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
A classically trained violinist, cellist, electronic music producer, and audio engineer, Rena also performs on synthesizers and drum machines. She has composed for the award-winning video game Dance Dance Revolution, created sound design for Adobe, Twisted Tools, and Keith McMillen Instruments, and contributed to the development of Pro Tools.
Her music has been released on influential labels including LOCI Records, Aleph Zero, 1320 Records, Disco Gecko, Liquid Sound Design, Schematic, and Ultimae. She also runs her own label, Cartesian Binary Recordings. With four of her solo albums named among the Top 30 Albums of the Year on Echoes Radio PRX—and her recent collaboration with KiloWatts, Caesura, reaching #2 on the same chart—Rena’s distinctive string work has also appeared on albums by Emancipator, Sophie Barker (Zero 7), STS9, edIT (Glitch Mob), Beats Antique, and others.
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. She continues to operate her own facility, 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.
Touring extensively across North America and Europe, Rena has performed at top-tier festivals including Decibel Festival, Shambhala, Secret Garden Festival, Burning Man, Glade Festival, Symbiosis, and Raindance, and has opened for artists Plaid, Wax Tailor, Ladytron, and Trentemøller.
A fierce advocate for musicians, she is a voting member of the Recording Academy’s Producers & Engineers Wing and serves as a District Advocate, championing artists’ rights and industry reform. In that role, she has worked with Congress on behalf of the Academy to help pass the Save Our Stages Act, the MusicCares Act, and legislation protecting artists’ rights from artificial intelligence.
Read her full bio here:
Working with Rena Jones
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.