This week, we are peeking behind the curtain of Detroit's yellow vinyl beacon, Third Man Pressing with Brie-Anne Andrews, the Pressing and Operations Lead. We've hoped to interview and share the hard work Third Man has been doing for the community for awhile now, and love to hear of their effortlessly diverse staff, and community focus. Third Man Pressing is a boutique vinyl record production facility with a unique customer experience that includes a viewing window for visitors to witness the intricacies of the record making process. Third Man Pressing is an investment in Third Man Records’ hometown, a neighborhood within a city rich with musical history, creating a space that is as inspiring as it is prolific.

When she isn't at work, "I enjoy all of the simplest things in life, good food, good friends, and savoring all the small moments in life. I enjoy local events and shows as well as festivals".

How did you get into your industry / What motivated you?

It was all chance and circumstance, I was in my mid 20's and wanted to pursue a career instead of having "jobs". I started at Third Man Pressing (TMP) in 2017 and truly was inspired from the moment I entered the building. I made it a personal goal to learn anything and everything I could get my hands on.

What is a day in the life like?

Chaotic! Each day can bring some different spice, but most days involve roughly the same ideas. A lot of planning and checking in with different departments throughout the plant, making sure each job has all the tools necessary to run. Getting the rest of the day/week set up and making it all make sense for everyone involved, so we can continue to press awesome records and make sure all of our customers are as happy with the records they are getting as we are at making them.

In your opinion what has been your favorite / the coolest thing you've worked on?

I truly love all the planning and concepts for new jobs, but while I was a press operator I was able to single handedly press a TMR released Prince boxset, and reading the reactions of the fans online and holding that boxset in my hands felt like such a huge achievement for me and was a turning point for my own personal confidence and motivation.

What has been / is the most difficult part of your job?

I feel like anyone who works in manufacturing can tell you the real disappointments are the things out of your control. Machinery malfunctions, packaging delays, the list can go on from there. When you stand back and are able to see all the moving parts, it hits a little harder when you see where the real hiccups occur.

What advice do you have for someone wanting to get into pursuing what you’re doing?

...never stop learning, never stop asking questions. I cant stress that enough. I have always been a hands on approach learner, and you just have to find your passion and dive in head first.

I always joke with people that I have gotten to my position by being nosy, but it really was my curiosity and passion for this field. When I started to learn about everything it took to make a vinyl record, I knew I needed to absorb any and all knowledge to make myself be able to achieve a level where I felt confident in helping those around me to continue to learn and pursue their own goals.

So my real tip? It will always sound cheesy, but never stop learning, never stop asking questions. I cant stress that enough. I have always been a hands on approach learner, and you just have to find your passion and dive in head first.

Are you a vinyl collector yourself? What drew you to it?

I am! To be honest I never took collecting too seriously until vinyl became a daily part of my life, and now I have to stop myself from going overboard every chance I get. Seeing music from my childhood, or music my mom loves, get a re-issue or being pressed for the first time keeps my passion for it alive.

What types of things are happening in your industry / with vinyl that you’re excited or worried about? i.e. innovation, or trends you’re seeing.

The future. Being able to see this younger generation get excited for vinyl, to want to collect and listen to this pure sweet form of music. I can only hope and pray that the world keeps being excited for vinyl and that the passion for it never dies down again.

Who has been influential to you and your growth as a professional in this industry? 

The people around me everyday. Third Man is full of smart, talented women, and that's empowering in itself. I'm inspired by the day to day, the passion of the people around me and the idea of being able to create another art form from someone's own art of music.

Anything else you’d like to add; if not tell us what you're listening to: 

My music flavor is very much so all over the board, so the day of the week can depend on what I'm listening to, but in my heart of hearts I am truly a pop music queen.