Team : Dark Horse Recording

Dave Hagen

01/ 05

DAVE HAGEN

GRAMMY AWARD WINNING PRODUCER & ENGINEER

Dave Hagen is a Grammy Award–winning engineer, producer, and mixer with over 20 years of experience. As Head Engineer and Producer at Dark Horse Recording for over a decade, Dave has helped hundreds of artists — from independent creators to major-label clients — realize their vision and deliver finished records at the highest professional level.

Dark Horse Recording often works with indie artists seeking full-service record production, and Dave regularly oversees client projects from start to finish. His work spans pre-production, co-writing, production, tracking, editing, mixing, and mastering, allowing artists to focus on creativity while knowing every technical and musical detail is being handled with care. His obsessive attention to detail and collaborative approach mean projects aren’t finished until the client is genuinely excited about the result.

Dave works comfortably across genres including Pop, Hip Hop, Country, Americana, Rock, Metal, Jazz, and more, and is especially known for warm, full mixes with depth, character, and emotional impact. As a producer, he strives to find a sound that feels both unique and familiar in order to help songs stand but still connect with listeners.

With his nearly 20 years of experience working out of Dark Horse Recording, Dave knows how to draw the most out of these spaces, the gear, and the musicians performing within them. His speed, preparation, and comfort in the studio allow artists and session players to work efficiently and creatively, maximizing every moment of a session.

In 2019, Dave was asked to complete overdubs and mix Keb’ Mo’s album Oklahoma, which went on to win Best Americana Album at the 62nd Grammy Awards. This marked his first Grammy win, but not his last. His blend of traditional Nashville precision and modern, outside-the-box creativity has made him a trusted collaborator across all levels of the industry, from independent artists to major labels, film, and television projects.

NOTABLE COLLABORATIONS
Keb Mo’, Relient K, Carrie Underwood, For King and Country, Chris Tomlin, Reba McEntire, Tanya Tucker, Red, Foghat

Austin Woolsey

02/ 05

AUSTIN WOOLSEY

GENERAL MANAGER

Austin Woolsey serves as the General Manager at Dark Horse Recording, where he oversees client relations, hospitality, and comprehensive on-site operations. A graduate of the University of North Texas with a degree in Jazz Studies, Woolsey is a versatile vocalist and multi-instrumentalist proficient in trombone and piano. As a composer and arranger who performed with the prestigious Two O’Clock Lab Band, he leverages a deep technical understanding of music to provide high-level professional support within the studio environment.

His background includes significant experience in music education and program leadership, where he previously directed band programs, wind ensembles, and worship teams. At Dark Horse, Woolsey applies this expertise to meticulously manage the studio calendar, short-term rentals, and complex productions for independent artists and major TV and film clients. He specializes in coordinating exclusive overnight stays and lockout sessions, ensuring a seamless, resort-style creative experience defined by privacy, comfort, and rigorous attention to detail.

Austin’s leadership style is defined by an equilibrium between creative intuition and logistical precision. By maintaining the facility’s reputation for excellence, he ensures that the logistical requirements of elite performers worldwide are met with discretion and efficiency. His focus remains on providing a continuing roster of excellence with an environment where technical execution and hospitality align, allowing artists to remain fully immersed in the creative process of their next project.

NOTABLE COLLABORATIONS
5 Seconds of Summer, Brandon Lake, Greta Van Fleet, Jack Harlow, Jill Scott, Kelsea Ballerini, Lululemon, Shawn Mendes

Emily Kading

03/ 05

EMILY KADING

ASSISTANT STUDIO & PROPERTY MANAGER

Emily Kading serves as the Assistant Studio and Property Manager at Dark Horse Recording, where she expertly orchestrates daily studio operations, complex session logistics, and comprehensive property management. Originally from Pewaukee, Wisconsin, Emily’s professional journey in the Nashville area began at Xavier University before she transitioned to specialize in technical production.

A distinguished graduate of the Dark Horse Institute Audio Engineering Program, Emily’s tenure at the facility began as a dedicated Studio Intern. She quickly ascended to her current leadership role through her unwavering commitment to excellence and her deep-rooted understanding of the Dark Horse ecosystem.

In her administrative capacity, Emily expertly navigates the high-pressure demands of world-class recording environments. She skillfully manages complex intern scheduling and mentorship, maintains elite facility standards across the expansive property, and oversees diverse site operations with meticulous attention to detail. Her proactive approach to logistics ensures a premium, seamless, and distraction-free experience for every artist and client who enters the campus.

A lifelong vocalist with a profound passion for the craft, Emily also dedicates her creative energy to songwriting and producing her own independent recordings. This deep immersion in the creative process allows her to bring a unique, artist-centric perspective to her oversight. By viewing studio operations through the lens of a performer and producer, she anticipates the nuanced requirements of the recording process, ensuring that the creative needs of elite performers are met with absolute professional precision.

NOTABLE COLLABORATIONS
Shawn Mendes, 5 Seconds of Summer, Greta Van Fleet, Russell Dickerson, Nate Smith, Suzanne Cox, and LeAnn Rimes.

Drew Boals

04/ 05

DREW BOALS

STAFF ENGINEER

Drew Boals is a Franklin native and a graduate of the Dark Horse Institute, where he mastered the intersection of analog and digital production. Since joining Dark Horse Recording in 2021, Drew has progressed from intern to assistant and now serves as a Staff Engineer. His technical foundation integrates analog console logic with digital precision, ensuring every session utilizes classic techniques alongside modern efficiency.

Drew’s engineering philosophy is centered on the belief that technical choices—from precise microphone placement to specific compressor settings—exist solely to serve the emotional message of a song. He rejects "one-size-fits-all" processing, instead developing individualized signal chains for every project to ensure the artist's unique vision is conveyed powerfully.

In the studio, Drew operates with a commitment to a continuing roster of excellence, focusing on the elite performers worldwide who record at Dark Horse. He views the recording process as a two-way conversation, where careful attention to detail ensures that every song properly conveys its complex and emotive message. From tracking to post-production, Drew is dedicated to providing an elite, individualized experience for your next project at Dark Horse Recording.

NOTABLE COLLABORATIONS
Band of Horses, Louis York, LeAnn Rimes, Collie Buddz, Jack Harlow, 5 Seconds of Summer, Chrisette Michelle, Noah Cyrus, Kings of Leon, Shawn Mendes and Lauren Diagle.

Robin Crow

05 / 05

ROBIN CROW

OWNER & CEO

Robin Crow is a seasoned business veteran, best-selling author, and recording artist who has dedicated decades to exceeding customer expectations through innovation and excellence. Born in Austin, Texas, Robin’s career began as a relentless performer, performing over 600 shows by age 21 before moving to Hollywood to pursue a recording career. Over the next fifteen years, he released six nationally distributed albums across the Sherwood and Fortress labels, eventually signing with RCA Records for the release of Electric Cinema in 1992.

Following the success of his recording career, Robin moved to Franklin, Tennessee, where his vision led to the creation of Dark Horse Recording in 1993. He developed the facility into a world-renowned four-studio destination complex, hosting elite artists such as Taylor Swift, Matchbox Twenty, Neil Diamond, and Megadeth. This journey from struggling musician to business owner was chronicled in his 2002 autobiographical book, Jump and the Net Will Appear, which launched his career as a high-demand public speaker. Today, Robin addresses over 200,000 people annually on leadership, change management, and business growth.

In 2010, building on his industry success, he established Dark Horse Institute to empower the next generation of creative professionals. Under his leadership, the Institute offers specialized programs in Audio Engineering, Music Business, and the Commercial and Songwriting class, utilizing world-class labs and a faculty of Grammy-winning industry veterans. Robin’s commitment to excellence is matched by his philanthropy; his 11th album, Let it Glow (featuring Jon Anderson and Phil Keaggy), saw 100% of proceeds donated to Feed America First, an organization where he serves on the board of directors.

As a CEO and author of notable works including the USA Today bestseller Evolve or Die and Rock Solid Leadership, Robin possesses a rare depth of practical experience. By leveraging his background in artist management, publishing, and touring, he challenges individuals to adopt an action-oriented mindset, helping them transcend the role of job seeker to become innovative job creators who achieve extraordinary results and make a lasting difference in the world.

NOTABLE COLLABORATIONS
Dolly Parton, Jeff Beck, Taylor Swift, Keith Urban, Darius Rucker, Matchbox Twenty, Tim McGraw, Carrie Underwood, Alice in Chains, Rascal Flatts, and a roster of excellence worldwide.

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