Short films, classical stages, and indie-pop records are just some of the mediums where you will find Jacob Crouse’s (b. 1991) remarkable work. He is known by his fellow musical compatriots as the “Swiss army knife” of their respective circles after spending much of his career genre-hopping and learning the techniques and mechanics of the instruments involved in producing the sounds of various musical styles. The result of this type of experience is evident in Jacob’s musical perspective. Jacob attended the University of Central Missouri’s Music Technology program and his degree in the field further developed his aural diversity and love of music production. Jacob has used his training in audio engineering and music to engineer and produce records for bands including two studio albums for Mutual Kumquat (Let It Be Revealed in 2015 and Shine! in 2016), a self-titled album for Banjo Camp Massacre (2012), and more recently singles of his own compositions (Getting Older Again and Let’s Do This Your Way in 2016). Jacob has written two pieces in the electro-acoustic realm as well. Four Elements for Wind Instrument and Computer (2013) is a four-movement piece in which one performer “plays” their wind instrument using drumsticks, water, the floor, and ultimately fire while another performer modulates the sound using a microphone and computer. Jacob’s second electro-acoustic piece, Target Locked (2014), was composed with Ian McClaflin who wrote the percussion score while Jacob created a backing track based on electronic dance music. The piece was premiered by Ian at his Master’s recital at the University of Missouri – Columbia.