Pirate Sound: The Next Generation

From L to R: Keith Ohman, Ian Boddy, Alex Nursall, Vanya Drakul and Kyle Anderson

What’s next for PIRATE SOUND? One thing is for sure. Vanya Drakul ain’t quitting.

It’s 8am and Vanya Drakul turns on the carefully curated 2700K lighting to reveal a space as cutting edge as it comfortable. Timely and timeless at the same time. 

Like the mythical Ship of Theseus that was rebuilt board by board to become something completely new, this version of PIRATE SOUND is reassuringly familiar but also completely different. It’s the constant evolution that has kept PIRATE SOUND at the leading edge of sound production for three decades. 

This newest incarnation is just steps away from Toronto’s oldest market and world’s away from the 15 years of van-life Vanya spent as a touring musician. 

It’s hard not to notice the 'DONT QUIT' tattooed across Vanya’s knuckles as he sorts through the plethora of non-dairy milks and kombuchas on offer in the kitchen. Much like the 'HOLD FAST' that sailors inked across their knuckles in days of yore it’s a philosophy that has served Vanya well in his evolution from touring band member to engineer to sound director to taking the helm for the next generation of Pirate. 

These days his crew is a roster of North America’s top sound professionals. There’s kindred spirit Kyle Anderson, a former drummer turned director and engineer virtuoso. Soft-spoken Swede Keith Ohman leading the forefront of digital audio tech with his wizardry in Dolby ATMOS. Plus Ian Boddy and Alex Nursall crafting ground breaking narratives and production in the podcast landscape. 

With the consumption of audio content set to see unprecedented growth, Vanya feels more than ready to navigate the ever-changing waters of sound production.

“This isn’t just a new space and a new logo for PIRATE SOUND,” says Vanya, “we’ve rebuilt the ship into a spaceship with a killer crew of sound directors, producers, casting directors, composers and music supervisors on board. But it will always be about finding the next sound. The perfect sound. Regardless of the medium, whether it’s a commercial, a movie, a TV show or a TikTok video.”

Today, what is next is a brief that needs some fresh thinking. And fast. Anderson, Ohman, Boddy, Nursall and Drakul jump into one of the studios. The cocoon of hyper-focused soundproofing mixes with the scent of new electronics, creates the perfect conditions for a brainstorm. The crew is ready.

For latest work from PIRATE SOUND please visit here. 

From L to R: Keith Ohman, Vanya Drakul, Alex Nursall, Kyle Anderson and Ian Boddy