Music Producer & Songwriter

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

A: I'm inspired by producers that draw inspiration from other genres and music, bringing elements that are disparate into what they create. Hans Zimmer, AR Rahman, Organized Noize, Finneas O'Connell, Ludwig Göransson, Rick Nowels and others along the same vein.

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

A: I'm extremely proud of my recently released album, The Unraveled. It was an endeavor of about two years of solid work in both production and songwriting. This project was entirely themed on the true story of a close friend who attempted suicide. It touched on themes including battling depression and ultimately finding your own freedom within society. The project, which included thirteen songs as well as five music videos that I directed, gave me an opportunity to work with some really incredible musicians to help me tell her story.

Q: What are you working on at the moment?

A: I'm wrapping up production on a five-song project for a client while also working through the initial production phase of my second album.

Q: Analog or digital and why?

A: Both - it really depends on what we're going for with a track.

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

A: You're going to walk away from this experience with something incredible. I'm not stopping until you are thrilled with what we've created.

Q: What do you like most about your job?

A: The creation aspect for sure, but I think it's the fact that I've connected with truly amazing artists over the years.

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

A: As a producer, I do get asked what my workflow is. It's really down to what works best for the person I'm working with. If the comfort zone is to work remotely and tag back and forth over emails and phone calls, that works for me as well. I don't need a full fleshed idea to work with - a discussion of what you want to create is really all I need to begin.

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

A: I think some folks might have a notion that a background in music theory, instruments, etc. doesn't add the same value as before given the low entry level in production. High-end equipment and plugins can only go so far, in my opinion.

Q: What questions do you ask prospective clients?

A: I'd like to know their story, what this particular song or track is about and what they envision the final version to sound like. I like working with artists that are open to ideas that may have not been considered - we don't have to stick with it, but some incredible stuff can happen when you experiment beyond a framework or limit.

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

A: More than the actual track, I think it's the collaboration aspect that is clutch in whether a project is going to be a success. If you can trust the talent and person you've partnered up with, in the end, it's going to be amazing.

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

A: I'm assuming this desert island has an outlet somewhere...I'd have to definitely pack up my Mac Pro, Yamaha EX5 synth, my Takamine acoustic my old upright piano, and my collection of condensor mics.

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

A: My first experience in a recording studio started way back in high school, in a band with friends. We scraped enough money to record in this studio built underground and meant for heavy and goth metal bands – it could handle only a few tracks deep and recorded analog to reel. I fell in love with the whole production process and enrolled in a number of music recording courses in college. When I graduated, I built my first recording studio. Over the years, it's been a progression from that first studio, evolving both technique and equipment.

Q: How would you describe your style?

A: With the music I produce, the one consistent response I get back from fans is that they hear some new element on each repeat – not typically on the first or second listen, but a few plays in and there’s a different melody line or instrument that they didn’t realize was there. It's lush, intricate, layered and has elements of urban music with threads of eastern and tribal.

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

A: If I could ever get a chance to work with Andre 3000, Chester Bennington, Stevie Wonder, Loreena McKennit or Bjork, my life would be complete. I grew up listening to each of these artists and the eclectic nature of their music has had a huge influence on what I do in the studio.

Q: Can you share one music production tip?

A: A break from that track you've been obsessing over can be invaluable. Some of the best ideas have come to me when I decided to take a pause and step away to let things breathe a bit.

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

A: It ranges greatly - while I'm a hip-hop fan, I absolutely love folk, synthpop, dream pop and everything in between. My favorite music artists vary greatly, I can listen to a playlist that has A$AP Mob, Neil Diamond, Blueface, Flight of the Conchords, Billie Eiliesh, and Tom Petty all in one sitting.

Q: What's your strongest skill?

A: Once I take on a project, no matter the budget, I really take on the project. No halfway work - I'm all in and committed to creating something we'll be proud to call ours a hundred years from now.

Q: What do you bring to a song?

A: The story or theme behind a track is paramount. Once I get a sense of what an artist is trying to express emotionally, and what type of sounds inspire them, the build out is pretty straightforward.

Q: What's your typical work process?

A: With both vocalists and instrumentalists, I like to get a very rough reference of the song, whether its a full track or just a clip of an idea. It ranges from simple iPhone voice memos all the way to sample sessions. I try to get a vision of where the artist wanted to take this song and once we have a framework, it's a collaborative effort until we have a final track in place. At the end of the day, I want something the artist to feel proud to stand behind what we've created.

Q: Tell us about your studio setup.

A: Logic Pro X, Protools, Cubase, Event monitors, Apogee Element 24 breakout box, loads of bass traps and sound panels, Audio-Technica AT4050, AKG K702 headphones. In addition to a bass and acoustic guitars, Yamaha synths, my studio is littered with percussion from all over the world including tablas, mridingams, djembes.

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

A: Production, songwriting, topline melodies. I'm known for very lush productions that range from folk to synth to urban and typically pull in elements from all types of genres.

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

A: Not yet since I'm new to this site, but I've seen some incredible work here.