Singer/Songwriter/Rap/Producer

Q: Tell us about your studio setup.

A: I have a very simple and easy to move studio setup. A lightly sound-treated room with an AKG-C214, a Roland Quad Capture, Pro Tools, and a MacBook Pro and 2 monitors for playback!

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

A: A young singer from Richmond,VA by the name of Del Ro 'Yale reached out to me on Sound Better because he wanted some help on a couple songs for his EP. We hit it off musically from the jump and we worked so well together. I even got to sing BGV's and ad libs on a couple tracks that we wrote together and I just thought that was mad dope! His project is FIRE too!!! That was possible due to the internet and the creators of SoundBetter.com! THANK YALL!

Q: What are you working on at the moment?

A: 2 solo projects, an original project with my group Voiceplay(never ending covers) and my nephew's first solo project!!!

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

A: Yes. My mixing engineer Paul Kaleka! HE'S DA MAN!!!!!!

Q: Analog or digital and why?

A: Digital only because I haven't had the pleasure of doing much with Analog in my career thus far.

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

A: I will produce the very best product for you that I can, in a timely manner and it won't cost you an arm and a leg.

Q: What do you like most about your job?

A: I literally get to do what I love the most. Being creative and writing and singing/rapping!

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

A: How was American Idol and how much will it cost to write a song for them. American Idol was an amazing and extremely stressful but memorable experience and I work with all budgets!!!

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

A: I don't think people realize how much time it takes to write and perfect certain songs or how much energy it takes to do it completely on your own while also recording yourself and staying organized and all of that. It takes patience and work ethic.

Q: What questions do you ask prospective clients?

A: What do you want your song to be about? Is it based on a true story or fictional? Are there any songs currently out that you want your song to kind of sound like? When do you need this song completed by? Do you have melodic and or lyrical ideas already?

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

A: My advice would be to work with me because I will work with you on the song, on the price and all aspects of the project even after our business is done. I just want to help people out and get paid nicely to do it! EASY TO WORK WITH!

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

A: A mic of course, my laptop, my roland quad capture, a piano and a guitar!

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

A: I've always wanted to be a famous artist/pop star. My biggest influences as a kid performer were Michael Jackson and Usher because I was a singer and a dancer very young in life. I've been a performer for 21 years now but I didn't get into songwriting and production until about 15 years ago and it was a slowwwww start. There wasn't much opportunity to learn production or even be around it when I was younger.

Q: How would you describe your style?

A: I'm a great mix of so many things really. Old school R&B and funk, hip-hop, classic rock influences, a little country and even EDM. I can produce it all smoothly.

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

A: I'd like to work with Ne-Yo just to see what his workflow is like! He pumps out so many hits it's CRAZY and he's a performer too so I'd like to work with him and see how I can up my overall stage presence.

Q: Can you share one music production tip?

A: Never settle with one take. Take the same line about 3 to 5 different ways and have OPTIONS!

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

A: I get alot of House music and kind of Pop/R&B stuff usually!

Q: What's your strongest skill?

A: My strongest skill is knowing how to listen. I don't have to do alot of revisions or redoing things cause I listen keenly the first time and my clients never complain! MY EARS ARE PLATINUM haha

Q: What do you bring to a song?

A: I bring a lot of fun energy, elephant butt loads of talent, and creativity. I'm very open to different ways of working and trying things!

Q: What's your typical work process?

A: I like to get as much information as possible about what I'm working on before I even start so I ask every question possible. It helps me get things more spot on the first go around! After that I take off and send a few rough drafts as options for my client then the song writes and records its self after that.

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

A: Ah man there are so many people to list! Stevie Wonder, Ne-Yo, Rascal Flatts, Prince, PJ Morton, Jazmine Sullivan, Hans Zimmer, Pharrell!! It never stops!

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

A: I mostly write full songs for and with clients then I record all of the lead vocals and the backgrounds!