For Charae Degrow, the path to audio engineering began with a leap of faith. Based in Ottawa, Canada, Charae is the founder of Rhythm With Rae and works primarily in live sound as both a front of house and monitor engineer. She also provides audio workshops for local high schools and community organizations and occasionally offers recording engineering services throughout Ottawa and the Greater Toronto Area.
What makes Charae’s story especially compelling is that audio was not her first career. Before entering the music industry, she earned a Bachelor of Psychology from McMaster University and built a successful career in mental health. By many standards, she had achieved stability and security. Yet despite her accomplishments, there was always something pulling her toward music. At age 29, she made the difficult decision to leave that comfortable path behind and return to school. She enrolled in the Music Industry Arts program, knowing she wanted to be involved in music but not yet knowing exactly where she fit within the industry.
Everything changed in November 2024, through mentor Wayne Hawthorne, Charae was invited backstage at a Marianas Trench concert at Ottawa’s National Arts Centre. Until that moment, she had never considered the people behind the console responsible for shaping the audience’s experience. Like many concertgoers, she assumed a great sound simply happened. Standing backstage and watching a large-scale production unfold, she experienced something profound. As she observed the crew, the technology, and the artistry involved in creating the show, she felt the same rush of excitement she had always felt as a performer. At that moment, a voice inside her said, “This is just the beginning.”
That experience transformed the way she saw her future. For Charae, audio engineering offered something she hadn’t known existed: the opportunity to create powerful emotional experiences from behind the scenes. She became fascinated by the role of the engineer—the person responsible for crafting how audiences experience music in real time. Suddenly, she wasn’t asking whether she belonged in music; she was asking how she could become the person behind the console.
Music had always been a central part of her life. Growing up, her mother taught piano lessons from their family home, and all four children were required to complete Royal Conservatory piano training and music theory studies. While her upbringing included strict limitations around what music she could listen to, those restrictions only deepened her curiosity. She discovered new artists through friends, hidden CD collections, and her own determination to explore sounds beyond the boundaries of her childhood environment.
Long before she knew audio engineering existed as a profession, Charae was already creating music. At twelve years old, she began composing original piano pieces, often finding herself more interested in writing music than practicing scales and exercises. Creativity, experimentation, and musical expression were always at the center of her relationship with sound.
Today, Charae brings a unique perspective to the industry. Her background in psychology and mental health gives her a deep understanding of people, communication, and resilience. Combined with her growing expertise in live sound and education, she is helping create spaces where both artists and audiences can connect through music.
Perhaps most importantly, Charae sees her journey into audio as an opportunity to honor a dream she carried for years but never felt able to pursue. She often speaks about giving her sixteen-year-old self a chance—the chance to explore music fully, without being limited by expectations or the opinions of others. That determination continues to drive her forward as she builds her career in live sound and inspires others to pursue their own passions, regardless of where their journey begins.
For Charae, stepping behind the console wasn’t just a career change. It was the beginning of becoming the person she was always meant to be.
Photo credit_ Ben Jold
Did you see anyone who looked like you working in audio when you were younger? If not, how did that impact you?
No, I didn’t. I grew up moving around a lot. I’ve lived in four different provinces throughout my life and moved more than ten times. Because of that, I was part of many different churches, communities, and music programs growing up. In all of those environments, the people running sound were almost always men. Usually they were middle aged or older men. Occasionally some younger guys would help out, but I don’t remember seeing women in those technical audio roles.
The women I saw involved in music were usually the teachers, the singers, or the performers. They played instruments that were often viewed as more traditionally feminine, things like piano or violin. I remember being the only girl interested in percussion when I was involved in a band. Even today, I’m actively searching for that community, which is one of the reasons I’m so grateful organizations like SoundGirls exist. Finding women in audio has been an important part of feeling like I belong in this industry.
It’s also one of the reasons I started Rhythm With Rae. Part of my motivation is wanting to help lower that barrier for the next generation. I want more people to be able to see themselves in these roles than I was able to when I was growing up.
What was one of the biggest challenges you faced when starting out in audio, and how did you work through it?
One of the biggest challenges I faced was simply getting into the room and learning what I needed to learn.
I went through some really uncomfortable interviews and situations where it became clear that being a woman in audio was still unusual in certain spaces. There were times when I was told things that made it clear I was being evaluated differently than my male peers. There were also moments where I found myself having to navigate questions and conversations that had nothing to do with my ability to do the job.
The way I worked through it was by studying harder than I ever thought I would have to. There were many gigs where I would cram and study the night before so that I could walk into a venue and confidently operate a console I had never touched before.
I also volunteered countless hours of my own time shadowing respected technicians in Ottawa. I wanted to learn from them, earn their trust, and demonstrate that I was serious about the craft.
The other thing that helped was choosing not to focus on the doors that closed. I try not to dwell on the rejections. Instead, I focus on the people who opened doors with me. The allies who helped me get into rooms. The people who advocated for me, encouraged me, and treated mistakes as part of the learning process rather than something shameful. Those people made all the difference.
Can you describe a moment when you felt proud of yourself in your audio career?
One of the moments I’m most proud of happened very early on.
One of the first venues I started mixing in was a small venue where I had a really rough night. It got to the point where I needed to call in the senior technician, who drove from home to come provide support. The show ultimately went well, but I left feeling embarrassed and discouraged. What I feel proud about is that I picked myself up afterward and went back to the same venue and tried again.
I’ve realized that many of the moments I’m most proud of in my career aren’t necessarily tied to “success”. They’re tied to resilience.
I felt proud of myself when I became the first female technician hired at Ottawa’s Hard Rock Cafe, where I continue to mix bands from across Ontario.
I feel proud of myself for starting Rhythm With Rae and building something that supports emerging audio technicians while creating opportunities for women, gender-diverse people, and other underrepresented individuals in audio.
Most recently, I felt incredibly proud when I was nominated for Sound Engineer of the Year. I’m not even a full year into working in the music industry as my full-time career, so to receive that recognition this early in my journey was something I never expected.
But if I’m being honest, the thing I’m proudest of is that every time I’ve been knocked down, I’ve gotten back up and kept going.
What advice would you give to young women or gender-diverse people who are interested in pursuing a career in audio?
Take the time to figure out who you are. There are going to be a lot of people who tell you what you should or shouldn’t be doing. People will offer opinions whether you asked for them or not. It can be confusing trying to sort through all that noise while pursuing something you’re passionate about.
Know yourself. Know your values. Know what matters to you…
I also love the imagery of building your own table. Not everybody is meant to sit at your table. Rejection or closed doors are not a reflection of your worth. The right people will recognize something in you without requiring endless convincing.
So take up your space. Ask your questions. Be bold. Speak confidently. Trust that you belong there.
And finally, this is hard work. From the outside, the industry can look really exciting and glamorous, but there is a lot of hard work behind the scenes. There are long hours, difficult learning curves, mistakes, setbacks, and moments where you wonder whether you can do it. But… It’s one of the most rewarding things I’ve ever done.
What do you hope to see change in the audio industry over the next few years?
One of the biggest things I’d like to see is more support for people who are in that middle stage of their careers.
There are a lot of beginner resources available, and there are incredible opportunities for people who are already established. But there seems to be a gap in between.
I’d love to see more pathways that help emerging professionals make that transition.
I’d also love to see more women and diverse engineers throughout the industry, especially in leadership positions and high-level professional circles where they can help open doors for the next generation.
I’d like to see more accessible pathways into major conferences and industry events so that emerging professionals who may not have significant financial resources can still participate.
I’d also love to see mental health discussed more openly. This industry can be incredibly rewarding, but it’s also demanding. More resources and support would benefit everyone working within it.
Looking toward the future, I’m excited about immersive audio and emerging technologies. I’d love to see immersive experiences continue to grow. I am obsessed with the idea of immersive concerts and virtual reality performances.
And finally, I’d love to see more apprenticeship opportunities on major tours so emerging engineers and technicians have clearer pathways into touring careers.
What has been the most rewarding part of your journey in audio so far?
The thing that comes to mind first isn’t an award or a specific achievement. It’s when I show up to mix a show and a band already knows who I am before I know who they are.
There have been moments where artists arrive excited to work together before we’ve even unpacked a single piece of gear. Every time that happens, it reminds me that people are noticing the work I’m putting in and, more importantly, remembering how I made them feel. When someone shares that I made them feel supported, encouraged, comfortable, confident, or excited about their performance, it inspires me all over again.
Another incredibly rewarding part of the journey has been watching my community grow. The first time I attended industry events in places like Toronto or Los Angeles, it was intimidating. I didn’t know anyone & nobody knew me. I had to push myself far outside my comfort zone.
But something amazing happens when you keep showing up… One day you realize there are people excited to see you again. You realize you’ve built a community in a place that once felt completely out of reach.
The most rewarding part of this journey has been realizing that this industry isn’t just something I admire from the outside anymore. Little by little, it has become a community that I’m actually part of.
What are some projects you are currently working on or excited about?
One project I recently completed was creating the soundtrack and theme music for a small indie video game developed by a group of graduating college students. I wrote, produced, and developed the music from beginning to end.
I’m also working on my own artist project. I have an original song called Overlap that will likely be released next year. I’m collaborating with Canadian animator Robyn Lightwalker to create a fully animated music video.
On the live audio side, I’m overseeing audio production for an outdoor summer concert series in Ottawa. Through Rhythm With Rae, I’ve been hired by the Ottawa Music Industry Coalition to support a series of outdoor performances and community events throughout the summer. I’m also running a summer camp workshop for youth with the Canadian National Institute for the Blind. I’m super excited about this collaboration!
Looking a little further into the future, I’m also excited about developing educational opportunities within the audio community. Earlier this year, I attended a Women in the Studio workshop in Hamilton, Ontario, and it left a huge impression on me. One of my long-term goals is to explore bringing a similar experience to Ottawa.
How can people connect with you or learn more about your work?
The best place to learn more about my work is through my website and Instagram.
My Instagram gives a day-to-day snapshot of what I’m working on, whether that’s live audio, recording projects, artist work, events, or behind-the-scenes moments from my journey.
I also publish a newsletter called Along the Way with Rae. It’s a more personal and vulnerable look at the ups, downs, and everything in between as I navigate a career in music and audio. Alongside sharing stories from my journey, I also include resources that are useful for people working in the Canadian music industry.
People can also reach out to me directly through my website or by email. I genuinely enjoy connecting with others in the industry and hearing about the projects they’re working on.
I’ve traveled across Canada for industry events and projects, and I’ve also attended events in the United States, including a trip to Los Angeles earlier this year. Always down for an adventure!
Learn more about Charae Degrow
Charae Degrow is up for a Capital Music Reward for Sound Engineer of the Year: You can vote here
