Erin Tonkon – Engineer, Mixer and Blackstar Collaborator of David Bowie

From San Diego to New York

Erin Tonkon grew up in San Diego, California, where her fascination with music began at an early age. Initially interested in performing, she soon discovered that her true passion lay behind the recording console.

As a teenager she learned recording techniques while working in local studios and radio stations. During these formative years she became deeply influenced by artists such as David Bowie, Iggy Pop, The Velvet Underground, Blondie, The Clash and Tom Waits.

Her growing interest in audio engineering eventually led her to New York City, where she studied at the prestigious Clive Davis Institute of Recorded Music at New York University.

It was there that a pivotal relationship began—one that would eventually bring her directly into David Bowie’s creative circle.

Tony Visconti’s protégé

While studying at NYU, Tonkon came under the mentorship of Tony Visconti, Bowie’s longtime producer and one of the most important figures in Bowie’s recording history.

The mentorship quickly developed into a professional relationship. After only a short period, Visconti hired Tonkon as his full-time engineer and production assistant.

Beginning in 2013, she worked closely with Visconti on a wide range of projects, learning directly from one of the most respected producers in modern music.

Tonkon has frequently described this period as a masterclass in creativity, experimentation and problem-solving. Visconti encouraged unconventional thinking, teaching her to trust her ears rather than simply follow technical rules.

Through Visconti she also met one of her lifelong musical heroes: David Bowie.

Entering Bowie’s studio world

Erin Tonkon’s first day working for Tony Visconti coincided with her first day working on a David Bowie project.

Over the next several years she became a trusted member of Bowie’s extended studio team, contributing to recordings, mixes and archival projects.

Her involvement stretched across multiple releases, including The Next Day Extra (2013), Nothing Has Changed (2014), Blackstar (2016), Lazarus and later the No Plan EP (2017).

Few younger engineers were granted such close access to Bowie’s working methods. Tonkon was therefore able to observe first-hand how Bowie developed ideas, refined arrangements and collaborated with musicians in the studio.

Blackstar and the final Bowie sessions

Erin Tonkon’s most significant contribution to David Bowie’s catalogue came during the creation of Blackstar, the final studio album released during Bowie’s lifetime.

Recorded primarily at The Magic Shop in New York City, the album represented a bold creative leap. Rather than revisiting familiar styles, Bowie chose to work with a group of adventurous jazz musicians led by saxophonist Donny McCaslin, creating a sound unlike anything else in contemporary rock music.

The sessions demanded a recording approach capable of preserving spontaneity, interaction and unpredictability. Tonkon worked closely with Tony Visconti to capture performances that felt alive and immediate rather than overly polished.

Her engineering work helped maintain the delicate balance between structured composition and improvisational freedom that became one of the defining features of the album.

Engineering, mixing and backing vocals

Tonkon’s contribution to Blackstar extended beyond traditional engineering duties. In addition to recording and mixing responsibilities, she also contributed backing vocals during the project.

This reflects the collaborative atmosphere that characterised Bowie’s final years in the studio. Rather than maintaining rigid divisions between technical and creative roles, Bowie encouraged contributions from everyone involved in the process.

Tonkon later recalled being involved from the earliest ideas through recording, mixing, mastering and even the delivery of test pressings to Bowie.

Few engineers have been able to witness an album’s development from concept to finished release so closely.

Working relationship with David Bowie

Tonkon has often spoken about Bowie’s generosity, curiosity and openness in the studio. Despite being one of the most influential artists in modern music history, Bowie remained eager to learn from younger musicians, engineers and producers.

According to Tonkon, Bowie never wanted to repeat himself or become trapped by nostalgia. He continually searched for new ideas, new sounds and new perspectives.

This willingness to embrace innovation became one of the defining characteristics of the Blackstar sessions.

Tonkon has described the experience as a lesson in creative humility. Bowie’s focus remained fixed on the quality of the work rather than status, reputation or ego.

For a young engineer working alongside one of her musical heroes, the experience proved transformative.

A Grammy-winning project

Following Bowie’s death on 10 January 2016, Blackstar received enormous critical acclaim and went on to win multiple Grammy Awards.

Among its honours were awards for Best Alternative Music Album and Best Engineered Album, Non-Classical.

As part of the engineering team, Tonkon shared in the recognition given to the project’s technical and artistic achievements.

The success of the album confirmed what many participants already knew: Blackstar was not only a powerful final statement from Bowie but also one of the most ambitious and innovative recordings of his entire career.

Beyond Blackstar

Although Blackstar remains the project most closely associated with Erin Tonkon, her Bowie-related work did not end there.

She was also involved with the music connected to Lazarus, Bowie’s final theatrical project, and the No Plan EP, which was released after his death in 2017.

These releases completed the remarkable final chapter of Bowie’s recording career and ensured that Tonkon’s contribution became part of his lasting musical legacy.

Producer, mixer and educator

Following her work with David Bowie and Tony Visconti, Erin Tonkon established herself as one of the most respected producers and engineers of her generation.

Her credits span a remarkably diverse range of artists, including Esperanza Spalding, Richard Hell, The Damned, Grace Ives, Lady Lamb, Cafuné, Daphne Guinness, Gustaf and many others.

Tonkon’s approach combines the classic recording philosophy she learned from Tony Visconti with modern production techniques and a willingness to experiment. This balance between tradition and innovation reflects many of the same values that characterised David Bowie’s own career.

Beyond studio work, she has become a passionate advocate for education, diversity and inclusion within the recording industry.

She has taught at institutions including The New School, Manhattan School of Music and New York University, helping to train the next generation of producers, engineers and recording artists.

The influence of Tony Visconti

Throughout her career, Tonkon has consistently acknowledged the enormous influence of Tony Visconti on her development.

Working directly alongside Bowie’s most important producer provided an education that few engineers could ever receive.

Visconti’s emphasis on creativity, experimentation and emotional impact became central to Tonkon’s own philosophy. Rather than viewing recording as a purely technical exercise, she learned to treat engineering as an artistic discipline.

This mindset proved especially important during the creation of Blackstar, where engineering decisions helped shape the emotional character of the music itself.

Legacy within Bowie’s universe

Erin Tonkon occupies a unique place in David Bowie’s history.

Unlike many famous Bowie collaborators, she was neither a long-established star nor a veteran musician from Bowie’s earlier eras. Instead, she represented a new generation of creative talent that Bowie actively welcomed into his artistic world.

Her contributions to The Next Day, Nothing Has Changed, Blackstar, Lazarus and No Plan place her among the most important behind-the-scenes collaborators of Bowie’s final years.

Through her engineering, mixing, production work and vocal contributions, Tonkon helped document and preserve one of the most extraordinary closing chapters in modern music history.

Today, listeners around the world continue to experience Bowie’s final recordings through the work she helped create. Her contribution may largely have taken place behind the recording console, but its impact remains permanently embedded within the sound of Bowie’s last masterpieces.

Erin Tonkon Talks To Trashed TV (2019)