Drums/Beats/CreativeSounds

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

A: Just good communication.

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

A: Sean Hurley (bass).

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

A: It'll be great...It'll be right what you want and need.

Q: What do you like most about your job?

A: I love to make music.

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

A: What's your rate? I budget for the client and project.

Q: What questions do you ask prospective clients?

A: I ask for sound and beat examples of what they are looking for. Sometimes verbal descriptions of music can get tricky.

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

A: I've been professional musician in Los Angeles for 22 years and counting. I've toured and recorded with incredible artists and I strive to continue to make this my living.

Q: How would you describe your style?

A: Musical, dynamic, adventurous.

Q: What's your strongest skill?

A: My strongest skill is a great feel and interesting drum sounds and working with clients for what they want.

Q: Can you share one music production tip?

A: The source has to sound good.

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

A: Rock (indie or classic) Pop (country or Americana)

Q: What do you bring to a song?

A: Something I love about recording is the ability to tailor each drum sound to the song. The sound sets the vibe. The groove should make the listener dance, bob their head, or feel the emotion of the song. Sounds corny but that's the job of a drummer. I bring musicality from years of experience working live and in studios with world class artists and producers.

Q: What's your typical work process?

A: I like to talk to clients and get a sense of what they want in each song or project. Sonic references, do they need programming? If they have a demo should the sounds and beat match exactly or is it something I should reference but be creative. I try to turn projects around in 48 hours depending on the amount of tracks they need done. I'll send an MP3 and do a revision if needed. I'll then deliver the tracks either processed or raw depending on the clients wishes in folders labeled as "takes" or "song" through We Transfer.

Q: Tell us about your studio setup.

A: I have a large selection of drums (snares, kicks, toms, various percussion) that I change out according to every song. I have high end gear: API, Chandler, Telefunken and Daking Mic pres. Classic and modern mics, 421s, 414s, Coles, M160s, FET 47. My main DAW is Pro Tools but I use Ableton for some programming.

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

A: I love music that is adventurous sonically...Radiohead, Spoon, Queens Of The Stone Age but I also love classic recordings such as Steely Dan or very organic sounding records Joe Henry, Ryan Adams.

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

A: Rock and Pop tracks are the main styles I'm called for. I also am a versatile player and work on TV and Movie scores.