What happens after art school: Diploma in Audio Production alumna Hidayah Azman

Sound engineer and Diploma in Audio Production alumna Hidayah Azman has worked with an impressive list of artists.

Coldplay, Harry Styles, Imagine Dragons, Seventeen, Blackpink, Twice, Mayday and Jay Chou are just a fraction of the many concert credits in her resume, which also includes key roles in large-scale live events such as the Formula 1 Singapore Grand Prix and National Day Parade.

While her professional journey has been filled with memorable experiences and career highs, Hidayah can still recall all the productions she worked on during her time at LASALLE from 2019 to 2022. 

“It was all truly an experience, having to work with different groups every semester and doing different kinds of projects,” she recalls. “There was one particular production back in my first year that flipped a switch in me—that was when I decided to pursue live sound all the way, no matter how difficult the journey was going to be.”

Hidayah (front row, second from right) with her classmates behind-the-scenes at Nychthemeron (2020).

Nychthemeron, a collaboration between the Diploma in Music, Diploma in Audio Production and Diploma in Theatre Production and Management programmes. And while the details of the production’s genesis are fuzzy, the conviction that “This is what I want to do” has stayed with Hidayah till today. 

Today, Hidayah is a freelance sound and systems engineer whose expertise covers audio network and PA systems design, integration and optimisation, mix engineering and even stage management. She also returns to LASALLE now and then to lead workshops for current students.

She speaks to us about her journey after graduation, how she has navigated the transition from the structured world of school to the fast-paced world of live gigs, juggling multiple roles for Coldplay’s ‘Music of the Spheres’ tour stop in Singapore, and the Diploma in Audio Production programme’s industry networks and culture of mentorship.

What drew you to audio production at LASALLE? 

I already had a background in music, but my interest in audio began after I was asked to sound design a few of my arts academy’s yearly theatre productions. 

From there, I started learning how to use a Digital Audio Workstation to record, arrange and edit my own compositions and effects. Being open-minded and adventurous, I realised through these theatre projects that I actually enjoy the process of building a show from scratch. 

I also loved watching live concert videos of my favourite artists and wondering how they put a full show together. I wanted to dive deep into the audio world, and that’s when I found LASALLE’s Diploma in Audio Production programme, which covers both studio and live sound. 

The Diploma in Audio Production programme has a culture of mentorship, with alumni returning to work on shows at LASALLE and mentoring juniors, and also offering guidance to new grads in the industry. How has this ‘LASALLE connection’ helped you break into the industry?

Back when I was still a student, I had the chance to work together with reputable local engineers, such as Utha from Black Beard Audio, Mark Spencer, and even one of my seniors Daryl Michael. These were my first industry connections whom I still work with often and run into during shows. 

A special mention also to Daryl who helped me the most at the start of my career, as he was the one that guided me onto my current journey as a systems engineer. I’d always tell Daryl, “I can help if you’re willing to teach me”, and within the span of four months I was promoted from stage tech to playback tech, then to FOH tech and eventually systems engineer. It was a pretty surreal situation.

Left: Hidayah working on a student recital. Right: (Back row, from left) Hidayah with industry mentors Mark Spencer and Daryl Michael after working on LASALLE student recitals in 2021.

As part of my diploma studies, I also did an internship with Showtec Group, one of the AV rental companies that handles medium- to large-scale events in Singapore. Although my internship period was only a month due to the pandemic, I was able to adapt and learn new systems at a fast pace. 

I was in charge of RF—handling the mic up of the artists and also doing daily checks on the frequencies and equipment used. It’s a good memory, since I was able to work with a few of my classmates again. 

Hidayah (front row, first from left) with classmates on-site at NDP 2022.

To what extent did your training at LASALLE help prepare you for the transition from school to the industry? 

I remember doing the weekly Lunchtime Concerts at the College’s Singapore Airlines Theatre. I would say that was the closest representation to what the workflow standards are in the industry, and they definitely strengthened my problem-solving skills.

From what I remember, we only had about two hours to get the stage and systems ready before the guest performers came in for their soundcheck on a pretty tight schedule. We definitely had one or two concerts that turned into utter chaos because there was no proper planning done. 

What was the biggest change you experienced moving from the structured environment of school to the professional world? 

Having worked on countless school productions with the same group of people and knowing each person’s strengths and weaknesses, it’s easier to communicate with one another on what needs to be done. We also had the luxury of time, with production setups planned in a way to ensure more than enough buffer time. 

Out in the industry, everyone is chasing time. Schedules are packed; everything is so fast-paced that if you can’t catch up, you will probably just be left behind. Moreover, when you’re new, faced with unfamiliar faces and environments, sometimes it can get intimidating. 

During my first few weeks in the industry, I did feel lost at times when I saw the other crew members already grabbing equipment and setting up. I pretty much just observed whatever was happening at that moment, learning from and adapting to their workflow. 

This is similar to what many others have shared about their first days at work. Because of this, I now have a habit of observing the crew during every show, especially interns and new hires, and guiding them whenever I can. 

What has been the most memorable show that you have worked on?

I would say working on Coldplay’s concert was a core memory for me. 

Hidayah with Alex Hadji from the Coldplay tour audio team.

I had a number of roles for this show, namely audio crew chief, system technician for the PA and assisting the FOH guest engineers for the opening acts. It was a lot to manage at first. I was working with a different group of local crew that I did not know, but I remained calm and led the team. 

There were many bumps in the road during the setups for the opening acts, some even happening during the show itself, but I remained calm and worked through the issues swiftly while keeping the team focused. 

I’ll always remember being praised by Alex, a member of Coldplay’s tour crew, for having such a high level of composure after observing what happened throughout the week. 

Having spent more than a week together in the venue, I eventually became friends with the tour audio team who freely offered advice and encouragement. They always made me feel welcome even though it should’ve been the other way around since they were the guests here. 

I also noticed that they had built a stress-free and conducive work environment, something that I had never experienced locally. Their reasoning was that because they spend months together on the road, it helps to create a safe space for the crew to support each other and ensure a homely environment. 

This whole experience was an eye-opener for me, and this approach to ensuring a healthy work environment is something I will definitely practice on tour as well. 

Aside from technical skills, what soft skills or attributes do you think fresh grads need to thrive in the live gig and touring industry?

Communication is essential in order to have good teamwork and trust in each other, especially when working in a big team.

It might feel intimidating at first if you are a soft-spoken person like I was in the past, but it helps to keep the workflow moving and ensures everyone is on the same page. I’ve been in a number of shows where there’s a complete communication breakdown and it always ends with unfavourable outcomes. 

Another attribute to have is responsibility and being open to feedback. No one’s perfect, and it’s normal to make mistakes, whether you’re a rookie or a veteran in this industry. What matters is you own up to it. Sometimes it’s hard to admit that you forgot to do something, or that your methods may not have been the best choice after all, but you’ll feel much better after accepting it and moving on. Be honest with yourself and to others; it will improve the cohesiveness of the team. 

Last but not least, a skill that is useful in a fast-paced environment like live sound would be flexibility and adaptability. Anything can go wrong at any second, and it’s up to the crew to react and decide at that moment on what to do next. It’s a good skill to be able to work under pressure and keep your composure even when the whole show is burning down 🙂 

Clockwise from left: Hidayah serving as FOH engineer for the Wharf Stage at Formula 1 Singapore Grand Prix (2024); Hidayah working on a show at the Esplanade; a new system called DirectOut which Hidayah had to teach herself for NDP2024, a process she likens to “building a LEGO set without an instruction manual and only a picture of the end product as a reference.”

Any advice for grads looking to join the industry now?

I always emphasise to my juniors and other interns I meet on the job three things: step into any situation with an open mind, always practise humility and learn to be patient not only with others but with yourself. 

It took me a good few years before I realised that it’s equally important to be patient with yourself because it can get mentally exhausting in the long run! 

Hidayah (second from right) with the audio team for NDP2025, which also includes fellow LASALLE alumni Pung Ki May (second from left) and Gabriella Yeong (third from left).