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Women in Pro Audio: Iona Evans Women in Pro Audio: Iona Evans...

Highlighting the experiences of women in pro audio is vital to understanding where the industry is today. By sharing these journeys, we move past the “burden of proof” and focus instead on the expertise and resilience of their roles within sound. These interviews provide a practical look at the different paths professionals take, showing how individual perspectives contribute to the industry’s creative and technical soul.

Meet Iona Evans: A Vision for the Mix

Based between Wales and Berlin, Iona’s career is defined by her dual role as a producer and mixer. While music has always been central to her life, the transition to a professional technical role was a conscious shift made only recently. “Every night I used to fall asleep listening to my iPod,” Iona says. “Music was and still is such a huge part of my life; however, I never thought I could work in the industry and make it as a professional.” After losing her job 20 months ago, she committed to the “behind-the-glass” work of production and mixing, realizing that her passion for sound could be a viable career path.

Navigating as a Woman in Pro Audio

In the male-dominated world of audio production, Iona’s early experiences highlight the importance of technical self-sufficiency. Joining a songwriting and production team early on taught her that technical skills must be paired with business acumen. “Working with them was an eye-opening experience in the industry and taught me the importance of believing in yourself and your skills. And making sure you know your worth and have a contract for everything,” she notes. “It was a difficult lesson to learn, but something I am grateful to have learned early on.”

Iona is vocal about the unique hurdles she faces as a woman in a technical field, specifically “having to deal with the burden of proof rather than the benefit of doubt.” She describes the necessity of “having to work at least ten times as hard for a door to open” compared to her male counterparts—a challenge she overcomes by focusing on the core of the craft and the precision of the mix.

Professional Resilience

When faced with industry challenges, Iona turns to the roots of her craft to maintain her perspective. “I remember what I love,” she says. “I go back to ‘three chords and the truth’ style songs and making music the analog way with a guitar, fiddle, and voice—that always helps to ground me.”

Her approach to her career is defined by a relentless drive to achieve technical outcomes. She recalls a moment early in her career where an opportunity was nearly lost due to missing equipment at a venue. Rather than accepting the setback, she brought her own gear and ensured the work was done. “It was a bit stressful as everything was chaotic and uncertain, but a lesson in being relentless in going after what you want,” she says. Iona notes that, in general, men are often more likely to push for a specific outcome in those scenarios, and she has adopted that same persistence in her own professional life.

The Immersive Future of Sound

While Iona performs, her focus on the future of audio is deeply rooted in the listening experience and the technical environment of live sound. She is particularly interested in how immersive audio changes audience engagement. “I am really excited about the future of live sound and feel really optimistic about it. I hope we see more immersive experiences—like Autechre’s tour, where there will be no lighting for the entire show—enabling the audience to focus on the experience.”

This vision for a “human, real” connection through sound is precisely what drives the development of spatial audio technologies like L-ISA. By moving beyond traditional stereo constraints, the industry is creating the immersive environments Iona envisions, where the focus remains entirely on the sonic experience.

Iona’s interest in immersive sound aligns with her goal of “making artistic vision a reality through sound.” For Iona, the “behind-the-scenes” work involves constant technical upskilling. She prioritizes “clarity on goals and vision” and “assertiveness and boundaries” as key professional skills, alongside the ongoing pursuit of business and technical mentorship to “move the needle” in the industry.

Advice for the Next Generation of Mixers

For women looking to enter the technical side of the industry, Iona emphasizes that the path is rarely a straight line. “Know what you love and determine the direction you want to go. Keep doing it regardless of obstacles. Realize there is no one linear path, and it’s constantly evolving and changing.” By focusing on technical versatility and maintaining a “relentless” approach to production goals, Iona continues to carve out a space for female voices in the studio and beyond.

Follow Iona’s journey through here.