Joseph Frustaglio’s Adventures in Audio Design
Toronto's music and sound landscape is a thriving and diverse ecosystem, renowned for its unique blend of genres and cutting-edge production. Coming up in the city’s vibrant studio scene, Joseph Frustaglio learnt a lot about breathing sonic life into projects. His journey from intern turned senior audio engineer to seasoned audio director reflects his deep and versatile expertise in audio production.
In 2023 he joined TA2 Sound+Music as an audio director and composer. In this role, Joseph harnesses his comprehensive experience - ranging from intricate sound design to compelling composition - to infuse projects with bespoke sonic energy. His hands-on approach and collaborative spirit enable him to explore and innovate, ensuring that every sound he creates not only complements but elevates the visual storytelling.
Joseph's commitment to discovering new sounds and solutions makes him an invaluable asset to TA2, where he continues to push the boundaries of modern audio production. Inspired by his creative canon, LBB’s April Summers was excited to discuss his newest and greatest work.
LBB> Can you remember the moment you realised you had an affinity for sound design, or was it a gradual process?
Joseph> For me, sound design was definitely a gradual process, and to be honest, when starting out, it was a bit of a ‘sink or swim’ situation. I was an audio engineer for the first five years of my career, a position which allowed me to really hone my skills, work on hundreds of projects, and sound design everything from the slightest movement of text on a screen, all the way to epic CGI scenes that had you warping through time and space.
Sound design and music need to work as one, coming together in harmony to bring the whole piece to life. It is an art that takes many reps and years of practice, and is a skill that has become integral to my work at TA2 as an audio director.
LBB> What is the driving force behind your passion for audio production?
Joseph> That’s a good question! There has always been something about sound that has drawn me in. There is a power in the ways that music and sound can make you feel, and the pursuit of that feeling (whatever it may be that you are trying to capture) is probably the driving force behind what I do.
The impact that music and sound has is crazy – you can turn a horror scene into a comedy or a thriller into a rom-com with nothing more than a change in music and a few cleverly placed sound effects. Music and sound can make all the difference in a project, and getting to work with creatives, directors, and producers to bring their vision to life, and make the viewer feel how they want them to feel, is why I do what I do.
LBB> What's your favourite thing about your role as audio director at TA2?
Joseph> Honestly, the whole team and environment at TA2 is great, and I felt right at home from day one. We have a fantastic engineering team and a top notch group of executive producers and directors as well. In this line of work I don’t think you ever stop learning, so getting to see the TA2 way of doing things has been a really great experience.
My favourite aspect of my role here is bringing people’s vision to life. Getting to be a part of creating something new, and the excitement when everyone is vibing on the same page and everything is grooving and moving just the way you want it, is really something special. Those moments almost make you feel like a kid again. I’m extremely lucky and grateful that I am able to call this my career, and I try to remind myself of that as often as I can.
LBB> Let's talk about some of the projects you've worked on since arriving. Tell us about the sonic vision for ‘Alumcraft’ - what was the brief and how did you consolidate your ideas to create a score that best aligned with the brand's identity?
Joseph> From creating a custom track with lyrics to fishing rod-accurate sound design, this project was an adventure in audio design and creativity. We were asked to create a track that not only sounded like we took it straight off of a record, but one that also felt authentic to the visual, while not indulging in the usual ‘stomp-clap’ folk-pop that is typical of the subject matter. The result was a beautifully delicate track that perfectly contrasted the raw, gritty visuals and intricate, almost hyper-realistic sound design. With the spot being filmed on small lakes in the Appalachian mountains, we took our inspiration from traditional Appalachian music, looking to its instrumentation and lyrical melody and stylings.
LBB> A fun, summery cover of 'Summer Breeze' scores the Loblaws film you shared. Can you tell us how you creatively directed the audio production to ensure the music enhanced the storytelling for this spot?
Joseph> Working alongside Steve Gadsden, president of TA2, we were asked to reimagine an old classic. Focussing the creative around the song ‘Summer Breeze’ by Seals and Crofts, we were tasked with covering the track using a modern/summer twist.
Being tasked with covering such a classic song is always a treat, but covers present their own unique challenges as well; finding the correct instrumentation and arrangement, exploring which genre works best, finding the best singer to accurately represent the fresh feel of the track, etc. We explored all these and more when finding the right vibe to set up thatsummer feel. The result was a modern pop interpretation rooted in a funk/soul space.
LBB> For the Nike x Capsule release of the new Air Max 95 Toronto Edition you delivered an original score and sound design. The end result is a bassline-heavy score which perfectly encapsulates Toronto’s urban terrain. What were your initial ideas for this project? And how did you collaborate with the director to ensure this film accurately conveyed his creative vision?
Joseph> This project was really cool to be a part of. Working with a great young director named Jimmy Vi, we were tasked with creating a track and soundscape that set the stage for our fast-paced and energetic journey through the neighbourhoods of Toronto from the POV of a famous Toronto resident: the white squirrel of Trinity Bellwoods Park featuring Nike’s New Air Max 95 Toronto Edition shoe.
The audio direction was upbeat and energetic, and to utilise some unique and ‘interesting’ sounds in the score, we created some textures outside of the norm. We pre-scored the whole thing (and adjusted once it was shot and the edit was locked), setting the pace for the production team on shoot day and allowing for the edit to follow the energy and feel of our track.
LBB> Each of these projects are very different - is there a central theme or qualities that underline your overall approach to audio production and direction?
Joseph> I think at the root of it all, I always ask myself ‘what do you want people to feel when they watch this?’. This answer is my jumping-off point and the idea that informs all of my decisions moving forward. It’s something that I’ve learned very quickly during my time here at TA2, and probably the single biggest thing I’ve taken away from getting to watch and work alongside Steve Gadsden. You have to be very direct in this approach, and if you are, everything else will follow.
Another must in my approach to direction and production is creating an environment conducive to creativity. An open and enjoyable space lends itself to good work, and a place where people can freely share ideas and try different things is key.
LBB> In December it'll be a year since you joined TA2! What is your proudest achievement since joining the company? And what are your goals for your second year?
Joseph> All of the above encapsulates my proudest achievement, which is becoming a part of a company that does such great work, has a great standing in the industry, and genuinely cares about each and every person and project that comes through the door. We’ve got some really cool and unique projects on the go right now - most of which I can’t talk about just yet, but hopefully we can circle back and chat about them soon - that present some interesting sonic challenges. Working with great people on great work is what I am looking forward to most, as well as to continue growing and collaborating with new people on their latest and greatest ideas.
