Music Producer/Remix Artist

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

A: I made remixes for Dustin Lynch that were used during his set on the 2019 VHS Tour with Thomas Rhett and Russell Dickerson. These tracks were used in the intro to his set, as well as a mashup in the middle and the outro.

Q: Tell us about your studio setup.

A: I currently produce in Ableton Live on a Macbook Pro, and I use a variety of VST's and Kontakt libraries to make music with.

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

A: The most common type of work I do is remixes, particularly for Country artists.

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

A: My good friend Mark Himley. If you're looking for someone who can really tug on your heartstrings, or provide an awesome score for your film, he's the guy to do it!

Q: Analog or digital and why?

A: Both have their pros and cons, so it's impossible for me to make a real judgement of which one is definitively "better". Currently, I do everything in the box as it is most efficient to my workflow.

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

A: My promise to my clients is that my word is my bond. I do not falter on deadlines, no matter what. My only request to my clients is that the same respect I offer to them be reciprocated.

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

A: The biggest misconception about what I do, especially as an EDM producer, is that it is somehow easier to make than other more "traditional" styles of music, such as Rock, Country, or Folk.

Q: What questions do you ask prospective clients?

A: * What are you trying to say (portray) with this particular piece of music? * If someone were to mention a well known artist to compare you to, who would it be, ideally? * Is there any instrument or sound that you NEED in this track? * Are there any instruments/sounds that you absolutely DON'T want in this track? * What is the deadline?

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

A: I've been producing for 5 years, but only in the past couple of years have I been making music that is actually worth listening to. I've been writing for television and film for about 6 months, and have already composed over 60 tracks for various libraries and received placements on a number of networks.

Q: How would you describe your style?

A: My style is bombastic, yet emotional; hard hitting, yet dynamic.

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

A: Besides the obvious answer, which is you? I'd love to sit down with either Virtual Riot or Illenium and just watch them work. I believe that they both possess an intimate mastery of their chosen genres, and their music has an ability to resonate with people in such a visceral way.

Q: Can you share one music production tip?

A: I'll do you one better and give you two: First, don't underestimate the impact that noise can add to a chorus/drop, especially in EDM music. Try adding a sample of a crowd cheering, a waterfall, or rain to your drop, sidechaining it to the kick, and adding some reverb. Mix it low, and you'll instantly have a drop that sounds more full in the spectrum. Secondly, don't be afraid of the top loop. In fact, stack two or three of them to add an interesting texture to your drum patterns. I do this quite a bit, and I'll stack them in such a way that each loop plays off each other to create a cohesive percussive background.

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

A: Usually, I'm composing various genres of EDM (Future Bass, Trap, Electro House, Complextro, etc). More recently, I've been tasked with producing Future Pop/Future Soul, which has been a refreshing change of pace.

Q: What's your strongest skill?

A: My strongest skill, I believe, is the speed in which I'm able to get my initial ideas into a session. I pride myself in being able to find inspiration quickly and get a basic structure of a track down as fast as I can so I can then take my time with the finer details.

Q: What do you bring to a song?

A: I bring an intensity that some artists might be a bit hesitant to attempt. This intensity can be in either the arrangement with large extended chords or stacked layers of melody, or in actual sonic material with heavy hitting drums and slamming synth sounds.

Q: What's your typical work process?

A: Generally, I will start by finding what I believe will be "the sound" of the song. You know what I'm talking about: the one element of track that sticks with you long after the track has stopped playing. After that, I will start programming drums, followed by ancillary elements. I generally mix as I go along, and about halfway through I will apply my mastering chain so I can hear how the track will sound with all the polish on it.

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

A: I would be remiss if I didn't mention Max Martin as a huge inspiration to my pop songwriting/production. Current favorites in the EDM world are: Illenium, Said The Sky, KSHMR, Virtual Riot, and Subtact.