Songwriter Uses the Brand’s Monitors and Subwoofers in his Home Studio and On-the-Go
Music Producer, TV/Film/Musicals Creator, Songwriter, and Guitarist Jose Luis “Pepe” Pagan has had an ear for music from a young age. He was born in Argentina, where he first began his career in the music industry before moving to the United States 25 years ago. He has since worked with artists such as Marc Anthony, J.Lo, Chayanne, Thalia, and Sarah Lenore, among others.
In addition to being a music producer, Pagan also works in the TV, film, and musicals industries and is the creator and music producer of the Amazon Prime show “Melody.” The show follows 18-year-old Melody, who seeks to develop her musical career as a means of escape from her challenges at home. Pagan is also the co-producer for an upcoming musical about the life of Latin American Artist Sandro. The show honors the late Latin icon and will showcase the story of his life and musical career.
For these projects, Pagan splits his time between his home studio and locations in Miami and Argentina, where he always has a combination of KRK solutions available. Included among these are the V-Series V4 Powered Studio Monitors and an S10.4 Powered Studio Subwoofer, as well as the legacy ROKIT 5 Generation 4 Powered Studio Monitors and 10S Subwoofer.
“I use the V4s a lot, basically for everything: when mixing, during the recording, and for completing all my music,” he says. “I love these speakers. When I go to Argentina again for my next musical, I will bring them with me. I travel everywhere with them because I like to always have the ability to reference on the spot.”
As a producer, Pagan previously found it difficult to get just the right level of vocals for his mixes, but the V4s have solved this problem with ease. “I was struggling a bit with finishing mixes, and I found that, despite being smaller speakers, they provide a perfect balance between all the frequencies that are really key,” he shares.
A longtime KRK user, Pagan first started with the brand’s iconic ROKIT monitors. “For general use, the ROKITs are incredible and very solid for their price point; they have great accuracy and bass response,” he shares. “The ROKITs are also an amazing option for entry-level producers.”
Pagan also entrusts his KRK subwoofers to deliver quality sound at his home studio. “I use the subwoofers to make sure everything is balanced. I have one in the center, which is an old KRK 10S Sub, and I have another one a little bit to the side, which is the new 10.4. The definition from the KRK subs is way better than any other subs I have tried. I really love them both.”
Pagan says that he finds the brand’s connection to its artists to be equally as important as the quality of its equipment. “I have been working with KRK’s parent company, Gibson, for a long time, close to 20 years, and their support has been incredible,” he shares. “I think the care Gibson gives to its artists is something incomparable. Of course, the craftsmanship of the brand also makes a huge difference. When you combine the artist relations and the quality of the instruments and equipment, it is something extraordinary. I have truly had a beautiful journey with Gibson/KRK.”
With such a long history with the brands, Pagan sees no end to his use of KRK gear, which he credits with having helped improve his workflow in a significant way. “My KRK gear has really changed the way I work when mixing, and they always seem to know exactly what I need,” he says. “I think that is something really special.”