Senior mixer and sound designer Hillary Kew Martell has returned to the audio post marketplace for brands and advertising as she joins the roster at Sound Goods.
The move is a reunion for Kew Martell and Sound Goods partner Weston Fonger, who worked together earlier at audioEngine in New York. Kew-Martell’s career in New York also includes stints at such studios as Nutmeg Post and Photomag. Her advertising showreel features audio mixing and sound design for brands like Nike, Mercedes Benz, Discover Card, Budweiser, Dunkin and Coca-Cola, for which she did the mix and sound design on its legendary “Happiness Factory” Super Bowl spot.
“I’ve always admired Hillary ever since I was her assistant at audioEngine,” said sound designer/mixer Fonger. “She was a powerhouse, working on top-tier projects for major brands in a beautifully designed Walters Storyk studio–exactly what I envisioned for my own career at that time. Watching how she ran the room, and how clients respected her insights, taught me so much about the process. We share a love for the craft and a commitment to helping clients realize their visions while enjoying the process along the way.”
Kew Martell’s signing with Sound Goods marks her return to partnering with agencies and brands after a multi-year hiatus, during which time she relocated to Baltimore and focused on raising her children.
Sound Goods partner and executive producer Angelina Powers said, “The past few years have transformed our industry, especially with the rise of remote collaboration. We can now service major accounts from anywhere in the world, maintaining personal connections with clients while exploring innovative ways to engage with our projects and our talent. This shift has opened up new possibilities, allowing us to combine the best of remote work with in-person sessions as needed. To that end, we’re beyond excited to welcome Hillary to the Sound Goods family. She’s a total badass, and I can’t wait to see what we’ll create together!”
Kew Martell said, “When Weston and I were able to reconnect and I heard about what he and Angelina were doing with Sound Goods, it seemed like the perfect fit. I have proven experience and skills honed during my time at audioEngine, and I stepped back to focus on my family, which was very important to me. Now that I’m ready to jump back in, Weston and Angelina have the perfect platform for me to reconnect via Sound Goods. And as far as working with Weston is concerned, I’m happy to be able to do so with someone I consider a friend first and a coworker, second.”
Kew Martell will continue to be based in Baltimore, where she’s built a thriving career working with her alma mater, Johns Hopkins University and its highly regarded Carey School of Business. Her ability to loop into sessions for SoundGoods clients offers her the best of both worlds: “They can provide the support a traditional studio offers by way of sales and business management, while still allowing me the freedom that comes with being independent,” she commented.
Baltimore is where Kew Martell first got the audio post bug, back when she was studying cello at the Johns Hopkins’ Peabody Conservatory of Music. “I discovered the recording arts program there, which quickly derailed my plans to become a concert cellist,” she recalled. Working in the studio allowed her to blend her love of visual arts and her love of music: “It was a perfect combination for me to join together those two passions through doing audio for film.
Since returning to Baltimore, Kew Martell has kept busy on a range of projects. In addition to her work with the Carey School, she’s handled assignments for Discovery Networks, Amazon Echo and WWE, along with a host of podcasts and audiobooks. “Although I’ll always love New York, I don’t regret making the move back here, and more than anything I’m enormously and forever grateful I was able to be so present for the early years of my children’s lives,” she shared. “That’s time I’ll always cherish.”
“Hillary’s total commitment to her family is indicative of how she approaches all things in life,” said Powers, “and we know she’ll bring this same dedication and focus to her career as she returns full time to the mixing chair. Great work with great sound has a timeless quality, and I still listen to Hillary’s reel with awe. I feel incredibly fortunate that we share a similar vision for success at such a pivotal moment. In short, we hit the jackpot with Hillary!”
