Remixer, Songwriter, Producer

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

A: I played drums in high school, picked up guitar and bass in college, and started production a few years later when I got my first copies of Reason and Pro Tools. I eventually made my first demos which got me signed to a publishing deal in 2007 and led to my first big ticket placement, a Pontiac ad. That led to me moving to LA and opening my studio, and I have made music my life ever since.

Q: Tell us about your studio setup.

A: I have a home studio that I built, converting my garage into a cozy, intimate space with just enough room for my gear and a few guests. I've got high ceilings and window into my back yard so it never feels too isolated from the real world. And it's a gift to be able to just roll out of bed and into the studio, at any time of day or night!

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

A: Mark Ronson and James Murphy (LCD Soundsystem) are two of my heroes, both are producers with mad DJ skills that help them think about what the dancefloor requires. Knowing how to make people shake it is a useful skill, whether you're working on an original or a remix.

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

A: I do a lot of cowrites and production for hire, which are both great because I enjoy collaboration and trying to get the best possible musical "solution" for what an artist is trying to convey musically, using every tool at my disposal: lyrics, melodies, instruments, production. I also do a lot of remixes for labels big (Atlantic/Big Beat, Elektra/Warner) and small (Iamsound, Deep&Disco). I love doing these because I work from just the acapella and build a completely new song around it, so I get to go between making beats, adding synths, guitars etc., often while reharmonizing the original (i.e. using totally different chords under the vocal). Remixes also give me a playground to try new ideas or toys in an experimental environment, which helps me grow my skill set for my other production work.

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

A: Laptop w/Ableton Live, mic, guitar, bass guitar, midi keyboard. Boom.

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

A: It was a pretty huge life moment when I found out that a song I wrote and produced was used in the XBOX game Forza Horizon 4...but in a weird way it was bigger when videos started popping up on Youtube of kids playing that song's bassline (which I wrote and played)! I also never get tired of finding a radio or DJ playlist, recently KCRW played my song "I Need You" and DJ Harvey played my "I'm Not In Love" remix, such an honor!

Q: What do you like most about your job?

A: I love making music every day. LOVE it. It's all I want to do, forever!

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

A: Current: Billie Eilish, Kaytranada, Tame Impala. From the past: Prince, David Bowie.

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

A: That I sleep. There is no sleep!

Q: What questions do you ask prospective clients?

A: How serious are you about your music? What do you want to accomplish? Do you want instant fame, or are you a long term career artist? Do you want to sound like something already out there, or something totally new?

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

A: Make a playlist of songs that speak to you, that sound like a playlist you wish your music was on. Think carefully about each song: what do I like specifically about this song, that I want mine to be next to it on this playlist? The beat, the vocal style, the production, something else? To be clear: we are not going to copy anyone else. But there more you can make a list of, say, a beat like X, a vibe like Y etc, and the more you can articulate what you want to aim for, the closer we can get to making your music the best version of your vision.

Q: How would you describe your style?

A: Future retro.

Q: Can you share one music production tip?

A: Gear is not important, all that matters is ideas. You can technically do everything with a laptop than any band in the 60s or 70s could do, and cheaper; the only difference is what your vision is...do you have one? I can help with that, too!

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

A: Electronic, though not necessarily EDM or dancefloor focused. I love 80's electronic/synth focused bands like Depeche Mode and New Order, as much as I love modern ones like Justice, Daft Punk, Toro Y Moi, Washed Out etc.

Q: What's your strongest skill?

A: As a multi-instrumentalist as well as a producer I am usually able to articulate what specifically can or should be done melodically, harmonically, lyrically and/or production wise to improve the song. My fluency in all these areas comes in handy since talking about what is missing from the song can be hard to describe sometimes. Also, as a DJ I have a pretty extensive mental rolodex of songs, especially on the pop, dance and rock side of things. This can be helpful when discussing references and articulating what the desired end goal is.

Q: What do you bring to a song?

A: Years of production and songwriting experience. I came to LA in 2007 with a publishing deal which taught me how to sit in a room with a stranger and make a song out of thin air - one of my favorite things to do. I have also done dozens and dozens of remixes which keep my production chops fresh and current. Last but not least as an artist myself I bring an understanding of what it feels like to bring someone else into one's vision, a delicate process requiring a great deal of trust and patience. I've been there too, so I understand what you are going through!

Q: What's your typical work process?

A: I like to start every project by talking to the client to learn what they want to get out of their music, which usually leads listening to reference songs, making playlists and generally making sure the vision is clearly defined before a single note gets recorded. From there I'll do an initial mix, get feedback from the client, and work on revisions until they are satisfied.