David Krieger, a junior in the Department of Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering at the USC Viterbi School of Engineering. PHOTO/NIKHITA BUDDHIRAJU.
David Krieger, originally from Moorpark, CA, is a junior mechanical engineering student. Below is a Q&A about how he’s combined his love of engineering with his passion for music and sound.
What was your first engineering memory?
As a child, my first “engineering” experience was playing with Legos growing up. Later, in high school, I took an engineering class and got to design and create my own electric guitar. It made me fall in love with CAD (Computer Aided Design) and allowed me to combine my established love for music and my new love for engineering.
What is your dream job?
My dream job is designing and producing high quality instruments of all types. There are so many tiny details to learn about when asking why the things around us work, especially when we often take them for granted. Why does a good drum or guitar sound good? What electronics went into it? What acoustics were considered? Mastering and applying specific skills like these would be the dream.
I’d also love to be a voice actor!
What first sparked your interest in music production?
Music has always been a part of my life, and the natural next step from listening to music is playing other people’s music. The next step from that was learning how to create my own music. When I would hear something that moved me, I’d wonder “How did someone think to make that sound the way it did? And why does it make me feel this way?” Those sparks of curiosity lead to flames of inspiration.
Listen to some of Krieger’s music here.
How do music and engineering relate?
Pretty much everything around us is engineered to some degree. Thought has gone into the design of the world around us, and the exact same goes for the world of music. From the instrument design and production, to the carefully crafted software, to the microphones and speakers, nothing is created by accident and there is true beauty in that. Different creative processes coalescing is what I like to view all music as.
What is the one innovation you hope to be a part of/ think the world needs now?
Autonomous vehicles would be absolutely revolutionary for the world. From the efficiency of transportation to deep sea and space exploration, precise and reliable autonomous vehicles would give us new ways to explore and experience the world and universe around us. Of course the technology should only be used by the public when it is safe enough, but I am very excited for when that day comes.
Published on March 15th, 2021
Last updated on March 15th, 2021
