FERN SOUZA RAMOS

A Brazilian-American composer, producer, and engineer, Fern graduated LIVE! in 2013 before studying at Berklee College of Music. He now leads Dimension 70, a beautifully designed and technically advanced recording space in NYC that balances creative ambiance with acoustic excellence.

Dimension 70 is as much a creative sanctuary as a studio, designed with architectural charm—stained-glass windows, high ceilings, and a unique “railroad” layout. Fern and his team continue to drive community and innovation, hosting programs like Beats by Girlz and blending artistic environment with purposeful collaboration.

Creative Vision & Professional Growth

  • Nowadays based in New York City, Fern is the founder, composer, producer, and engineer behind Dimension 70, an exquisitely crafted and atmospheric recording studio.

  • His academic foundation at Berklee segued into a career at Electric Lady Studios, where he worked as a General Assistant. He also took the role of recording and mix engineer for the NYC group JIL, helping produce their debut release.

Studio Aesthetic & Community Impact

  • Dimension 70 is not just a studio, but also a curated sensory environment. Designed by FM Design, the space preserves architectural details like stained-glass windows and soaring ceilings, while featuring a one-of-a-kind “railroad-style” layout—allowing entry through the control room into the live room.

  • The studio accommodates a wide range of creative needs—from live band tracking and songwriting to beat-making, mixing, and live performances—without compromising on vibe or acoustic quality.

Dimension 70 Studios

2017 interview with Valeria Ayala:

So you've chosen the path of higher education...good for you! What school are you attending, and what's your major? What made you consider applying there?

I graduated from Berklee College of Music one year ago with a degree in Music Production & Engineering and a minor in Commercial Record Production. As a 17-y.o. About graduating high school, it seemed like the only logical step for me. I wanted to focus on music full-time and felt I wouldn't have been happy at any other school.

What was the audition process like? What do you think made your audition successful?

It was a 3-part process: interview, prepared piece, and some ear training/sight-reading tests. 
I was prepared for my piece and bombed the sight-reading, but I had a great ear training test and interview. Even if you don't have amazing chops yet, the school is more interested in your work ethic and whether you'll contribute positively to the school and its students.

What kind of preparation did you undergo for your audition?

My prepared piece was "Hottentot" by John Scofield, as recommended by my former Live! teacher and mentor Juan. I recorded the backing track with my friend Emily at her studio in Coral Gables, and I practiced it nonstop until the day of the audition. It's a tricky chord progression, and I really wanted to make the solo section something more interesting than just a standard pentatonic... Juan helped me breakthrough that threshold.

What kind of projects are you working on right now?

Right now, I'm living in NYC; I've got a job at Electric Lady Studios (built by Hendrix in the '70s) as General Assistant trying to work my way up there. I'm also a recording/mix engineer for an NYC group called JIL. We've been working on their debut release for almost 2 years, and it's finally finished, so it should be released in the upcoming month.

One of your favorite musical moments so far.

JIL went on tour with Maggie Rogers last spring. We played every night for two weeks at 600-700 capacity venues, and Maggie had sold out every single show. Our biggest show was for 1,000 in Montreal. Definitely the highlight of my musical career thus far!

What do you do when you need some creative inspiration?

I love going for walks around New York with my headphones on. The energy this city gives off is unlike anything I've ever seen. Creativity instantly recharged.

Do you feel Live! has influenced your musical journey? If so, how?

100%. Every other music school I had tried in the area was leaning more on the "traditional" side. I'll always remember going to my first lesson and my teacher asking me what song I wanted to learn. I couldn't believe it! Live! was a haven for young kids to play whatever they wanted while still getting the same top-quality education. It made learning an instrument much more fun!

What has been the most challenging thing for you as a musician?

To me, the hardest thing has been pleasing myself. I am my toughest critic, and sometimes, finding the self-confidence to share your music with others is tough. I'm sure this is something that every artist goes through from time to time. The key is to be stubborn enough to disregard your reservations and see a project/piece all the way; it's the only way to grow as a recording artist.


Fern circa 2009:

Fern Ramos and Alex Cohen
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