WhereNext People – an Interview With Daniel Murcia, Audio Storyteller

Daniel’s Bio

Daniel is a sound engineer who specializes in the design, development, and creation of audio for storytelling. With almost a decade of experience in sound production, he’s worked on six feature films, three documentaries, and more than 100 advertising projects. He has also produced 3-D sound experiences for Motorola and 3-D audiobooks for children. Dani is an expert at Pro Tools and is an Avid Certified User. When he's not mimicking the sounds of birds, people, and whatever else you need, you can find him on a bicycle, playing guitar, or tipping back a cold brew at the Monkey House, the favorite watering hole of our Bogotá office.

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Join us for an interview with WhereNext's master of audio design, Daniel Murcia, whose passion and talent shine on the soundtracks of our most successful projects, including the intricate and lush, feature-length documentary, The Birders.

Tell us about yourself.

My name is Daniel Murcia. I was born and raised in Bogotá, and I’m 30 years old. I’m a sound designer. I work in a sound studio, where I create audio for audiovisual content such as documentaries, social media content, and voiceovers. My job is basically to enhance the emotions that the video director is trying to express on screen. When I’m not in the studio you’ll probably find me riding my bike around Bogotá.

Tell us about your most memorable travel experience.

In the summer of 2016, I went to Chicago. I needed to take a breather: at that moment in my life, I was going around in circles. I didn’t know where I was going in my professional life and I was thinking of quitting working in audio. I felt like I had no focus or goals to work towards, and I think that in order to make a big life decision it’s better to be in a great place when you do it.

My friend Carolina was my ‘Chicago Insider.’ She’s been a friend of mine since we were kids, so seeing her again was great. We explored the city, tasted the local food, and did some running and biking. And some partying as well, of course. This trip was really special to me, as it wasn’t connected with my work in any way, and I was able to finally think clearly about what I wanted to do with my life.

Dead or alive, who would you like to join you on an adventure?

My family. At least my mom, dad, brother, and niece. Family time is the most beautiful and loving experience that a human being can have in my opinion.

What are your travel equipment essentials?

It depends on the weather or if it is a special location, like the jungle or high mountains, but for sure I won’t leave home without these things:

· Everything should fit into a 25-liter backpack

· Casual clothes and two pair of shoes

· A beard trimmer

· Sunglasses, as I suffer from photophobia

· A book, not an eReader, I mean a real book that doesn’t need to charge on the wall

· An audio recorder, a small one, it’s good to be ready to press the record button

· My headphones and music player.

When did you feel happiest?

I feel like the most memorable moments in life are often short and sweet. Like seeing your niece run towards you for a hug or traveling somewhere to meet an old friend. Those kinds of sensations fill up the happiness tank, so to speak.

The WhereNext offices are a happy place

Home is where the heart is

Who taught you your biggest life lesson, and what was it?

It might not actually be a person. I think I have learned my biggest lessons while I’m out on my bike. Since I started riding and climbing big mountains, spending hours on the road, I’ve had real time to think and get to know myself. You are pushing your body’s limits and changing your perception of your limitations when you ride like that. You can’t give up and, if you fall, the only solution is to get back up and keep riding. And there are so many roads to travel and different ways to get there. It’s taught me that, when you’re facing a difficult life situation, there’s always a way to achieve your goals. It’s not easy, but never impossible. Riding is the only place where you can’t avoid yourself and it’s an important place for self-recognition.

You can teleport to any restaurant on earth: where do you go and what do you order?

I love seafood, sushi especially, but my girlfriend doesn’t love it at all. In fact, she basically hates it. So we decided to find the perfect sushi roll for her. We live in Bogotá and we must have tried six or seven sushi restaurants, and she didn’t like any of them. I was in heaven visiting all these amazing sushi places, but she just couldn’t find one she liked. Then, finally, we found one in the JW Marriot Hotel, the Nau Sushi Lounge. The rolls were beautifully presented and filled with tempura tilapia, tuna, and salmon.

I can still remember her face as she tried it for the first time. It was like she had a revelation, that there could be so many flavors in a single bite. It was a great night for us as a couple, so I would go there. But not without her.

Tell us about the most adventurous food you ever ate?

I guess it was goat – known as ‘chivo’ in Colombia – on the north coast of Colombia. It’s a pretty normal dish up there, and most people like to eat it down by the river with a local beer called “Costeñita”. The meat was smooth, but a bit greasy, but I enjoyed the local tradition all the same.

Drink of choice?

At the restaurant, fruit juice. My favorites are a lulada from Cali or Guanabana juice. At the bar, a lager or a dry martini. The best that I ever tasted was at The Signature Room Lounge on the 96th floor of the John Hancock Center in Chicago. What a view and what a drink!

Where do you feel most at home?

Home isn’t really a place for me; it’s more about being with the right people at the right time. But if I had to name a physical space, I would say the WhereNext house where my recording space is. That feels like home to me.

Daniel’s five audio recording gear essentials

Daniel’s recreation of choice: cycling

Daniel in the WhereNext audio production studio

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Learn more about our global storytelling agency here.

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