About Rena Jones
Rena Jones
Jones, a Texas native, began her musical journey in the second grade with classical violin before venturing into composition and, ultimately, electronic music during her teenage years. Drawn to the freedom and adaptability of electronic soundscapes, she pursued formal training in audio engineering at SAE Ex’pression College for Digital Arts in Emeryville, California, earning her degree in the early 2000s.
After graduating, Jones immersed herself in the vibrant San Francisco music scene, seamlessly transitioning between roles as an audio engineer and studio musician. Her versatility and technical expertise left an indelible mark on numerous groundbreaking projects, including STS9’s timeless Artifact, Beats Antique’s debut album Tribal Derivations, and edIT's Certified Air Raid Material. She also contributed to the development of Pro Tools audio software at Avid before relocating to Portland, Oregon, in 2006.
A multi-instrumentalist, Jones showcases her talents on cello, violin, percussion, and electronic instruments, including synthesizers, drum machines, and modular synthesizers, blending the organic warmth of acoustic strings with the precision of electronic beats. Her compositions—deeply rooted in themes of nature and philosophy—have earned critical acclaim across six solo albums, each exploring profound concepts from reincarnation to the interconnectedness of reality.
Beyond her musical pursuits, Jones is passionate about culinary arts, nature, and sustainability. Drawing inspiration from the natural world and history, she channels creativity through music, cooking, and writing, reflecting an unwavering dedication to her crafts.
You can check out her record label Cartesian Binary Recordings, here:
Access Rena's EPK, here.
Biography
Rena Jones
“Rena Jones is a polymath. She plays violin, cello, and synthesizers, and immerses her music in the imagery of nature and philosophy. - John Diliberto, Echoes Radio PRX
Best known for her unique ambient-electronic chamber music, Rena has released original compositions on groundbreaking labels such as LOCI Records, Iboga Records, Aleph Zero, 1320 Records, Disco Gecko, Liquid Sound Design, Schematic, Ultimae, and her own imprint, Cartesian Binary Recordings. Four of Jones’s solo albums have been named among the Top 30 Albums of the Year on Echoes Radio PRX, and her recent collaboration with KiloWatts, Caesura, reached #2 on the same chart for 2024.
Classically trained on violin, and subsequently on cello, viola, electronic music production, audio engineering, synthesizers and drum machines. Her expansive catalog spans from composing for the award-winning video game Dance Dance Revolution and Adobe, as well as custom sound design for Twisted Tools and Keith McMillen Instruments. While living in the thriving Bay Area electronic music scene, she gained her Audio Engineering degree. She later contributed to the development of Pro Tools, expanding on her deep technical and musical fluency.
Rena's highly sought-after string playing has landed her on albums with Younger Brother (Simon Posford, Shpongle), Emancipator, STS9, edIT (Glitch Mob), Funckarma, Beats Antique, Sophie Barker (Zero 7), and Grammy-nominated artist J. Viewz. As an audio engineer, she has recorded and mixed at world-renowned studios, including Sylvia Massy’s RadioStar Studios, Justin Phelps’s Cloud City Studios, Recombinant Media Labs in San Francisco, Metway Studios in the U.K., and Emancipator’s Wildwood Studios, while she continues to operate her own studio, Cartesian Binary Sonic Labs. While pursuing her degree in Audio Engineering, she studied psychoacoustics under legendary studio designer John Storyk—best known for building Jimi Hendrix’s Electric Lady Studios—which deepened her understanding of the science of sound, psychoacoustics, and studio design.
Extensive tours around North America and Europe have lead Rena to perform at some of the worlds most established cutting edge electronic music festivals; Glade Festival (UK), The Secret Garden Festival (UK), Decibel Festival, Burning Man Shambhala Music Festival (Canada), Symbiosis, Lightning in a Bottle as well as tour support for Plaid and opener for Wax Tailor, Ladytron, and Trentemøller, bringing her immersive, emotionally rich sound to international audiences.
A fierce advocate for musicians, Rena is a voting member of the Recording Academy’s Producers & Engineers Wing and serves as a District Advocate, championing artists’ rights and equitable industry policy. In this role, she has worked directly with members of Congress to help pass the Save Our Stages Act, the MusicCares Act, and legislation protecting artists from exploitative uses of artificial intelligence.
Read her full bio here:
Cartesian Binary Sonic Labs
Interested in working with Rena Jones? Check out Cartesian Binary Sonic Labs — Rena's creative and technical playground, where art and engineering meet.
Rena helps musicians, podcasters, producers, voice actors, and other creatives take the stress out of studio tech so you can get back to what you love: making. Whether you’re setting up your first home studio, untangling gear that’s driving you crazy, or leveling up your sound, I work with you one-on-one to design, build, and fine-tune your creative space.
This isn’t just tech support. It’s a rare chance to work with someone who’s spent over 30 years straddling two worlds — as a composer, instrumentalist (violin, cello, synths), audio producer, label owner, and IT/engineering pro. Rena has composed for games, film, and major releases, toured the world, tested professional audio software for industry leaders, and produced award-winning records.
Rena's work with you can include:
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Studio design & gear integration
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Custom workflows that actually make sense for you
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Security, backup, and data management that protect your work
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Mixing, mastering, and production with a personal touch
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Private lessons & creative coaching to grow your skills
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Composition or live instrumentation for your project
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Scores for Video Games & Film
She only works with a select number of clients at a time so Rena can give each project her full attention. Whether you’re finally building your dream setup, need a technical partner to keep your studio running, or want original music crafted just for you — this is your chance to work side-by-side with someone who speaks both the language of art and the language of technology.
Interested? Let’s make it happen.