Image via James Royo
After more than a decade spent refining Grammy-nominated and platinum selling hits from behind the scenes, audio engineer James Royo is stepping into the limelight, determined to achieve the same level of acclaim as a producer and beatmaker. With an ear sharpened by years perfecting the hits of others, the South Florida native is now turning that precision inward, pouring the same obsessive care into forging his own sound.
Tucked away in the hills of Northeast Los Angeles, Royo’s home studio feels like both a refuge and a command center. In the corner, a small TV loops 90s NBA reruns casting a muted glow across an intricately aligned recording setup. When he pulls back the curtains on the front-facing window, sunlight spills onto his workstation, framing a view of the Verdugo Mountains in golden relief.
Stepping into his home, my eyes first landed on a platinum plaque for RJ’s “Hoe’s Come Easy,” an anthem that soundtracked my early high school days, even if the lifestyle it boasted felt as foreign to me then as it does now. When I asked why the plaque had pride of place, Royo responded with a grin, “RJ is the only artist that ever bought me my plaque.” It’s a symbol of mutual respect–proof that while Royo’s contributions often fade in the background for casual listeners, his ability to shape sounds is unforgettable to those who know brilliance when they hear it.
After finishing music school in Florida, Royo moved to LA in the early 2010s determined to make a name for himself in a new city. With no network to lean on and no calls coming in, he had to chase the work himself. His relentless hustle as a rush engineer at a local studio eventually led to an encounter with a then rising DJ Mustard and YG. It took time, but Royo proved he not only understood their vision, he could elevate it. His ear for shaping low-end frequencies that hit like earthquakes without muddying the mix became Mustard’s secret weapon, something he couldn’t find anywhere else.
Royo’s early work with late blog-era LA staples like YG, RJmrLA, and Ty Dolla $ign, cemented his reputation as the city’s go-to mix engineer. His contributions to YG’s 2014 debut, My Krazy Life, unlocked a new array of opportunities for the engineer beyond hip-hop. The buzz earned him a call from the legendary EDM juggernaut Major Lazer to mix the now diamond-selling record, “Lean On.” It was a seismic leap that obliterated genre boundaries. Soon, Royo was working with global hitmakers like Dua Lipa, Drake, Mariah Carey, and Kanye West.
Royo’s recent pivot to beatmaking feels like a homecoming, a return to crafting tracks alongside regional icons and emerging talent in LA’s underground. His unmistakable “Damn James!” producer tag rings out on beats that split the difference between Hit-Boy’s polished opulence and the unfiltered West Coast thump of early Mustard. From 03Greedo’s “Keep Swervin,” to Lefty Gunplay’s “Lost My Best Friend,” his 808s rattle walls like the Metro barreling through Union Station, yet they carry the refined clarity of something crafted in the pristine acoustics of the Walt Disney Hall. Meanwhile, hi-hats cut through the mix, propelling a bounce tailor made for lowriders and backyard cookouts.
While talent shifts as the local rap scene reinvents itself, Royo’s influence remains a steady pulse in LA’s ever-evolving music scene. His evolution from engineer to producer feels less like a career shift and more like a natural next chapter in a journey that’s just getting started. When we sat down last summer, we spoke about his work with Mustard, his battle with DJ Quik, being personally asked by Kanye to mix Yandhi, and his upcoming debut album Double Down. – Diego Tapia