Industry Creative, Recording & Mix engineer, Immersive Sound Specialist, Composer, Producer, Technical Director & Educator
This is me...
It took long enough but I'm finally living my truth. I’m the same person I have always been with the same skills but I'm finally feeling comfortable in my own skin and doing what I love as my real self is truly liberating. Im living through a transgender experience, I can’t change the past but I chose not to let it or what biology got wrong, define who I am. Most of my credits is still linked to my old name so if you need to know more about what I’ve been up to over the last 20 years you can google “johan van der colff ”.
My professional history…
My career in the music, film, television, and entertainment industries has been a whirlwind of amazing experiences, hard work, long hours, literal blood, sweat, and tears, many many flights, and asking the question “what am I willing to give up to get there” allot. I have had the privilege of working in many roles in the creative industry over the last 20years from live mixing in clubs to stadiums, to international live broadcast mixes from Cape Town to Cairo literally. I have produced and mixed award-winning artists, composed for feature films, created soundtracks for live international events, directed music videos, wrote, produced, and directed tv commercials, directed live music concerts, and did live vision mixing for broadcasts.
It has been a tough ride but I am grateful for the journey and the fact that I can continue to do what I love. Now being able to be fully myself, visible and authentically me is the greatest gift. I don’t ask “what am I willing to give up to get there” anymore. I'm not willing to give up anything and I'm not living for the future but for the present. We only have today, this second, this minute, this hour. Tomorrow is not guaranteed and yesterday can not be changed. I only have NOW!
Selected music clients I’ve worked with….
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Mumford and Sons
Recording and Mixing Client
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Lebo M
Production, Recording and Mixing Client
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Black Eyed Peas
Live Broadcast Mix Client
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WestLife
Vocal Recording Client
Selected film clients I’ve worked with….
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Global Creative Studios
Cape Town, South Africa
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Happy Madison Productions
Los Angeles, United States
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Eagle Rock Films
London, United Kingdom
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The Big Film Factory
Nashville, United States
Facilities where I work….
Mastermax Studios
Mastermax Studios in Midrand is home to Abbey Road Institute Johannesburg and one of the most amazing recording studios in Africa where artist like, One Republic, Jennifer Hudson, Westlife, Lebo M, Zahara and many more have worked over the years. Apart from the commercial clients that still frequents the facilities for their projects we are teaching the next generation of music producers and audio professionals.
SoundMAX|3D
Mixing in the SoundMAX|3D dubbing stage located in a beautifully restored art-deco historic cinema complex in Paarl, Western Cape is a breath of fresh air. Working in a full size cinema is the only way to know the mix is right, the space lets you feel the emotion and energy giving the re-recording mixer the opportunity to get the mix just right with the first pass and leaves time to be creative and explore the immersive soundscape.
Lakeside Studio
The Lakeside Studio is a beautifully designed small footprint recording studio located near Muizenberg in the Western Cape. The amazing Yamaha C3 Grand Piano is a permanent feature and just waiting for your next project.
Selected Music, Films, TV shows and TVC’s
Mumford and Sons Live at the O2, London - Delta - Mixed and Mastered by Christi van der Colff
Fifa World Cup 2010 Opening Ceremony. Recording and Mixing of the musical score by Christi van der Colff
Jennifer Hudson, Remember Me - Engineered by Dabling Harward and assisted by Christi van der Colff
Mumford and Sons, Believe - Recorded live, Mixed and Mastered by Christi van der Colff
Mumford and Sons, Lover of the Night - Recorded live, Mixed and Mastered by Christi van der Colff
Grammy award winning flautist Wouter Kellerman - Recorded, Mixed and Mastered by Christi van der Colff
My Man Kan, TV Series, Recorded & Mixed by Christi van der Colff
Zanara, Ndiza - Recorded, Mixed, Co-produced and programming by Christi van der Colff
Herman, Misreen in Parys -Arranged, Produced, Recorded and Mixed by Christi van der Colff
MTN Joyous Celebration Extreme Cinema Experience - Co-Produced and Visual Post Production Supervision by Christi van der Colff
MTN Joyous Celebration, Sengiyacela - Directed and Visual Post Production Supervision by Christi van der Colff
The Giver, Film - Onset Pro Tools Operation and Playback engineering by Christi van der Colff
The Legend of Tarzan movie - Vocal Recording for score elements by Christi van der Colff
Maak my Famous TV Show Live Broadcast Mixing by Christi van der Colff
MTV Africa Music Awards 2015 Live Broadcast Mix by Christi van der Colff
Global Citizen Concert - Music Broadcast Technical Supervisor and Facilities Provided by Christi van der Colff
Black Eyed Peas Concert at the Pyramids of Giza - Where is the Love Concert Live Broadcast Mix by Christi van der Colff
SEED Animation Trailer Produced by as well as Audio Post Production Supervision and Final Mix by Christi van der Colff
Bhais Cafe Movie - Music Supervision, Visual Post Production Supervision and Final Mix by Christi van der Colff
One Republic, Every body loves me - Engineered by Christi van der Colff, Ryan Tedder, Andy Prickett and Joe Zook
Westlife, Lighthouse - Vocals recorded and co-produced by Christi van der Colff
Mumford and Sons, Blind leading the blind live - Mixed and Mastered by Christi van der Colff
Zahara, Loliwe - Recorded, Mixed and Co-produced by Christi van der Colff
Mumford and Sons & Baaba Maal, There will be time, Recorded Live, Mixed and Mastered by Christi van der Colff
Wouter Kellerman, Irish Hornpipes -Recorded, Mixed and Mastered by Christi van der Colff
Mumford & Sons and Gang of Youths, Blood - Mixed and Mastered by Christi van der Colff
Jagveld Film - Audio Post Production Supervisor and Final Mix by Christi van der Colff
The Roar Movie - Music Score, Post Production Supervision and Final Mix by Christi van der Colff
TV commercials and music videos produced by Christi van der Colff
This is why looking back is just as important as looking forward. Looking at the past gives us the opportunity to learn the lessons that crossed our paths while looking forward creates hope and the two together strengthen faith.