Racket Club Expands Bicoastal Studios with New Hires
Racket Club’s evolution into bicoastal audio post powerhouse continues with the addition of two senior hires and new state-of-the-art studios in New York City’s Flatiron District and Culver City, Los Angeles. Award-winning composer Justin Hori will lead the West Coast team as partner and creative director, and mixer and sound designer Ashley Simmons will augment the New York team’s growing audio post offering. No longer a fledging music house, since its launch in 2019 Racket Club has solidified its reputation with discerning clients as a destination for elevated original music, music licensing, sound design, and audio post. Racket Club garnered a prestigious Amp Award for Outstanding Mix in 2022, and recent projects include collaborations with Google, Volvo, and BMW.
Justin Hori’s storied career began in Chicago’s music scene, as a hip-hop DJ starting at the age of 13. Hori studied composition and audio engineering at Columbia College before cutting his teeth as a composer at Comma Music, eventually opening their Los Angeles office. Hori has provided creative leadership at an array of music powerhouses, including Human Worldwide and Squeak E. Clean Studios, and has composed original music for award-winning projects with top clients such as Apple, Reebok, Adidas, Volkswagen, and Budweiser. He most recently worked on BMW’s 2022 holiday campaign.
“Coming on board as partner and creative director at Racket Club feels like a natural progression in my career, but it’s also incredibly thrilling” says Justin. “Especially now that in person sessions have returned, it’s beyond exciting to be opening our studios in the heart of Culver City. We’re proud to give our west coast clients this new home for their music and post audio needs.”
Ashley 'Koomba' Simmons is a mixer and sound designer born and raised in Brooklyn, New York. She developed her range of skills influenced by her upbringing and community, culminating in a lifelong passion for generating visibility and opportunities for black creators, women, and members of the LGBTQ+ community. Simmons has brought her creative visions to life sonically across various mediums, including film, documentary, and commercial. She has collaborated on projects for brands such as AT&T, Synchrony Bank, Comcast, the National Women’s History Museum, and Procter & Gamble. In her new role as Sound Mixer, Simmons plays a pivotal role in bolstering Racket Club’s mixing capabilities and offerings.
Establishing physical studios in New York City and Los Angeles enables Racket Club to expand its offerings to clients on both coasts, facilitating broader sound and mixing capabilities and in-person collaboration. Both studios feature Dolby Atmos systems, allowing for recording and mixing music, audio post, sound design, and voiceover recording for any medium. The LA studio also has a theatre room, offering an immersive viewing and sound experience for their burgeoning roster of global clients.
“Justin and Koomba are talented beyond measure, and their addition is just the beginning as Racket Club continues to expand to meet client demand,” says Nick Crane, creative director and partner at Racket Club. “They’re also just really nice people. Mix rooms on both coasts will allow us to take on additional projects and strengthen collaboration between our talent and companies seeking to tell emotionally impactful stories. We’re thrilled to see what 2023 has in store for us as we maintain our sprint to the next level.”
