Oli Jacobs - mixing instinct, innovation and a Surrey sound

For Oli, the best moments in music are still the simplest: hearing a song he helped craft drift from a passing car, or watching thousands of people sing it back at a live show.

“That’s when I feel the proudest,” he says. “Seeing other people enjoying something that I helped bring into existence - that’s the best feeling.”

It is a feeling Oli has experienced many times over. Since graduating from Surrey’s renowned Music and Sound Recording (Tonmeister) course in 2014, he has built a career at the very highest level of the global music industry, becoming one of the most sought-after mixing engineers of his generation. His credits span major artists and landmark projects, while his work in immersive audio and Dolby Atmos has placed him at the forefront of a rapidly evolving field.

Finding the right frequency at Surrey

Oli arrived at Surrey with a love of both music and technology - and a strong sense that Tonmeister was the only course that truly brought the two together.

“When I looked into it, it became clear it was the only course that captured what I wanted to do,” he says. “It had a history of strong graduates doing great things, great facilities, staff who had done it for real, and the placement year was a massive bonus.”

He almost didn’t make it. Oli remembers being told he was on the reserve list, only to receive a place shortly afterwards when someone else dropped out. “I got really lucky,” he says.

Once he arrived, that sense of belonging was immediate. It was not one defining lecture or single project that confirmed he had made the right choice, but the people around him.

“You get there and meet people who have the same urge to know what’s what,” he says. “Their interests line up with yours. That’s confirmation you’re in the right place.”

He also remembers being let loose in the studios early on: “Someone was like, ‘You can just go and figure that out.’ There was this freedom and excitement.”

A community that keeps going

For Oli, Surrey’s impact did not end at graduation. More than a decade later, the Tonmeister community remains a living network of friends, collaborators and colleagues.

“I left 12 years ago and I’m still in touch with a lot of people who went there,” he says. “It doesn’t feel like a course you go and do and then leave. It becomes very much a part of your life.”

That network has also shaped his career. Oli has worked with fellow Surrey graduates on major records, including collaborations connected to Sam Fender and other projects, and still turns to fellow Surrey Tonmeisters for advice across different corners of the industry.

“The people you’re on the course with will be your future colleagues,” he says. “Work really hard - and work with your friends.”

From Real World to Los Angeles

After completing his placement year at Peter Gabriel’s Real World Studios, Oli returned there straight after graduation. His graduation ceremony was followed, the very next day, by his first day of work.

“There were no days off,” he laughs.

He spent almost a decade at Real World, learning the discipline, urgency and etiquette of studio life. The early years were demanding: long days, modest pay and a need to “earn your stripes”. But Oli sees that period as essential.

“You learn how studios work, when to leave the room, when to speak, when to be quiet,” he says. “You learn the importance of the project.”

A major turning point came when he engineered a record with Harry Styles. “After that, there’s another level of trust and understanding,” he says. “It really helped catapult me.”

Later, projects with The 1975, Jack Antonoff and Sam Fender helped accelerate his career further. In recent years, now based in Los Angeles, Oli says the trajectory has felt almost surreal: “Sometimes you’re like, ‘How did I get to do that?’”

Innovation in immersive sound

Alongside stereo mixing, Oli has become recognised for his work in immersive audio, including Dolby Atmos. He sees the format as an exciting space for artists to communicate with listeners in new ways.

“Anything that challenges the norm and gives engineers and artists new ways to communicate with audiences is amazing,” he says. “There’s a possibility for new ways for artists to express themselves beyond stereo.”

He points to Peter Gabriel’s Grammy-winning immersive album, i/o as an example of the format at its best: an artist genuinely engaged with the possibilities, rather than treating Atmos as an afterthought.

“When an artist is really behind it and excited about it, that’s where it comes into its own,” Oli says.

Giving back to the next generation

Despite a demanding international career, Oli has remained closely connected to Surrey and has returned to deliver workshops for final-year students, as well as volunteered at “Ask An Alum” networking events.

For him, giving back is simple. “Surrey gave me so much early on when I didn’t have a clue where to begin,” he says. “It gave me options and ideas. It’s also a place where a lot of new talent is learning, so doing what you can to help the next generation of music creators is really important.”

When current students ask about careers, Oli’s advice is reassuring: keep an open mind, work hard and follow the opportunities that appear.

“There are jobs in music,” he says. “They might not be exactly what you intended, but if you work really hard and stay open-minded, there’s a lot going on.”

A full-circle honour

Winning the Young Achiever award as part of Surrey’s 2026 Vice-Chancellor’s Alumni Awards came as a surprise.

“It’s very humbling and deeply surprising,” Oli says. “Awards aren’t something I set out to achieve. To be recognised by the place that gave you so much is amazing.”

For Surrey, Oli’s success represents the best of the Tonmeister tradition: technical excellence, creativity, collaboration and generosity. For Oli, the work still comes back to people - the artists, friends, mentors and listeners who make music matter.

“Music can be a place of sanctuary and solace,” he says. “It’s sometimes less direct than some artforms, but it absolutely has that power.”