About

Owned and operated by Vince Chiarito, Billy Aukstik and Michael Buckley, Hive Mind Recording strives to create an intimate recording experience using tools from both the past and present. With years of experience in the performing, recording and production field, the Hive Mind team is ready to assist you in any way in order to make the best sounding records possible.

Vince Chiarito

Vince Chiarito is an NYC based recording engineer/mixer, producer, and bass player. He is known for his work in the studio with Black Pumas, Ikebe Shakedown, Eli "Paperboy" Reed, Super Yamba Band, and many more. His music has been featured in television shows such as NBC's Blacklist, HBO's Eastbound & Down, and in the major motion picture Our Brand Is Crisis. Additionally, he has contributed original music to ad campaigns from Mini Cooper and Vans Shoes.

Vince is also an in demand bassist, having toured extensively with Black Pumas, Charles Bradley, Antibalas, Ikebe Shakedown, and Lady Wray. He is currently collaborating with renowned soul singer Saundra Williams on a new project called The Resonaires.

Billy Aukstik

Born in Chicago and now based in New York City, Billy Aukstik has played trumpet onstage and in the studio with a number of world-renowned acts. After attending New York University’s Jazz Studies program, Billy hit the road full-time, performing at festivals and venues around the world with Charles Bradley & His Extraordinaires, Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings, The Budos Band, The Menahan Street Band, Lee Fields & The Expressions, Antibalas, The Sugarman 3 and Mark Ronson. He has also appeared onstage with artists such as Erykah Badu, The Impressions, Mavis Staples, Bilal, CeeLo Green, The Roots and Chaka Khan. In the studio, Billy has performed on recordings by The Wu-Tang Clan, The Roots, Ghostface Killah, The Menahan Street Band, Mac Miller, El Michels Affair, The Dap-Kings, BADBADNOTGOOD, EMEFE, Michael Rault and Curtis Harding. 

In 2015, Billy founded Dala Records and has since produced and engineered releases from Bobby Harden & The Soulful Saints, Camellia Hartman, Emily Rault, Steve Garvin, Mel & Kim, Kyle Lacy, Sweet Megg, Billy the Kid, The Rad Trads, Michael Harlen and Patrick Sargent. Music from the Dala catalog has been licensed for Netflix, NBC and CBS and continues to garner attention from fans worldwide.

At Hive Mind Recording, Billy has engineered and produced for Marlon Williams, Anbessa Orchestra, Fiona Silver, The Sweet Enoughs, Fat Night and more. He also is an in-demand horn arranger and has recently arranged for Y La Bamba, Kelly Finnigan and The JoJos.

Michael Buckley

Michael Buckley is a New York City based touring and recording musician known primarily as a tenor and baritone saxophone player. His work can be heard on recordings for Lee Fields & The Expressions, The Roots, Ikebe Shakedown, Breakdown Brass, and various others, as well as a number of film and television soundtracks. Michael, along with the other members of Ikebe Shakedown, produced the band's two most recent albums. He is also co-producer/arranger for the new soul group, The Resonaires.

Michael has toured/shared the stage with Sharon Jones, Lee Fields, John Legend, The Roots, Kesha, Tedeschi/Trucks Band, Soulive, Aloe Blacc, Chromeo, and many others.