Hi, I’m Mat Larimer — a music producer, mixing engineer, artist (Spare Key), and creative enabler based in Detroit, MI.

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At the heart of everything I do is a belief that art and music are not luxuries — they’re essential. They’re how we process, how we connect, how we make sense of the world. Whether I’m tracking a record, building a score, or running sound on tour, my goal is to help artists feel supported, seen, and free to take creative risks. I believe the best work happens when people feel safe, heard, and energized — and that’s the kind of space I strive to hold, both technically and emotionally.

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I have been fortunate enough to work with a wide variety of artists in a myriad of settings. From tracking and mixing full bands to producing solo artists to working with grammy-level producers and artists (Steve Berlin, Ron Nevison, Vance Joy) to mixing sound for feature films. I have developed my skill set through over a decade of hands on experience. 

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I work fluently in Pro Tools and Ableton Live, blending analog character with digital precision to bring recordings to life. I’m comfortable in studios of all shapes and sizes, and I also operate my own creative space — a cozy, sonically dialed-in room where experimentation is always welcome.

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As Spare Key, I explore my own curiosities through sound — often drawing from house, ambient, and experimental textures — while my work as a creative enabler has taken me behind the scenes with artists, theaters, and nonprofits across the country and around the world. Whether I’m producing a full-length album, supporting a live performance, or collaborating with an interdisciplinary artist on something that doesn’t fit neatly in a box, I bring a spirit of care, flexibility, and craft to everything I touch.

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If you’re working on something and want a thoughtful, curious, and committed collaborator — let’s talk.