Classic Country & Bluegrass

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

A: I engineered an album of songs by Noel McKay. I also played guitar and sang harmony. The album was made some years ago and I still get compliments on how good it sounds.

Q: What are you working on at the moment?

A: I'm about to go into the studio and record a new EP of my original songs, produced by Robbie Fulks.

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

A: Mary Bragg.

Q: Analog or digital and why?

A: Digital for now. Eventually I'd love to work with tape, but space and time doesn't permit me at the moment.

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

A: I promise to give all I've got to make your tracks sound great. I promise not to phone it in.

Q: What do you like most about your job?

A: I like reaching people through songs and finding things we have in common. I also love to travel internationally.

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

A: "Do you write your lyrics or your melodies first, or at the same time?" On my best songs, the melody and lyrics come together.

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

A: I am a woman who plays lead guitar, and people are often in disbelief of that. I learned just like any other person, through hard practice and experience.

Q: What questions do you ask prospective clients?

A: Who are your influences? What would you like this to sound like? Is there a specific recording you're trying to emulate, or is this something entirely new?

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

A: Ask questions! I'm happy to chat so we can make your songs sound exactly like you want them.

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

A: My 1940s Buckaroo catalogue guitar, my mandolin, my Kay Sherwood Deluxe Hollow Body Electric, my Gibson Falcon, and a couple of books by Sinclair Lewis. Yes, the last one counts as gear.

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

A: I've been a professional musician since 2002.

Q: How would you describe your style?

A: My singing and playing is informed heavily by country music of the 1940s through the 1960s. I've often been called "retro" or "throwback," but I like to think of my sound as simply "classic." I try and sing exactly like I talk, with as little affectation as possible.

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

A: Del McCoury. He's such a bright light in the bluegrass genre. I once saw him play at a festival and he'd completely lost his voice. Though I missed hearing him sing, his joy was infectious and the show was great.

Q: Can you share one music production tip?

A: Use your ears.

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

A: Country, bluegrass, folk and americana.

Q: What's your strongest skill?

A: I'm a lead vocalist with twenty years experience. I'm also a very competent harmony singer. I can layer multiple parts on the same song.

Q: What do you bring to a song?

A: I try and "climb into the song," identifying with the message and feel as much as I am able. I come from a classic country and bluegrass background, where there's a lot of feeling, drama and humor.

Q: What's your typical work process?

A: I spend a few days getting acquainted with the song and then sit down to lay some tracks down.

Q: Tell us about your studio setup.

A: I use Ear Trumpet Labs microphones, a macbook and an Apogee interface.

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

A: Dolly Parton, Emmylou Harris, Rodney Crowell, Gillian Welch, Guy Clark, Loretta Lynn, The Louvin Brothers, Melba Montgomery, George Jones.

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

A: I record harmony vocals most often for clients. I also record lead acoustic guitar and mandolin. Every now and then I record lead vocals for another songwriter.