of school either. I had developed a lifestyle that became very regimented and seemingly monastic. Pure bliss.

At eighteen, he began his otherwise humbling pursuit as a professional. " I moved around for years absorbing as much as I could musically, socially and culturally. I wanted to experience every facet of the music industry. I operated studios, taught music, performed in bands, provided services as a session musician, etc. I soon realized that I was destined to operate within an industry that had nothing to do with art and everything to do with 'moving units'. As a result of my scathing objectivity, I was able to determine exactly what I should be doing: composing music."

Stewart moved to New Orleans in 1996 to take the plunge into the world of entrepreneurship. This was, paradoxically, the most logical approach-go in through the back door, ya know. I knew that the only way my compositions would see the light of day was to finance it all myself. I decided to put together a recording studio that would allow me to rehearse my band and record my music. Consequently, musicians and bands would approach me about recording their music. I was initially reluctant because I wanted no distractions. I later felt it would be an opportunity to hone my skills as an producer/engineer and potentially earn enough money to keep myself afloat. After a few years of beng confined to a very cramped studio environment, I decided to seek more elaborate alternatives. I invested everything I had into finding the right location, the gear, the clientel base, etc. At the time, during which, I was searching for a studio I was introduced to my future studio partner, Danny Kadar. We became fast friends and shared very similar ambitions."

As a result of the effects imparted by Hurricane Katrina, Stewart was forced to relocate.

Currently a partner of the newly restructured, seventh level productions in Hollywood. You can find him working practically everyday wearing any number of hats. He has spent the first half of 2008 mixing music for a variety of artists, film and television programs. Stewart intends to produce a couple more records before the year ends and has also focused more on composing for a number of artists. He also hopes to take at least one day off before the next tax season.

Stewart still finds the time for composing and recording his projects under the moniker: picksail, as well as, his collaboration with The Majestic Twelve and The Dreamers. One day he might even get around to releasing an album-what a novel idea, huh?

Partial Yet Evergrowing Credit List

Selected production credits include: Juvenile, Karmina, Will Dailey, Adam Cohen, AlexM (Murrel), Mitch Allan, Alex Mercier, Enrique Inglesias, missFlag, Christopher Aaron, Dave Allan, Brother, Shannon Hurley, Jhelisa, Ian Newbill, Cowboy Mouth, picksail, Brian Wilson, Sonny Landreth, Nickel Creek, Hubert Sumlin, C.C. Adcock, Buckwheat Zydeco, Elmo Williams, Julieta Venegas, Dave Bartholomew, Hubert Sumlin, Ravi Coltrane, Susan Cowsill, Driskill Mountain Boys, Silverchair, Theresa Anderson, Rock City Morgue, Kermit Ruffins, John Cleary, Henry Butler, Astral Project, Bonerama, Morning 40 Federation, The Maybelles, Rebirth Brass Band, Pleasure Club, Brityn Lotz, Guy Erez, Invengo Records, INFRAcom Records, Basin Street Records, Orleans Records, Toshi Ynagi, CBS Records, Atlantic Records, Capitol Records, Warner Bros Records, Windswept Pacific Publishing, Cimmaron Group, Universal Music, BET, 20th Century Fox, etc.

Seventh Level Productions Now Open In Hollywood

Conveniently located around the corner from the Capitol Records building, the new facility is approximately 1,200 square feet with a large control room, tracking room and lounge/kitchen with all the requisite amenities, wi-fi, elevators and security at front door.

The studio features an Apple G5/ProTools HD6 Accel system with Apogee/Benchmark converters. We possess all the requisite microphones and outboard equipment. (Neumann, Soundelux, AEA, Royer, Sennheiser, Shure, AKG, Telefunken, Neve, API, SSL, Chandler EMI, Great River, Urei, Empirical Labs, CBS, Manley, DW Fearn, Focusrite, Orban, A-Designs, ADL, etc.) *A detailed equipment list provided on our website.

If you want to be involved in a networking community where music is produced at every moment of every day, then this is your place. We have what could very well be considered the best location in Hollywood. You will be among the who's-who of the music/film industry.

My Interests

Music:

Member Since: 12/12/2004
Band Website: 7thlevelproductions.com
Band Members: Myself and anyone else I can coerce into performing music of an absurd nature.
Influences: Anything that moves air molecules...more specifically: Pharrell, Timbaland, Paris Hilton, Frank Zappa, Edgar Varese, Krzysztof Penderecki, Karlheinz Stockhausen, Bjork, Aphex Twin, Autechre, Squarepusher, Boards of Canada, Melt Banana, John Zorn, Ianis Xenakis, Igor Stravinsky, Motley Crue, Guns n' Roses, Brian Wilson, Mr. Bungle, Jeff Beck, Beck, Modest Mouse, Alfred Schnitke, John Cage, Eric Satie, Bela Bartok, Harry Partch, Henry Cowell, Jimi Hendrix, Def Leppard, Radiohead, Queen, PIL, Sex Pistols, Ramones, Massive Attack, Peter Gabriel, Talking Heads, Adrian Belew, Prince, David Bowie, Miles Davis, Eric Dolphy, Johnny Cash, Dead Kennedys, Black Flag, The Clash, Television, PIL, Refused, The Cramps, Devo, Blondie, Missing Persons, anything Motown before 1972, Sidney Lumet, Rod Steiger, Jack Hill, Gordon Parks, Monty Python, Theodor Adorno, Dave Martin, Immanuel Kant, Franz Kafka, Anthony Burgess, James Joyce, Richard Pryor, Lenny Bruce, The Cars, Olivia Newton John, Waylon Jennings, ABBA, Loretta Lynn, Fugazi, Outkast, DJ Spooky, Pantera, Strapping Young Lad, Captain Beefheart, Stanley Kubrick, Martin Scorsese, Francis Ford Copolla, George C Scott, Robert Deniro, Al Paccino, Jack Nicholson, Malcolm McDowell, Marlon Brando, The Twilight Zone, Curtis Mayfeild, Isacc Hayes, Sly and the Family Stone, The Isley Brothers, Quenton Tarantino, Abel Ferrara, Missy Elliot, NWA, Public Enemy, Jello Biafra, Henry Rollins, Minor Threat, Cheesy B-Flick Horror Movies, Peter Sellers, Tim Roth, Billy Bob Thorton, Marty Feldman, Katherine Hepburn, Tom Solondz, Harmony Korine, Larry Clark, Darren Aronofsky, Leonard Bernstein, Ennio Morricone, Phil Spector, George Martin, Daniel Lanois, Roy Thomas Baker, George Lucas, John Wayne, The Stooges, Mutt Lange, Mike Shipley, Rod Serling, Mel Brooks, Terry Gilliam, The Police, Tim Burton, Devo, Duran Duran, Jhelisa, Alexander Calder, Salvador Dali, Ernie Barnes, N.E.R.D., Steve Vai, The Neptunes, Hunter S. Thompson, David Mamet, Rosanne Barr, Albert Einstein, Pablo Picasso, Rudolf Borchardt, George Carlin, Charles Bronson, Tammy Faye (Bakker) Messner, Sydney Poitier, Maya Angelou, Daniel Dennett, Thomas Edison, Alexander Graham Bell, Nikola Tesla, Benjamin Franklin, Les Paul, Peter Faulk, Gene Wilder, Johnny Depp, Sean Penn, Johann Gutenberg, Charles Dickens, Orson Wells, Lon Chaney, Cornelius, Don Knotts, Godfrey Reggio, Kevin Spacey, Dana Carvey, David Lynch, Kurt Vonnegut, Good Times, Michael Hedges, Rudy Ray Moore, Max Julian, Melvin Van Peebles, Pam Grier,Yaphet Kotto, Ron O'Neal, Fred Williamson, The Fruitcake Lady, Phyllis Diller, Carol Burnett, John Ritter, Carl Reiner, Jerry Lewis, Ahmet Ertegun, Bob Moog, etc.
Sounds Like: Someone who derives pleasure from manipulating air molecules

Record Label: Phlorescent Beacon Publishing ASCAP
Type of Label: Major

My Blog

Progress Isnt Possible Without Deviation From The Norm

California's Top Court Legalizes Gay MarriageSAN FRANCISCO - California's Supreme Court declared that gay couples in the nation's biggest state can marry  a monumental but perhaps short-lived victory...
Posted by Stewart Cararas on Fri, 16 May 2008 10:39:00 PST

Why Is This Bill Considered, By Many, a Bad Thing?

Obama, Hagel, Cantwell Introduce Bill to Fight Global PovertyTuesday, December 11, 2007FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: Amy Brundage (OBAMA), Jordan Stark (HAGEL), Ciaran Clayton (CANTWELL), or Derrick ...
Posted by Stewart Cararas on Mon, 25 Feb 2008 06:51:00 PST

DiMA Is Denied!!

CRB Denies DiMA Legal Question Request February 05, 2008 - Digital and Mobile | Publishing By Susan Butler, N.Y.The Copyright Royalty Board today rejected a request by the Digital Media Assn. to have ...
Posted by Stewart Cararas on Sat, 23 Feb 2008 02:29:00 PST

And We Thought The WGA Strike Was The Worst Of It

URGENT: RIAA Tries to Slash RatesFrom: Israelite, DavidDated: Friday, January 25, 2008 12:09 PMSubject: Urgent Message from NMPA Regarding Your RightsOn Monday, January 28, the Copyright Royalty Board...
Posted by Stewart Cararas on Mon, 28 Jan 2008 05:57:00 PST

KARMINA APPEARING ON CBS 9TH ANNUAL HOME FOR THE HOLIDAYS SPECIAL FRIDAY AT 8PM EST

The girls are performing on the CBS 9th Annual Home For the Holidays Special, Friday, Dec. 21 (8:00-9:00 PM, ET/PT).Check 'em out. They are the real deal and sing like angels. I absolutely adore these...
Posted by Stewart Cararas on Mon, 17 Dec 2007 02:23:00 PST

TV SHOW GAINING MOMENTUM!!!!

Well, it's been nearly a year since we began shooting the TV show (previously mentioned in another blog). Afterwhich, we later shot several days worth of interviews, pick-up shots, tags, etc.Since tha...
Posted by Stewart Cararas on Thu, 24 May 2007 01:42:00 PST

SEVENTH LEVEL PRODUCTIONS GOES PRIMETIME!!!!!

So our crew and production company (what now seems more like a conglomerate) have joined forces with James Lugo to participate as cast members in a new reality TV show. The basic premise of the show i...
Posted by Stewart Cararas on Fri, 25 Aug 2006 01:20:00 PST

Why I Pursued The Profession Of Music Production

This is my response when asked, 'An Honest Look At Your Goals and Abilities' as originially posted on Gearslutz.comFirst of all, I think that it is absolutely imperative for one to constantly reassess...
Posted by Stewart Cararas on Mon, 01 Jan 1900 12:00:00 PST

My First Album To Go Number 1 on Billboard

So I'm sitting on the toilet today when I reached down to grab the lastest issue of Entertainment Weekly (yes, I keep a magazine rack in the bathroom). I open it up ( the magazine) to discover that Ju...
Posted by Stewart Cararas on Wed, 22 Mar 2006 01:02:00 PST

'Maybe One Day' composed and produced by myself and Brian Yaskulka

So we received the invitation to compose and produce a new song to assist in raising funds for starving children in Africa. Over the course of 37 hours my partner and I were able to conceive and execu...
Posted by Stewart Cararas on Tue, 21 Feb 2006 12:37:00 PST