Indie Music Producer

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

A: I'm really loving the track that I have as my profile track at the moment: Lea Cota - Sugarcane. She's a brilliant songwriter. She brought that song to me knowing that the song was great, but not having a strong vision for how it should sound instrumentally. Together we discovered a sound for it, and she's had a lot of success with it. I love watching music get released!

Q: What are you working on at the moment?

A: I have about 10 things going on at all times! If I don't have at least 5 tracks I'm working on at any given moment then something is wrong. My life has to be full of music.

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

A: Yes, for mastering - Dale Hiscock, and for indie/folk production - Taylor Neal.

Q: Analog or digital and why?

A: I love the sound of old analog records. With that being said - I've been doing digital home recording since high school, and it's what I know. I love using digital tools to really distort audio and get crazy sounds. I think that's the world I'm most comfortable in. Give me a sample that you recorded off of your voice memos on your iPhone and let me turn that into a dance track for you. That's what I love about digital music.

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

A: I promise we're going to work til we get it right. I'm not tied up in revision amounts and all that. I want to make sure you're happy, and we're going to communicate effectively through the whole process and get you to where you want to be. You'll leave happy.

Q: What do you like most about your job?

A: I get to watch people get stoked about their music! I know what it's like to be working on a track and want to listen to it nonstop, in the car, on a walk, whenever. I love it when I send a file to someone and they can't stop listening to it.

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

A: The thing everyone asks is - what do you think about the track? I love to be honest. I'm going to tell you what's working about it, and what's not, from a production standpoint. If I can't identify what's wrong, how can I fix it?

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

A: A lot of people think that production is about having the right equipment and plugins. The best producers out there could make a hit in garage band. Yes, fancy tools help and are fun, but absolutely not necessary for creating meaningful music.

Q: What questions do you ask prospective clients?

A: What's inspiring you right now? What music is making you lose your mind?

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

A: Look for a real relationship with someone! Don't let a producer make you feel like you're on an assembly line. Your music deserves personalized attention, and even when hiring online I think you should expect that.

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

A: Well, on my desert island I'm going to need electricity. I'm bringing a sampler, macbook, microphone, interface, and a midi controller. I'm happy.

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

A: I've been doing this my whole life, to some extent. Even when I was younger, I was having all my friends bands come record with me. I started off playing in punk and emo bands in high school. I eventually migrated to indie rock and spent my 20s focused on playing in as many projects as I could. I learned that my happy place in a band is something that looks like a producer role. At some point people started paying me to produce their music, and I haven't looked back ever since.

Q: How would you describe your style?

A: My style is psychedelic, dynamic, and dreamy. I love soundscapes and big explosive moments. I love having production details that are there only for the most attentive listeners.

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

A: I have a huge list. And maybe it's not even about collaboration - I'd like to be a fly on the wall in some studios. If I could see how the record '22 a million' by bon iver was made, I could die happy.

Q: Can you share one music production tip?

A: Don't think too hard! You'll end up talking yourself out of your best ideas. Gut instinct is a powerful tool and should always be considered.

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

A: It's a big spectrum from pop and indie rock, to experimental electronic. I think the thread that connects them all is that I'm all about mood. I love a song that will attach itself to your memory, or give you goosebumps. I think any genre can do that, and it's all about once you find that sound, don't overcomplicate it.

Q: What's your strongest skill?

A: I'm good at listening. I want to hear what an artist wants and deliver. Sometimes artists are unsure of what they want because they are brand new, and I want to instill confidence in someone that their vision is valid and possible.

Q: What do you bring to a song?

A: I bring alternate perspectives. I know that sounds like an obvious thing - but it's important. Most of my artists are working by themselves, and when you're the only one writing and recording a song, it's really easy to get stuck in negative feedback loops and never be happy with a song. Often times it just takes an outside ear to tell you something is working or it isn't, and suggest some alternative routes. The amount of time I can save someone just by simply agreeing or disagreeing with them with some honest feedback is really invaluable.

Q: What's your typical work process?

A: The process is really unique for each artist. But almost always, the first step is establishing a connection. When we're working remotely, it can be frustrating when your producer is just a message on a website. I like to really "meet" someone and hear about what they're in to, and what they're musically most excited about. After that, we have a conversation about how we're going to move forward with their track. I usually like to start off with a small chunk of the song, maybe the first verse and chorus, and really stylize that and establish a vibe before we work on the entire track. I want to give the artist a chance to give me real feedback and guide me before we get too far into the track. Once I get the feeling we're on the same page, I jump in and work on the whole thing.

Q: Tell us about your studio setup.

A: I have a cozy home setup in a bedroom of my apartment. It's been acoustically treated, but beyond that it's about comfort for me. I love being surrounded by my instruments and nice warm lighting. It makes creativity flow. If you live in LA and want to come work in person, let me know!

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

A: Justin Vernon, Chaz Bundick, Jack Antinoff, Benny Blanco, to name a few.

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

A: My job is all about listening. I try to hear what the artist is really imagining their record to sound like. Sometimes, it's about discovering that sound together. If an artist is unsure of the exact direction to go, I love to dive deep with them and explore possibilities.