Find the right engineer
for your record.

Producer / Engineer / Mixer / Mastering

Sam Pura

Sam Pura is the founder and owner of The Panda Studios, and a producer and mixer known for taking a deeply hands-on creative role in the records he works on.

Over more than 20 years, he has helped shape career-defining records including Basement’s Colourmeinkindness, home to the RIAA Platinum single “Covet,” alongside records for The Story So Far, State Champs, Hundredth, The Dangerous Summer, and more. His approach is not about repeating whatever worked last time. It is about figuring out what makes an artist specific, pushing that as far as it can go, and making a record people still care about years later.

The studio reflects the same philosophy: an extensive collection of vintage and modern analog gear, modern production technology, and custom tools built in-house when the right solution did not already exist. The process is focused, collaborative, and demanding, with every decision serving the record.

The goal is not simply to finish a record. It is to make the one that matters.

Sam works selectively with artists who want that level of production and creative involvement. If you specifically want to make a record with him, reach out early so you can talk about the project, the goals, and whether it is the right fit.

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Lead Engineer / Vocal Producer

Theresa Brown

Panda's lead engineer. She runs full sessions and productions independently, start to finish, across pop, indie, alternative and heavier music. If vocals are the centre of your record, she's the person to talk to first.

Theresa moved to California from Virginia after falling in love with the records made at Panda, and has been an essential part of the studio since 2021, with credits on projects including SpiritWorld, SPICE, and Hundredth. She's a working vocalist who performs regularly with her choir, and vocal production is where her instincts are sharpest: capturing performances, writing melodies, and arranging harmonies.

She also writes and produces her own music at Panda, playing every instrument herself, including drums. In a session she brings technical skill, musical instinct, and a steadiness that makes artists feel supported enough to actually deliver.

Engineer / Session Musician

RJ DeMarco

An engineer who can also play on your record. When a part isn't working, he can pick up the instrument instead of just talking about it.

RJ brings over 15 years of engineering experience and a lifetime of musicianship. Originally from Buffalo, he grew up a fan of the studio and is now one of its go-to session musicians and engineers, having performed on and helped shape dozens of Sam's productions.

He's a writer, vocalist, and multi-instrumentalist: saxophone, guitar, bass, and more, as well as a seasoned live performer and musical director. His work spans pop rock, alternative, and indie, with a focus on capturing energy, emotion, and clarity in every take and mix.

Producer / Engineer

Charles Toshio

Charles Toshio has carved out a serious lane in modern hardcore and heavy music at Panda, producing and recording breakout records from bands including Spy, Sunami, Scowl, World Peace, and others.

Charles has been freelancing out of Panda, carving out a lane of his own in the Bay Area's heavy music scene. As the producer behind breakout records from Spy, Sunami, Scowl and World Peace, he's played a key role in pushing some of the region's most vital bands to worldwide recognition.

A guitarist and writer in No Right, he brings a raw, modern approach to heavy production, with a deep love for amps and gear that shapes every tone he captures. His approach is relaxed, focused, and artist-first. No formulas, just records that hit hard and leave a mark.

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Engineer / Producer / Mixer

Ryan Palma

A freelance engineer, producer and mixer working out of Panda. Particularly good for artists newer to studio recording who want someone patient and easy to work with to guide them through it.

Ryan is a seasoned engineer, multi-instrumentalist, and producer with over 20 years of experience. He built his reputation just across the street at the now-closed Red Wall Studios, where he first connected with Sam and brought his clients and projects into the Panda family.

He specialises in rock, pop, hip hop, Latin, and singer-songwriter work, blending musicality with technical precision. His mixes are emotionally rich and sonically clear, and often land in film, television, and major streaming playlists. He works closely with top-tier mastering engineers to guide records from early vision to final release, and brings patience and empathy to every session.