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— CH. 1 · TEENAGE SOUND AND STAGE —

Tre Nagella

3 min listen · Ch. 1 of 7
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  • Tre Nagella began playing guitar during his teenage years. He joined the technical theater department at his high school shortly after. The young musician ran audio equipment for multiple groups. He managed sound for the orchestra and choir. Jazz band performances required his attention too. Musical productions and dance concerts relied on his skills. This early work launched his professional audio career before he graduated.

  • Nagella attended Full Sail Center for the Recording Arts after high school graduation. His academic performance earned him four Directors Awards from the institution. He finished as the Valedictorian of his graduating class. These honors highlighted his technical mastery and dedication to the craft. The program provided a structured environment for his growing expertise in recording arts.

  • A long working relationship developed between Nagella and gospel artist Kirk Franklin. They collaborated on three albums that won Grammy Awards together. Losing My Religion received recognition in 2022 for Best Gospel Album Mixing & Engineering. Hello Fear won an award in 2012 under similar categories. The Fight of My Life secured a win in 2009 for Best Contemporary R&B Gospel Album. Nagella also engineered albums for Franklin's record label, The Walls Group. Fast Forward by The Walls Group received a Grammy nomination.

  • The producer has worked with major artists across multiple genres. Ed Sheeran featured Travis Scott on the track Antisocial where Nagella served as vocal engineer. Lady Gaga and Blake Shelton appear among his credits. Christina Aguilera released Lotus in 2012 with his assistance. Monica recorded New Life with his vocal engineering work. Alan Parsons produced The Secret which Nagella engineered in 2019. Kitt Wakeley's Symphony of Sinners & Saints album peaked at number one on Billboard charts. He co-produced this classical crossover project alongside mixing duties.

  • Nagella wrote and produced music for corporate advertising campaigns. Apple utilized his compositions for their promotional efforts. Samsung commissioned tracks from him for brand messaging. Ford Motor Company hired him to create audio content. Smirnoff Vodka also engaged his production services. These projects expanded his reach beyond traditional music releases into commercial branding.

  • Nagella created Betty's Notebook with choral group Verdigris Ensemble and technology company Async Art. This project became the first programmable music NFT. The piece runs for twenty-one minutes. It utilizes non-fungible token technology to allow unique musical interactions. This initiative marked a significant step in digital music distribution and ownership models.

  • The Fine Arts Department at CFBISD inducted Nagella into its Hall of Fame in 2022. He spoke as a panelist at SXSW and The Recording Academy events. In 2025, he was announced as a remixer for the 2026 FIFA World Cup theme. This role represents the Dallas area on an international stage. He launched Luminous Sound Studios in Dallas, Texas during 2019 to support ongoing work.

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Grammy Award winners

Common questions

Who is Tre Nagella and what was his early career path?

Tre Nagella began playing guitar during his teenage years and ran audio equipment for multiple groups including the orchestra choir and jazz band. This early work launched his professional audio career before he graduated from high school.

What awards did Tre Nagella receive at Full Sail Center for the Recording Arts?

Tre Nagella earned four Directors Awards from the institution and finished as the Valedictorian of his graduating class. These honors highlighted his technical mastery and dedication to the craft within a structured environment for recording arts.

Which Grammy Awards has Tre Nagella won with Kirk Franklin?

Tre Nagella collaborated on three albums that won Grammy Awards together including Losing My Religion in 2022 Hello Fear in 2012 and The Fight of My Life in 2009. He also engineered albums for Franklin's record label The Walls Group which received a Grammy nomination for Fast Forward.

What major artists have worked with Tre Nagella on vocal engineering or production?

Tre Nagella has worked with Ed Sheeran Lady Gaga Christina Aguilera Monica Alan Parsons and Kitt Wakeley among others. Specific credits include vocal engineering for Antisocial by Ed Sheeran featuring Travis Scott and assistance on Lotus released by Christina Aguilera in 2012.

How did Tre Nagella create Betty's Notebook and what technology does it use?

Tre Nagella created Betty's Notebook with choral group Verdigris Ensemble and technology company Async Art. This project became the first programmable music NFT running for twenty-one minutes using non-fungible token technology to allow unique musical interactions.

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35 references cited across the entry

  1. 1Grammy Awards Tre NagellaGrammys
  2. 2WE Awards 2021 Producer of the Year to 3X Grammy Winner Tre NagellaWE Movement TV — March 2, 2021
  3. 3Travis Scott Joins Ed Sheeran Of The "Antisocial" Brigade by Devin ChHot New Whiphop — July 12, 2019
  4. 4From Pimp C to Blake Shelton, Tre Nagella's Grammy-Winning Resume Is Gospel by Amy McCarthyDallas Observer — February 10, 2016
  5. 5Luminous Sound"s producer and chief engineer, Tre Nagella won his third GRAMMY for Gospel Album of the Year alongside the great Kirk FranklinGrammy Awards — February 13, 2017
  6. 6NUGEN Audio's Producer bundle - Tre NagellaNugen Audio — June 17, 2019
  7. 7Don‘t Do It For The Grammys with Tre NagellaHacker Valley Studios — October 7, 2021
  8. 8Full Sail Alumni on Nominated Projects at the 59th Annual GRAMMY AwardsFull Sail edu — February 10, 2017
  9. 9Billboard Classical Crossover Chart June 5, 2021
  10. 10Billboard Classical Chart June 5, 2021
  11. 11Composer Kitt Wakeley 'Symphony Of Sinners And Saints,' Out May 21 Featuring Joe SatrianiA.A. Cristi
  12. 12Hear Joe Satriani on Kitt Wakeley’s New Orchestral-Rock SongUltimate Classic Rock
  13. 13Tre NagellaSound Better
  14. 14The Verdigris EnsembleMighty Cause
  15. 15Betty's NotebookVerdigris Music
  16. 16Alternative Recording Studio ModelsSXSW — March 18, 2016
  17. 17Recording Academy - Producers & Engineers Wing On the Move in Summer 2019 - Industry Insights: Amp Act for Producers & Engineers in AustinClyne Media — June 17, 2019
  18. 18Recording Connection mentor Tre Nagella takes Grammys in Stride by Lia SwiftRecording Connection — February 16, 2016
  19. 19CFBISD Fine Arts Inducts First-Ever Hall of FamerCarrollton-Farmers Branch Independent School District — June 7, 2022
  20. 20Official FIFA World Cup 26™ Sonic IDs celebrate diversity and creativity of Host Cities
  21. 21Bobby Sessions - Manifest Album CreditsPandora
  22. 22The Secret" by Alan Parsons Chosen by IMC's Kim ReillyInside Musicast — December 21, 2019
  23. 23The Hate U GiveUniversal Music Group — Jun 21, 2022
  24. 24Calum Scott Only Human CreditsBarnes & Noble
  25. 25Greenleaf Soundtrack Vol. 2Barnes & Noble 2
  26. 26Blake SheltonFebruary 17, 2017
  27. 27Pimp C - Live The PimpMusic Metason
  28. 28Monica In 3D LyricsGenius
  29. 29Shaun Martin - 7 SummersRope a Dope Select
  30. 30Tasha Page-Lockhart - Here Right NowOldies
  31. 31Christina Aguilera - LotusGrooves Inc.
  32. 32Hillbilly Bone (feat. Trace Adkins)Blake Shelton YouTube Channel — August 7, 2015
  33. 33That Thing We DoBlake Shelton YouTube Channel 2 — November 4, 2014
  34. 34SuffocatingReprise — November 8, 2014
  35. 35The Master Plan By Tamela Mann (Recorded By)Fish Pond — October 31, 2009