Justin Gray

IMMERSED won a GRAMMY for Best Immersive Audio Album 🙏🏼 Thank you to the members of the @recordingacademy for this immense honour. My sincere congratulations go to my fellow nominees. I am so proud to have been on this journey together. You inspire me deeply through your friendship and mastery. Immersed is a celebration of collaboration and community, and so to everyone who helped bring this project to life, I am deeply grateful. 🇨🇦 Congratulations to my co-producers, @drewjurecka and @morten_lindberg and mastering engineer @coastmastering . Thank you for your care, vision, and dedication throughout this process. A special thank you to my co-director @michaelfishermedia who poured his heart into bringing the album film to life. To my family, thank you for your unwavering love and support ❤️ @ianrecords @virginmusicde @umusic @universalmusicgroup 🙏🏼 @canada.council @ontarioartscouncil @torontoartscouncil #justingrayimmersed #bestimmersiveaudioalbum #grammywinner

For the song “Flow” from the GRAMMY®-nominated album IMMERSED, I created a 15-channel immersive synthesizer effect in @avid.protools for the featured solo played by my dear friend @hifi.lo For Your GRAMMY® Consideration Justin Gray — IMMERSED Best Immersive Audio Album (Production & Engineering Field) My goal with this approach was to take the original stereo synth performance on the Prophet 6 and expand it into a truly immersive experience. This was achieved by creating a dedicated mono effect for each channel in a 9.1.6 @dolbylabs speaker layout, fed via mono aux channels from the original performance. The effects were built using a combination of @soundparticles and @soundtoys This presentation took place at @tonmeister_verband TMT 33 conference in Düsseldorf, Germany, in November 🇩🇪 It was a pleasure to explore the production of IMMERSED with colleagues on an incredible 9.1.4 @genelec_oy system. Produced by Justin Gray, @morten_lindberg & @drewjurecka Mixed by Justin Gray Mastered by @coastmastering @ianrecords #ImmersiveAudio #JustinGrayImmersed #GrammyNominated #Grammys #BestImmersiveAudioAlbum

Flow is the first song on IMMERSED. IMMERSED in @dolbylabs Atmos, Stereo & 🎥: 🔗 in Bio 👆 The piece opens with a duet featuring @marito_marques on Kalimba & myself on my @godfreyguitars 6-string bass. @daddarioandco - #NYXL Strings + #AmericanStageCable @markbassamps - #NY121D2 + #littlemarkvintaged2 @radialeng - #HDI @sourceaudio - #GeminiChorus + #NemesisDelay + #VentrisReverb @dwfearn_hazelriggindustries #VLC Marito and I build an entire world of layered Kalimba, which completely fills the 3D space. I then recorded an improvisation over top of it. I remember this moment quite vividly. I had been in the studio for almost a month straight recording and producing the record. I always knew I was going to play over this section to open the album, but I had I never actually tried. There was just no time. These were all 18+ hour days for me, and so when I went to play this solo, it was the first time I had even had a chance to think about it, let alone try it. This 6-string bass (Drragonetti) built by my dear friend Les Godfrey, is like an extension of me. It was built with help from my late grandmother Thelma Gray ❤️ and I have been playing this instrument now for almost 20 years. There is no instrument more comfortable to me in the world. It feels like home. I picked it up, and took 1 take. No edits, just the Flow of emotion and music that existed in that moment. Of course, @michaelfishermedia was also ready to capture the moment as he does so well 🎥 and @audiogamble had totally dialled in the recording chain🎚️ I recall ending this take, and having tears in my eyes. It was just one of those moments where I felt fully connected. It is those musical moments that we prepare for and look forward to as musicians, and when they happen, they are a gift to be cherished. 🎼 Composed and Arranged by Justin Gray 🎶 Produced by Justin Gray and @drewjurecka 🎧 Additional Immersive Production by @morten_lindberg 🎚️ Mixed by Justin Gray 🎚️ Mastered by @coastmastering 🎬 Directed by Michael Fisher & Justin Gray #immersed #justingrayimmersed #flow #dolby #dolbyatmos #dolbyatmosmusic #dolbyatmosmixing #dolbyatmosmastering #immersiveaudio #cinematicalbum

🎙Episode 638, just released On February 1, we were both at the GRAMMY Awards in Los Angeles… just not in the same way. 😄 I was in the audience. Justin Gray was on stage winning Best Immersive Audio Album. 🏆 Not only was it a huge career moment, it was also the first-ever Canadian nomination AND win in that category. Now, the Toronto-based bassist, composer, producer, engineer, educator (and Juno Award winner) joins me on Episode 638, released today. His reaction says it all: “For it to be chosen to win this GRAMMY is something I’ll treasure forever… as an engineer, as a musician, and as the artist for this record.”   Hear the conversation with him at (link in bio) You can also just search for “Now Hear This Entertainment” almost anywhere you listen to podcasts! 😉 #grammy #canadian #justingray #immersiveaudioalbum #grammywinner

Yesterday I had the pleasure of attending the @torontoartsfoundation Mayor’s Arts Lunch with @mayoroliviachow 🙏🏼 It was a celebration of the depth of talent in this city, and it was meaningful to see so many artists being acknowledged by our community. Congratulations to the finalists and winners on their incredible achievements. I was seated with colleagues from @humberpoly and this video is an excerpt from a speech by Kelly Langgard, Director and CEO of the Toronto Arts Foundation and @torontoartscouncil 🙏🏼 In 2015, I was honoured to receive the Emerging Jazz Artist Award (now titled the Breakthrough Jazz Artist Award). That moment had a lasting impact on me. Awards in the arts are complex, as much of what we do as artists cannot be measured. At that point in my life, the support, both financial and symbolic, helped me to pursue a project called New Horizons. More than anything, it gave me belief and the confidence to pursue a vision. Creativity is fragile. No matter how things appear on the surface, most artists are navigating uncertainty while trying to stay connected to their vision. That acknowledgement from the Toronto arts community 11 years ago helped me trust the path and continue building. New Horizons ultimately became a foundation for what would later become Immersed. In my early days of working in immersive audio, I remixed that album in @dolby Atmos. I never officially released those versions, not because they didn’t sound wonderful, but because that process clarified something important: I didn’t want space to be applied to my music as an afterthought—I wanted it to be part of the composition itself. Immersed was released eight years later, after four years of creation. It would not have been possible without the support of the Toronto Arts Council, Toronto Arts Foundation, @ontarioartscouncil @canada.council & @humbermusic 🙏🏼 It is that support which helped get the project started, and gave me the confidence to bring it to life. I remain deeply grateful to be part of a community that invests in its artists. Thank you to our whole artistic community here in Toronto and Canada for sharing your brilliant artistry w

The Grammy statuette for Best Immersive Audio Album arrived in the mail today. @prodengwing 🎚️ Thank you to the members of the @recordingacademy for this immense honour. As I saw the Grammy for the first time today, I thought of my heroes and mentors in this field. To have this recognition alongside those giants is humbling 🙌 This award represents the power of community. Immersed came to life through collaboration. To everyone who helped bring this project to life, I am deeply grateful 🙏🏼 Making records is an intense journey and a sincere privilege. It comes with immense joy, as well as real challenges and sacrifices. I made this record because the music was calling to me, and to have my peers, colleagues, and friends support it so deeply has meant the world. A special thanks to my co-producers, @drewjurecka and @morten_lindberg and mastering engineer Michael Romanowski @coastmastering . I look forward to you receiving your @grammys soon as well 🏆 Thank you to my co-director @michaelfishermedia who poured his heart into bringing the album film to life 🎥🎬 To my family, thank you for believing in me ❤️ Thank you to @stefan.bock.969 and @stefanzaradic at @ianrecords for believing in this music 📀 I also want to acknowledge my musical family worldwide. To all the artists, engineers, producers, and labels I have the honour of connecting with, we are on this path together, forging the future of this art form. Immersed was an exploration of the relationship between music and space, both artistically and technically—something I have been imagining for a long time. Your support throughout this project has meant so much to me. I was also reminded today that this is the first Grammy for Best Immersive Audio Album awarded to a Canadian 🇨🇦 I am proud to be part of this community, and this award is a small acknowledgement of the incredible artistic talent we have here. Immersed was made with the support of the @canada.council @ontarioartscouncil & @torontoartscouncil 🍁 The music was recorded at @humbermusic with @audiogamble & @drdangermcnabb 🎙️ #justingrayimmersed #bestimmersiveaudioalbum #grammywinner #immersivemixeng

Thank you to the @recordingacademy for these @grammys participation certificates for my role as an immersive mix engineer on GUTS by @oliviarodrigo . @prodengwing In 2023, I had the honour of mixing this incredible album in Sony 360. I was brought on board by @mattlmorris at @geffenrecords @interscope @universalmusicgroup , and the team at @sonymusic 🙌 A huge shoutout to two of the greatest engineers I know, @engine_earz and @fifthelementz for collaborating with me on this mix. They also did an exceptional job with the @dolby Atmos versions as well. It was a real privilege to make sure every song came to life in three dimensions, while also reflecting the essence of the incredible productions by @dan_nigro stereo mixes by @serbangheneamixes @markspikestent & stereo masters by @randymerrill_sterling 🙌 Olivia was nominated for 6 Grammys in 2024, and GUTS has since gone on to reach 3× Platinum. “Vampire” has also achieved Platinum status. @riaa_awards To have been part of a project like this is something I’ll never forget. Everyone on the team brought an inspiring level of skill, care and focus, with the shared goal of bringing Olivia’s brilliant artistic vision to life. Grateful to do what I do.

In this month’s edition of @mixonlineig Steve Harvey takes a closer look at the GRAMMY®-winning album Immersed, exploring how the project was approached across composition, performance, and production within a spatial framework. You can subscribe to Mix Online to read the full article. 🔗 in Bio Grateful to the artists and production team who brought this project to life. Mixed by Justin Gray Produced by Justin Gray, @drewjurecka & @morten_lindberg Mastered by @coastmastering Recorded by Justin Gray, @audiogamble & @drdangermcnabb Edited by Justin Gray & @andrewjinchung @ianrecords @dolby @avid.protools @humbermusic @canada.council @ontarioartscouncil @torontoartscouncil @socanmusic

I am filled with gratitude after an incredible weekend at the @thejunoawards 🙏🏼 The opportunity to connect with so many friends and colleagues was inspiring and energizing. I feel deeply privileged to be part of our Canadian music community 🇨🇦 The diverse artistry and fierce creativity we continue to share with the world inspire me every day. On a personal level, it was a dream to be nominated alongside so many incredible colleagues from our national jazz community. I started making Immersed to express something I had been imagining for a long time. To have had the chance to collaborate with my artistic family to create it, and then to see the project received by the community and listeners around the world with such open minds and hearts is something I will be forever grateful for 🙏🏼 To all of the artists, producers, engineers, and labels who continue to trust me with their art, thank you. It was incredible to see so many of these projects celebrated this weekend 🙌 Thank you to The Juno Awards and @ontariocreates for an incredible celebration of Canadian artistry. Thank you @rw_co for the wonderful @skip_canada Orange Carpet Attire 👔 And thank you to @umusic for continuing the celebration last night with a fantastic party. @canada.council @ontarioartscouncil @torontoartscouncil @torontoartsfoundation @humbermusic @music_canada @musicounts @socanmusic @ianrecords

Honoured that Immersed has been awarded the 2026 Dynamic Range Day Award. This award recognizes great-sounding, dynamic releases, and highlights that musical impact and dynamic range can go hand in hand. Thank you @shepherd_ij for this recognition. Congratulations to everyone on the short list for making such fantastic records! Thank you to @coastmastering for his thoughtful mastering in both immersive and stereo formats, and to my fellow producers @drewjurecka and @morten_lindberg for continually advocating for a dynamic approach to the music. From composition through recording, mixing, and production, we placed a strong emphasis on preserving dynamic contrast. As a mix engineer, my goal was to let the music breathe while supporting the album’s larger arc, without sacrificing energy or impact. The record moves between intimate solo moments and a 30+ piece ensemble. The intention was to maintain clarity and detail across that full range, while keeping the listening experience natural so the music can unfold without the listener needing to adjust their volume. The @dolby Atmos and stereo versions of this album are distinct by design. Since the music was composed and produced as an immersive experience from the outset, the stereo release required its own approach to translate that intent into two channels. For those interested in the technical side, the average integrated level of the album is −19.8 LKFS (Atmos) and −12.5 LKFS (Stereo).

@justingraysound takes us inside ‘Immersed’, the project that earned him a win at the 2026 GRAMMYs! 👏 From Humber college to the global stage, this is a story about vision, community. and sound without limits. 🔗: link in bio.

It was an absolute pleasure to join fellow JUNO nominees this week at the @ontariocreates @thejunoawards reception. So deeply proud to be a part of this community and honoured that IMMERSED is nominated for Jazz Album of the Year (Solo). Looking forward to celebrating with the Canadian music community later next month at the Junos :) #justingrayimmersed #JunoNominated #jazzmusic #canadianmusic