Vocalist, Songwriter, Top-line

Q: What are you working on at the moment?

A: I'm always writing :) I've got a hand full of collab label releases coming out this year with producers from several different countries!

Q: What do you like most about your job?

A: I love the community. After working with someone on a project it's almost natural to stay connected. It's kind of like since we created something together there's a deeper level of connection than if I were to fix their plumbing or install some light fixtures in their house.

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

A: There's a lot of talent on here but I'd rather you hire me :)

Q: Analog or digital and why?

A: Digital. The analog emulators are getting pretty dang good!

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

A: I promise to not half-ass any project. I can't do it actually. Music is very close to my heart that I simply can't help but give a song 100%.

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

A: Last year I wrote and collaborated with DJ Francis Davila from Guatemala. He released a beautiful video along with the song and the support from his huge Latin American fan base was amazing! "We Can Be Anything" Feat LNYX https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U23JiOTa8kw

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

A: People always ask where I'm from originally. Doesn't seem to effect the work- maybe it's just a way to get conversation started. I'm originally from Charlotte, NC by the way but don't expect any "y'alls" sneaking into the music anytime soon.

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

A: People think that since I live in Nashville I must be exclusively involved in country music. One trip to Nashville (save Broadway) would squash that misconception.

Q: What questions do you ask prospective clients?

A: I think it's important to really get to know their needs and their vision. If they've got certain expectations for the project I want to shoot for those from draft 1. It doesn't do any good to write a great song if it's not the song they're looking for.

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

A: Do your research and get to know your provider. Especially when it comes to a lyric writer. It's less technical and more emotional so their personality is bound to leak into that. If they come across as "kind of a dick" you may want to keep clicking around till you find the right fit :)

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

A: I'm assuming you mean musical gear so I'll go that direction. An acoustic guitar and something to record ideas-- I have a garbage memory. I could write so much music being secluded and uninterrupted like that but when the rescue chopper landed and blew my notes from the sand I'd remember none of it!

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

A: I started my first band in high school and kept plugging away through college. My band Philmont signed with EMI and did a few records with them followed by a couple independent releases. In that time we toured about 200 dates a year including some international gigs and releases. After that wrapped I formed the electro-pop project LNYX with my wife and started a label "Synthetix Sounds". I've been focusing on the EDM stuff as well as top lining and cowrting for the last few years.

Q: How would you describe your style?

A: I'd say pop hooks with attitude. Haha. That sounds pretty lame actually. What I mean is that I love to write catchy stuff but not at the expense of lyrical integrity.

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

A: I would love to work with an artist like Skrillex. While his sound is fairly polarizing I'm a sucker for people who create huge second acts in their life. He had a stellar career in the screamo market with From First To Last. He then went on to become one of the biggest names in Electronic Music ever in a matter of a few years. That's super inspiring to me--especially coming from the rock world and trying to find a home in EDM.

Q: Can you share one music production tip?

A: Don't be a jack of all trades, master of none. It's getting easier to make a industry standard tune from your laptop working completely inside the box. Too many people get caught up trying to be an amazing songwriter, producer, mix engineer, mastering engineer and social media/PR guru. Stick to what you're good at (and hone those skills) while teaming up with people who excel in areas where you fall short.

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

A: I have a long history of pop and pop/rock writing but have carried that into EDM recently. I feel in love with Progressive House over the last few years. I love when there's a great, hooky chorus followed by a drop and an equally hooky synth lead.

Q: What's your strongest skill?

A: I tend to write unique yet approachable melodies and I have a good ear for hooks. If you're not humming the melody after one listen through then I'm not doing my job.

Q: What do you bring to a song?

A: I'd say I can bring a good bit of honesty to a song. The best songs- no matter the genre- are honest and heartfelt. It's something you can't fake. Whether the song is about hope or heartbreak I'll channel that emotion so something real comes out of the other end.

Q: What's your typical work process?

A: I love to start with some sort of direction or vision from the client-- even if it's just a word or emotion. It's also fun to have free reign on a song though. I blast the music and see how that makes me feel then I'll dabble with lyric and melody to find something that compliments that. I always start in the hook. I subscribe to the "Don't bore us, get to the chorus" school of thought. If the hook isn't there then even the greatest verses can't save the song.

Q: Tell us about your studio setup.

A: I run LogicX on a 2015 Macbook pro. I use a Focusrite interface, Event 20/20 monitors and I house an Audio Technica AT4050 in a treated closet-turned-vocal booth.

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

A: Anyone who works hard and chases their dreams. I have a handful of close friends who have sacrificed a lot to master their craft. Those are the guys who make it. I try my best to follow in their footsteps.

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

A: The bulk of my work is for lyric and melody. I've dabbled in remixing but I'm fairly green on the producer-side of things so that's typically something I just do for fun when my buddies release new songs.