Jakob, why don’t you introduce yourself.
My name is Jakob Eisenbach, I am 31 years old and studied for six years at ZHdK, completing a bachelor's and master's degree in composition for film, theater, and media. After my studies, I received a studio space at Mediacampus for two years through the Z-Kubator's What's next_Compass programme. There, I began to build up my company, which I founded in 2019.
What does your company do?
I have a recording studio called Vection, which focuses on audio post-production in a wide range of media. I started out with music and sound design for short films, various ZHdK projects, and for a virtual reality game company. For this, I had to become self-employed and founded the company, which was then still called Vection Music GmbH.
What are some of the projects you work on?
I am in charge of audio post-production for various television projects on SRF, including Maloney and, currently, an episode of Tatort Zürich. This year, I moved into a new studio in the Kreis 5 district with more space for my work. I also have a few ongoing projects, such as NZZ Format, which I was able to take over from the previous owner of the recording studio. I do a lot on my own, but I also have help from a small team of freelancers.
What were some important factors while building up your own company?
I think it's always very important to build a network. ZHdK was great for that. You meet so many different people that you can learn from, and ultimately you support each other. My philosophy was to support as many people as possible with my skills so that I could draw on a diverse network in the future. That's how I ended up with the recording studio and my various jobs. The FTM master's program was very well structured and offered us the opportunity to develop individually in the direction that suited us best – accompanied by the support of external mentors.
What was a major success moment for you?
The VR project was definitely the first highlight for me. That's where it all started, and it helped me launch my company. I believe that in art, it's essential to experience personal moments of success in order to keep going and build self-confidence. I often felt the urge to prove myself as a freelancer, because you are often on your own. It doesn't matter whether these successes apply to everyone. The main thing is that success satisfies this hunger for validation a little and allows you to start the next projects a little more relaxed.
You studied composition. What role does music play in your everyday life?
I still make music for various film projects, but not as often as I would like to. With my live projects, JODOQ and Chiara Dubey, I play gigs from time to time, but lately I've had to focus more on the business success of my recording studio. The financial side and the workload are quite significant, and unfortunately, I've had to put music on the back burner a bit. From my point of view, the Vection recording studio should primarily be a foundation for me and other musicians to be able to create music of the highest quality with less economic pressure.
How does it feel to run a business in the creative industry? Does this create any conflicts?
Yes, I have noticed that my artistic side has become a bit quiet over the past year because I have been focusing more on the economic side. I still make music, but never as much as I used to. However, my hunger for the artistic side is growing every day. I also take on the role of entrepreneur in my music projects. It requires planning, coordination, and negotiation. If you do it long enough, you learn how such processes work. In art, many people think that everything happens by itself, but nothing ever happens by itself. It always takes hard work. One of my goals was to have a stable income in Zurich. That has now come true, and I hope to be able to focus more on my creative projects in the future.
How has Z-Kubator helped you in your career?
The studio space at Mediacampus was essential for me. I met other participants in the Z-Kubator What's next_Compass programme, and they even helped me build a recording booth. I also took advantage of some mentoring, for example for advice on a petition that some musicians and I started four years ago. The aim was to make the former SRF radio studio in Brunnenhof near Bucheggplatz accessible to musicians and music producers. The equipment in the former studio was excellent. However, things turned out differently and the building was converted into a secondary school and music rooms for students of the Zurich Conservatory Music School (MKZ). Nevertheless, it was a good experience, and I expanded my network. I even became known as the guy who was looking for a recording studio! That's how I ended up with my current studio.
The interview was led by Maxine Erni