Mix Engineer, Music Producer

Q: What are you working on at the moment?

A: I am currently producing and mixing a mixtape and album for a rap artist named SAWBUC. Also, releasing an album produced exclusively by myself featuring various artists.

Q: What questions do you ask prospective clients?

A: What is your primary goal? What do you want your record to sound like?

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

A: Before you look to hire anyone, make sure that you have completed your part of the work. Make sure the song is arranged the way you want it. Make sure the performance is magical. If you love it before I get it, then we are going to have great results. I have been known to pull rabbits out of the hat but, you don't want that to be the case when your musical journey is at stake. Like I always advise people, be honest about your efforts. The results will pay you back tenfold.

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

A: I will give it my all to make sure that you are satisfied. I am honored that you would choose me to work on your project. Where an artist is in their career does not matter to me. I have always work with underground artist at the same time I was working with major label artist. Because you never know when someone is going to get their shot. So I promise to give my all to anyone I work with.

Q: What do you like most about your job?

A: The opportunity to work on music. The thought knowing that on the other end something will exist where it did not before. Creativity can be euphoric.

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

A: That I can turn their song into a hit.... I can make a bad song sound good, a good song sound better, a better song sound great, a great song sound awesome. But I can't make it a hit. I didn't write it. I just put the polish on whatever I was given.

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

A: My protools rig, MPC, U87, pen and paper

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

A: I have been recording and composing from a very young age. But I been doing it on a industry level for 20 years. I started in the industry as an intern for a multi-platinum producer doing vocal edits and vocal production. Left Eye (TLC) gave me my first official industry job producing for her label through LaFace. Around the same, Whitney Houston signed me up to be a staff writer/producer for her label. From there, it was off to the races producing for various labels and artists.

Q: Analog or digital and why?

A: Both. You have to have the old with the new to get the best of both worlds.

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

A: Mary J Blige. I feel her soul and her pain. One of my biggest records was a song written for Mary that ended up on Deborah Cox. (Things just aint the same). I would like to work with Rhianna also for the same reasons.

Q: Can you share one music production tip?

A: As you work on your music, find currently released songs out there that fall into the same genre that your songs do. Play your ideas back against those other songs. Do your songs sound as if they belong there? Be honest. You only hurt yourself in the end when you fall in love with the idea because YOU made it. If you are honest and make whatever necessary adjustments, you can replay that list to friends and they will not even realize that your music in the mix. Then you know you can compete.

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

A: Hip hop, gospel, pop and rnb. Some EDM.

Q: What's your strongest skill?

A: Production and mixing.

Q: What do you bring to a song?

A: I believe I bring magic to a song. I want the listener to understand that regardless of their opinion of the song, it sounds good and professional.

Q: What's your typical work process?

A: For mixing, I vibe with the session for a hour or so to get into the vibe of the artist. I always want the DNA to belong to the artist. Then I either start with the drums or the vocals. Then I blend in everything from there. I try to keep things simple and clean.

Q: Tell us about your studio setup.

A: I primarily work with a ProTools rig. I have a large array of plugins at my disposal to get the sound I am looking for. I'm also a gear head. I still have old school gear in the event I want to take a more organic approach. I still have ADATs, MPC 2500, MPC 60 II, Roland JV1080, Emu Planet Phat, Emu Mo Phat, Emu Proteus, Korg Trinty, Studio Electronics SE 1, Roland W-30, Novation Supernova II, Drawmer 1960 tube mic pre, Yamaha SPX90, Roland SDE 330, Yamaha NS 10m studio monitors, Akai S2800 sampler

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

A: I am inspired by Quincy Jones, Teddy Riley, Diplo, David Guetta, Timbaland, Babyface, David Foster, Stevie Wonder, Dr. Dre, Just Blaze, Burt Bacarach, Jam and Lewis and Prince.

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

A: I mix from a producer's perspective. I want to ensure that the artist walks away confident in the records that they created.