User:TheLetterM/Don Zientara

Don Zientara is a recording engineer from Washington DC. He is most notable for producing most of the albums released on the seminal hardcore punk indie record label Dischord Records.

Early History
Zientara moved into the DC area to study painting at West Virginia University, but was drafted into the army during the Vietnam War. However, instead of being sent to war, he was given a more artistic job, painting for the army in Washington DC. After he completed his service, his work led to the National Gallery of Art, where he worked in its recording studio. Several years later he started Inner Ear Studios in his basement, engineering records like Teen Idles' Minor Disturbance, Minor Threat's Out of Step, and the Void/Faith Split LP, all three of which were released on Ian MacKaye's record label Dischord Records. In 1989, Zientara was able to move Inner Ear into a larger space to create a professional studio, thanks in no small part to his work with local hardcore punk bands and Dischord Records artists.