Biography

Isha “The Mad Scientist” Erskine is more than a producer—he’s a true creative partner for artists and bands ready to bring their songs to life with clarity, emotional depth, and impact. With over 20 years of experience, Isha doesn’t just build tracks—he helps artists solve creative roadblocks, elevate rough ideas into fully realized recordings, and guide projects from inspiration to radio-ready release.

His journey started unconventionally - after getting kicked out of the high school band, Isha picked up the guitar and started a punk rock band. Wanting to record his first songs, he went to Radio Shack to buy the finest conference room mics, plugged them into a boombox, and began his recording adventures live to cassette tape.That DIY spirit still drives his work: creative resourcefulness, musical intuition, and deep collaboration.

Isha left high school early to study music composition in college and intern at the world-class Prairie Sun Studios at the tail end of the analog tape era. Craving deeper technical expertise, he enrolled at the Conservatory of Recording Arts in Arizona, laying the foundation for a career that blends musicality with engineering precision.

After school, he hustled through the LA scene—starting as an intern for Rob Cavallo on My Chemical Romance’s The Black Parade, eventually working with artists like Fall Out Boy and the Black Eyed Peas.

One of his biggest “aha” moments was assisting the Legendary Mike Shipley (Def Leppard, The Cars, Green Day) in mixing Maroon 5’s album. He learned not to be afraid to make huge EQ moves to sculpt sounds larger than life. When Adam Levine decided to re-record a song last minute, Isha stepped in to engineer—and earned his first Platinum Record.

Years later, he returned to LA to co-engineer Ziggy Marley’s Fly Rasta, collaborating with world-class musicians and earning a Grammy in the process. These moments taught him that great records come from trust, shared vision, and fearless creativity.

Now based in Northern California, Isha runs The Mad Scientist Studio, a creative sanctuary on a working farm with a skatepark—offering artists a focused yet relaxed environment to do their best work. He’s not just a button pusher or mix engineer—he's a sounding board, co-writer, multi-instrumentalist, and guide through the entire production journey.

Whether you’re stuck in demo purgatory, overwhelmed by technical decisions, or need someone to push your vision across the finish line, Isha brings calm, clarity, and commitment. His superpower is hearing the heart of a song and helping artists make bold, honest records that truly connect.

He’s worked with icons like Maroon 5, Ziggy Marley, and Jeff Beck—but today, his passion is empowering rising artists who are serious about their sound and ready to level up.

When not in the studio, Isha writes sync music for TV, skateboards with his kids, and grows food with his wife on their diversified no-till farm in Sebastopol.