Music Producer & Songwriter

Q: Tell us about a project you worked on you are especially proud of and why. What was your role?

A: I did the production of Wondering by Gabriella Mazure. I really love this song. We managed to find this vibe for the track wich is exactly what it nees. It feels lively, but tight. Just have a listen...

Q: What are you working on at the moment?

A: I'm working on a song for a dutch vocalist. She had some ideas, wanted to releas her own songs. Now we're experimenting vibe and sounds. Results really amaze me, nice!

Q: Is there anyone on SoundBetter you know and would recommend to your clients?

A: Tom Sibren van Iersel. He teached me and I gained a lot of wisdom from this guy. He's an amazing engineer. Since he's really into metal, I would recommend any metal band to work with him!

Q: Analog or digital and why?

A: either way, recorded with the best results. Whaterver the track needs and is within possibilities

Q: What's your 'promise' to your clients?

A: If I'm in, I'm in! Results matter. You need to be satisfied with your song. I might trow stuff in from different angles, you might need te sleep about it, but its your song.

Q: What do you like most about your job?

A: Being able to work with so many different creative people and get inspired over and over again

Q: What questions do customers most commonly ask you? What's your answer?

A: Can we do .... songs on one day..... No

Q: What's the biggest misconception about what you do?

A: That I'm confident, that I know. Every song is just as new and I find myself get all excited with every new project. Like most musicians I'm pretty insecure about my skills. I do what i do best and I hope you like it. But let's be open about the proces. At times there were people thinking, I'll just sing something, you'll provide the entire track. I'm guiding you to your song, so I do feel it's a co-creation. Blend idea's, I know how to convert an idea to a sound. I will add, but it's still your song.

Q: What questions do you ask prospective clients?

A: Why me, what is it you look for and why do you think I could provide? What's your inspiration, what is the vision behind it, is everybody 'on board' and are you willing to invest

Q: What advice do you have for a customer looking to hire a provider like you?

A: Go with your gut feeling. If it feels like it could be a match, contact them. It's a long way from thinking of it to actually doing it, but it's the ones who collaborate, find the people they need to improve themselves, that get really great songs. Always get in touch, even if you only want to be inspired.

Q: If you were on a desert island and could take just 5 pieces of gear, what would they be?

A: If i were to be on a desert island, I doudbt I would survive long enought to use 5 pieces of gear. I expect it would be my acoustic guitar. That's all you really need. I probably get inspired with all the sounds from this island that i want to use my ehx looper. But that's only if there's electricity on this island.

Q: What was your career path? How long have you been doing this?

A: I started playing the guitar when I was eight. Never stopped. Went to music college but kinda lost my way. The competition of being "te best" was sooo annoying to me. I wanted to collaborate, not to compete. I found a carreer in social work, wich i did for about seven years. Music has always been a huge part of my life, as such in my social work. Working with a lot of different people, helping them acchieve goals and overcome difficulties also reminded me of my own. I had to pursuit mine. I started Studio Solo in 2015

Q: How would you describe your style?

A: With attention to the musician instead of just the music

Q: Which artist would you like to work with and why?

A: The one who is reading this and gets all excited

Q: Can you share one music production tip?

A: Do not forget to listen to the lyrics! They tend to tell you what the song is about. Use contrast to emphisise instead of, what the call 'red on red' in theatre.

Q: What type of music do you usually work on?

A: Singer/songwriters, music with a story, something wich is unconventional. Can be just a guitar and a vocal, if that's what the song needs, but mostly i find myself adding a whole lot more. From tiny string fx to big roomy drums

Q: What's your strongest skill?

A: Finding wich note's go where and what instrument it needs to be

Q: What do you bring to a song?

A: Depends on what a song needs. I love to bring "the band". When there's just a melody, we'll add music. So basicly i'd like to add the song.

Q: What's your typical work process?

A: The most important thing for me, is to understand the vision of the musician. What did you listen to, where do you come from, what is it you have in mind. Than we'll need a healty work relation. Boost eachothers strengthts, and than we'll make magic

Q: Tell us about your studio setup.

A: I don't think studio setup is that important. It's only intresting for colleagues, but most musicians just want ik to sound like they hear in their heads. Regardles wich plugins or hardware you use. But i do like to be able to try different ways of recording and mixing. I mostly mix ITB, but for some projects OTB is preferable. I use allen&heat, Tascam, SE electronics, AKG, Telefunken, Roland, Novation. Am rather proud of my guitars, Gibson, De'Armond, Eastman, Alhambra, have some amps, epi, peavey 5150 (yes i play in a rockband;), Fender. You have to love your pedals, EHX, TC, Roland, Yamaha. Than there's some drumcomps, roland, korg, akai, novation synths, roland synth, my favorite, the solina string ensemble and my new guilty pleasure, a bontempi hit organ

Q: What other musicians or music production professionals inspire you?

A: I do have a broad interest, but i grew up with the music my parents were found of. I have this weak spot for singer/songwriters from those days. Melanie, Don Mclean, Cat Stevens and the Beatles... obviously. But than, there are so many great minds writing awesome music today. Love to hear different timeframes pass through pop music. I prefer working on songs, rather than tracks. A songs is a tale, has a beginning and ending. A message and a twist. As long as I find those elemenst in music, i'm satisfied.

Q: Describe the most common type of work you do for your clients.

A: I love to be involved in the proces of writing en producing. To guide someone from idea to track is such a special privilege.