AV Integrator Spotlight | Hazelwood Laboratories
Join us for a conversation with Joseph Hazelwood—a musician, sound engineer, AV integrator, and founder of Hazelwood Laboratories. In this interview, we’ll uncover what makes his company stand out and why he trusts LEA for all of his installs.
TELL US ABOUT YOUR COMPANY AND WHAT MAKES YOU UNIQUE
[JH] We’re super niche! An install company that is equally focused on beautiful hardware/systems design, analog-style functionality (no screens), and amazing sound. Although we sometimes handle video and other LV systems, our main focus is on background music for boutique hospitality, and whole-house audio for custom homes. What sets us apart though is that we are also a by-hand manufacturer of speakers, controllers, turntables, and other audio hardware.
HOW DID YOU GET STARTED IN THE INDUSTRY?
[JH] I started working for Midwest Systems in Evansville, IN pretty much right out of high school. At the time they had a division that did concert sound and other events. I often joke that I was a ‘carnie’, because during the summers I traveled between county fairs all over the midwest, setting up speaker systems on the midway, demolition derbies, motocross, beauty pageants, and events like that. I eventually switched to the install department.
I moved to Nashville and worked for Audio Electronics, Inc. in 2002, and struck out on my own in 2005. It was a gradual transition into the custom work that became Hazelwood Labs, but I consider 2012 to be the year we were founded.
WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE PART OF A PROJECT?
[JH] I love the design/engineering phase–where art intersects with technology. I take a creative approach to everything I do, from proposals to controller design to site plans, and schematics. It’s thrilling to dream up a piece of hardware or a system, get it approved by a client, and watch it come together as parts trickle in and get assembled.
WHAT IS THE MOST CHALLENGING PART OF A PROJECT?
[JH] Often, I find myself in client meetings proposing an idea on the fly that I have NO IDEA how I’m going to execute—be it a unique speaker design or interactive art piece. I have enough knowledge of hardware and software to know what’s theoretically possible, but I’m a self-taught engineer and far from being a software developer.
The next steps are always some combination of self-education and consultation with trusted partners and vendors. This can be pretty stressful when you apply a strict deadline, but I have cultivated a reputation over the years for creative problem-solving, and a willingness to learn that drives these kinds of projects home.
WHAT IS YOUR MOST FREQUENTLY USED TOOL DURING THE INSTALLATION PROCESS?
[JH] Two tools: A Klein cutting/crimping tool, and a 10-in-1 screwdriver. I wore a tool belt early in my career but eventually found I could do most things with these two tools in my pocket.
WHAT ARE YOUR GO-TO SONGS FOR SYSTEM TESTING?
- Impossible Germany – Wilco
- Breathe in the Air Pink FLoyd
- The Bird – Anderson Paak
- Are You Experienced Album – Jimi Hendrix
- 10,000 Acres – Charley Crockett
- Dawn is a Feeling – The Moody Blues
- Whispering Pines – The Band
- Sure Shot – Beastie Boys
HOW HAS YOUR EXPERIENCE BEEN WORKING WITH LEA?
[JH] I first started using LEA amps in 2021–during the worst of the supply chain shortage when the amps I had been using were unavailable. LEA saved the day by simply being available. After learning of their open API I knew these amps were a game-changer for my business. I had aspired to create an analog-style controller that I felt was missing from my installs, but the proprietary ecosystems I had been utilizing were not conducive to that. Having some experience with Raspberry Pi, Arduino, and other open-source platforms, I knew immediately that LEA would make a great partner because they had been bold enough to embrace those principles. I contacted them and ended up speaking with Brian Pickowitz who was extremely helpful and encouraging with concern to my controller idea, and the rest is history.
Our HazeX Controller is now a staple of our installations along with LEA Connect series amplifiers. It is currently undergoing a hardware/firmware update to make it more easily configurable by technicians in the field, and to add provisions for residential applications. With that, we hope to make it available sometime this year for wholesale to other integrators.
Another thing I should point out is that Instagram and other social media platforms have been instrumental in the growth of Hazelwood Labs – particularly because our installs are so visual. We thrive on mutually beneficial media partnerships, and it has been difficult to even get the conversation started with large, established equipment brands. This very write-up is a great example of how LEA is different. The marketing department understands the value in partnerships like ours and has never treated us like a small-time operation, although that’s really what we are—a small tech start-up trying to find our place among the corporate AV firms.
CONCLUSION
We’d like to thank Joseph and Hazelwood Laboratories for taking the time to speak with us and entrusting us to help get the job done
If you have any questions about our Connect Series amplifiers or would like to be featured in one of our Integrator Spotlight posts, feel free to reach out to us in the comments below or through our social media channels!