Eddie Liu

“During our regular classes, I really enjoyed the ‘break out’ collaborative sessions. We’d take a concept and criteria and write together in a short space of time. It was stressful, but relevant to what it’s like in the real world – so if you can cope during those lectures, you can feel very confident for the future. 

“Our final exams were also a favourite of mine because we got to organise, arrange and direct a full-on performance. This challenged me all-round, and I discovered skills that I’d never used before. Another highlight was being able to use the rehearsal and studio spaces inside the KMC. I would be in there almost every single day working on projects. 

“When I graduated, I was conflicted by the opportunities I had. I couldn’t decide whether to apply for a studio internship with the NZ Music Commission, to become a high school teacher, or to continue living my passion as a music producer/mix engineer. So, I applied for, and was then offered all three! 

“During a gap year, I freelanced and worked with Warner Music Australia. Since then I have branched out further internationally, mixing and co-producing work for Keys Doors Open and William Singe. I’ve also taken on a new role as a manager for JARNA, a current Bachelor of Music student who’s being rotated on New Zealand radio and is receiving funding from NZOnAir.

“I want to give back to the next generation of talented musicians at some point, so I decided to pursue a Graduate Diploma in Secondary Teaching as well. The music industry is evolving at a rapid pace, and our young musicians need to know what skills are most beneficial in such a competitive environment. 

“The most rewarding part of being a musician is to be able to make somebody feel a type of way through my music. Nothing is handed to you, you have to build it all yourself. It can be competitive and difficult for independent artists like myself, so it takes a couple of extra nudges to avoid being overlooked. 

“I would describe the Bachelor of Music as a very handy set of tools, and the wisest decision for music students would be to make the most of those tools so that you too can build a successful career.”