Local recording engineer finds second wind in the trades

Cody Ratley has been recording and playing in different local bands since 2010 and hopes to have a lengthy body of work behind him when he gets older. Around the same time, he started his career in the trades and currently works as an HVAC service technician with the Steamfitters Local 601.

“Union careers opened up an entire world for me where I can do what I want after work and not worry if I’m going to lose my health insurance, or if I get laid off I can get to work with a new contractor,” Ratley said.

The 31-year-old has worked in local food production facilities and Verizon cell towers. In his other life, he drums for Milwaukee hardcore band World I Hate and records his personal project Shamewave.

Ratley said he was exposed to music at an early age, getting his first guitar at 10 and recording his own tracks on cassette and a cheap laptop as a teenager. He prefaced that while he is fully immersed in his work, he doesn’t consider it a career.

More than a decade later and after a run-in with the law, Ratley said his stepfather encouraged him to give the trades a chance. He started his pre-apprenticeship around 23 and first worked as a firewatch for welders in food production facilities, then moved onto ammonia refrigeration at local cold storage facilities.

“My stepdad was like, ‘I want you to give this a shot.’ … It was a moment of weakness for me, I wasn’t making music and I made this huge mistake. So, I said I’ll make this sacrifice,” Ratley said.

But as he was immersed in trades, he found himself fascinated with HVAC systems and how they work.

“I know workers’ rights are strong and it’s about always bargaining for more,” Ratley said. “I know the world is in dire need for help right now. Because of what the union has done on my behalf, I can stay middle class. There are people who are struggling, but the trades are stronger than ever,” he added.

After getting familiar with HVAC systems, he said his skills have had applications in other places in his life. Ratley said he’s helped the owners of Kneeverland, a practice space and studio in the Walker’s Point neighborhood in Milwaukee, a couple times before.

“I’ve replaced the (air conditioner) compressor unit that services my room and a bunch of other rooms … it’s kind of cold in my room now,” he deadpanned.

On the music front, Ratley said World I Hate released an album in June that did well for a relatively new band. The crew will play a festival in New York and another in Florida. Ratley also mixed and produced a new record for Garden Home, a post-hardcore band based in Milwaukee. Another Shamewave album is on the way as well, he added.

“I don’t advertise myself as a record maker, but I’m always down to help out friends and work with people in the area and outside if anyone wants to work with me,” Ratley said. “When I’m old I want to have a bunch of albums I’ve worked on and build a legacy on. Just put good music out in the world and be good to people,” he added.