Songwriter, vocal producer

Q: Tell us about your studio setup.

A: My studio set up is really simple. I have a really high quality chain (Lewitt 940 into a Brent Averill 1073 into a Distressor into my Apollo X interface) which is perfect for vocals, guitars, piano, etc. Sometimes I use an SM7b instead of the Lewitt for a different sound. I use Studio One, which I love for vocal editing. I have almost every plugin imaginable... so while a lot of my stuff has an organic feel to it, much of what I do is in the box.

Q: Analog or digital and why?

A: Both :) there's a warmth and character in analog equipment that is hard (not impossible) to replicate digitally... but the convenience and pristine quality of a lot of digital stuff makes doing this every day possible.

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

A: I promise a great experience writing and/or producing YOUR song! Ultimately what I care about here is making sure that your story and emotion are the foundation of whatever we do together.

Q: What do you like most about your job?

A: I love that my job is different every day. From writing in different subgenres of pop to producing a track and working with so many artists and singers, I have a pretty different work day every day!

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

A: I would say that there is a misconception that this comes easily. Even as someone who has been writing full time for awhile now, it's still hard work. Some days it comes a little easier than others, but I'll often have people ask if I can just "send some ideas" and then when I do they'll ask if I can "just send a few more" for them to pick from... writing songs is hard work and they don't appear out of thin air!

Q: What questions do you ask prospective clients?

A: I always ask what inspires you and what's going on in your life. Send me a few different artists from the last year or two that you love. If I can understand who you are as a person and as an artist then I'm much more able to help you write your song with you!!

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

A: Know what you need from me!

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

A: Laptop, speakers, keyboard controller, SM7B, and my preamp.

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

A: I've been writing songs since I was a kid and got interested in production when I was in high school. I moved to LA to work as an assistant for a writer/producer named busbee. I learned a lot and met some people, so after about 2 years I transitioned into producing more full-time. As time went on, I realized that my writing was always such an important part of the process when I was working with an artist. I got connected to an A&R at Spinnin Records and started getting opportunities to write over dance tracks, and then to write with the DJ's in the room. I signed a publishing deal with Spinnin and Warner in 2019 and have been writing like crazy ever since!

Q: Can you share one music production tip?

A: It's easy to get lost in making something sound great and finding cool sounds... but ultimately the fundamental elements need to make you feel something, even before the sounds are dialed in.

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

A: Pop, dance, indie, singer-songwriter.

Q: What's your strongest skill?

A: Melodies and lyrics, with arrangement and production as a close second.

Q: What do you bring to a song?

A: I bring taste and professionalism to a song. I'm always aiming at something that is a balance between unique and commercial, and I try to express that as a songwriter and as a producer.

Q: What's your typical work process?

A: When an artist reaches out to me, I usually try to suss out their strengths and fill in the gaps for them. If they're a singer who wants a little assistance lyrically, then we'll usually start out by talking about what they want to write about... they've gotta sing it and perform it, so I always try to start with something they can relate to and want to sing. If it's a producer who has a cool track and wants a song written over it, I usually ask what inspired the track and what it feels like to them. Etc :) From there I can either work on my own and send a rough sketch, have the artist come to my studio, or do a video chat session (Skype, WhatsApp, etc). All of these can be extremely collaborative! However the song starts to take shape, I always like to get it *most* of the way there and then step away from it for a day or two before putting the final touches on it. This gives both me and the artist the opportunity to have fresh ears. I find this step almost always gives the song that extra 10% that makes it feel really special. If I'm producing, I like to be on a video call to help coach the vocal performance and to make sure there aren't any issues with the recording. I start with a scratch vocal and build out the track around it. I always ask for some references and songs that have been inspiring the artist, and we work together to find a cool sound for the song. Once the track is about 80%, I'll send the instrumental and we'll get the final vocal. I always help the artist get the best vocal performance and edit to perfection.

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

A: I split my time between writing songs and producing tracks. Sometimes I'm working with artists who want to release the songs themselves, sometimes it's for pitching to another artist or DJ. Sometimes an artist will come to me and just want a track produced, other times I walk the artist through the whole process start to finish. I love it all!!