Angel Santana
Staff Writer
For Dino Carbone, music is more than just a passion, it’s a way of life. Carbone, a Millersville senior, is in two bands, Toby Jones and Blind Hope. But a job in the music industry is far from where he was born and raised: Glen Mills, Pennsylvania.
“Nobody knows exactly where that is,” he says. “It’s between West Chester and Philly.”
The geography of his hometown may be uncertain to many, but his journey in the music industry is anything but uncertain. Currently studying music industry with a concentration in production, Carbone is determined to
turn his love for music into a career. His path started with a curiosity that arose during his teenage years.
“I started to consume a lot of music on my own, which made me fall in love with it,” Carbone recalls. His fascination and love of how music is produced led him to teach himself the basics, relying on trial and error, as well as countless YouTube tutorials.
“I didn’t really have any formal training until college,” Carbone says. “That jump-started everything.”
The challenges of being self-taught weren’t easy. Without formal guidance, Carbone admits there were moments of doubt, but his determination and effort kept him going.
“It was a lot of trial and error,” he says. “God bless YouTube.”
While he says he learned a lot from video tutorials, his formal education has been transformative. Carbone credits his education for making him as good as he is now at music production. What Carbone says he enjoys most about music production is the satisfaction of completing a
project.
“When I write a song, record it, mix, and master it, just that feeling of getting it done and hearing
the product that spewed from your brain is a really satisfying feeling,” he explains.
That sense of accomplishment drives him to keep pushing forward. He also says he gets inspiration from renowned music producers and musicians.
“Butch Vig, who produced a lot of albums in the 90s, and bands like Nirvana and Smashing Pumpkins, really influenced me in terms of production,” he says.
Musically, Carbone looks to King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard.
“They’re not afraid to push boundaries,” he says. “They’ve shown me that music is boundless.”
As for the future, Carbone has clear goals. In the short term, he’s focused on making a living from music and supporting himself. His long-term dreams include becoming a touring musician or settling into a career as a music producer.
“Either one of those would make me happy,” he says.
Looking ahead, Carbone envisions a life centered around work and music. “In the future, I just see myself having a lifestyle where it’s just work, music, work, music,” he says.
Dino Carbone’s journey is just beginning, but with his passion and perseverance, it’s clear that his path in the music industry will be one to watch.