Chinenye Lauretta is raising the bar in art of sound engineering

By Emmanuel Daraloye

Mixing and mastering are often the invisible hands shaping what listeners experience as a finished song. The mix engineer decides how instruments, vocals, and effects occupy space in the stereo field, balancing frequencies and dynamics so no element overshadows another. The mastering engineer steps in after the mix, fine-tuning tonal balance, loudness, and stereo width, making sure the track translates across systems, whether in headphones, car speakers, or club sound systems. When both stages are done with skill, the music feels polished without losing its soul.

Chinenye Lauretta, whose reputation as a sound engineer is fast gaining recognition, demonstrates mastery across both live and studio mixing, delivering tracks and experiences that leave a lasting impression on audiences. The same command is evident in her recent projects, where her approach reveals a steady hand behind the board, an engineer who understands restraint, space, and clarity, always in service of the music itself.
Jai Eric’s Sunny Ade, released in February 2023, extends the picture of her range. From the opening kick and gentle piano, the track feels deliberate yet effortless. Much of this comes down to the mixing each instrument and vocal line is placed with care, giving the record a sense of space and balance. The vocals glide above the instrumental without clashing, while the layers beneath remain warm and cohesive. Thanks to the mixing engineer’s touch, the track achieves a polished clarity that allows its emotion to shine through.

On Turn on the Light by Tayhmie Black, released June 14, 2023, as part of the Mostly Cloudy EP, Lauretta shows the value of balance. The instrumental and vocals sit cleanly in the mix, never fighting for dominance. There is a warmth in the tonal spectrum that keeps the afrobeats groove danceable without sounding cluttered. Stereo width feels natural, giving listeners a sense of immersion without artificial exaggeration. Autotune, too often a crutch, is applied with subtlety here, enhancing rather than overwhelming. Reverb is dialled in with care, providing depth while letting the vocal line remain upfront. It is a track that highlights her sensitivity to genre, allowing rhythm to drive while texture supports.

The title track Cloudy, also from the Mostly Cloudy EP, demonstrates Lauretta’s ability to build anticipation and flow. The instrumental opens the track with confident kicks that hit on time, layered with piano chords that lock seamlessly into the groove. By the time the vocals arrive a minute in, the energy is already alive. Importantly, they do not feel late or disconnected. Instead, the voice folds neatly into the established rhythm, evidence of careful dynamic control and EQ decisions. This is Lauretta understanding momentum: she lets the beat do its work, then ensures the vocals enhance rather than interrupt.

Across these songs, what Lauretta does right is consistency and transparency. She gives each element room, maintains tonal balance, and resists the temptation to overprocess. Her mixes breathe, her masters shine without glare. The sequence of the tracks shows a steady cohesion, proof that she is not just polishing sound but shaping how listeners travel through it. For a sound engineer, that is the highest compliment: her presence is felt not by intrusion but by the clarity she leaves behind.