LYRIC/MELODY/PRODUCTION

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

A: I have been a member of two globally-touring rock bands since 2005. So 15+ years of writing songs and playing guitar professionally. Around 2011 is when I really became interested in marrying my songwriting skills with production.

Q: What do you bring to a song?

A: My critical ear is listening for (1) lyric strength, (2) meter/rhyme strength, (3) melodic dynamics, and (4) overall song conciseness.

Q: Analog or digital and why?

A: Digital because duh! This is an online community of people looking for competitive work at a fair price. It's not 1994. Let's get some great work done efficiently AND economically.

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

A: Your song WILL BE better after we work on it together.

Q: What do you like most about your job?

A: Music is my lifeblood. So the mere fact that it IS a job for me is incredible. I never tire of the hours spent at this desk, making songs. But specifically, I really love listening to a finished song/demo in the car for the first time.

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

A: Q: Why do you always answer questions with questions? A: Who cares?

Q: What questions do you ask prospective clients?

A: What are your goals? What can I do to add my skills to what you want to achieve? What is your favorite season of LOST?

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

A: I'm easy-going and a people person. So feel free to start a conversation, and let's figure out what you want to achieve with your project. I'm here to help.

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

A: The Kemper guitar profiler, a PRS guitar with coil-tap humbuckers, a good acoustic guitar, an upright piano, and a piano tuning kit!!

Q: Can you share one music production tip?

A: The chorus should be the best part of the song, in every way. If it's not, rework it until it is.

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

A: I attract a lot of rock-n-roll clientele because of the band I'm in, which is fine because I love rock, but my personal tastes lean more toward indie/pop/rock.

Q: What's your strongest skill?

A: Hook/melody/dynamics

Q: What's your typical work process?

A: I try to crank out sounds as quickly as possible when I'm being inspired. I'd rather circle back to a sound later in the process than nitpick/debate for hours on the front end. I want the first draft to be done ASAP, then we can go through and decide what really needs more detailed attention.

Q: Tell us about your studio setup.

A: I work out my house just north of Nashville, dubbed "The Ranch". It's a comfy space that is designed for efficiency and positivity. There's an upright piano, a bunch of guitars, and a huge bookshelf packed with Spider-Man comics, vinyls, and the complete Calvin & Hobbes collection.

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

A: Brian Wilson of the Beach Boys is my biggest "classic" inspiration. In terms of modern songwriting & production, I really look up to Jack Antonoff, Ryan Tedder, and Andrew McMahon.

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

A: I'm a song guy at heart, so regardless of my role in a project, my primary obligation is to make the SONG better. Most of my work involves co-writing, producing tracks, and playing guitar. It's fun.