Indie-Music Producer

Q: Analog or digital and why?

A: Both. Both have their pros and cons, depending on how they're utilized. I primarily work digitally analog gear is 1. expensive 2. difficult to maintain 3. now emulated very well digitally.

Q: What do you bring to a song?

A: I bring over a decade of experience and critical listening to every project I approach. No single song is the same, and I take time to consider my client's existing catalog, as well as sonic references when deciding an approach to a mixing project.

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

A: Lately I've been enormously inspired by the likes of producers A.G Cook and Sega Bodega. They both have an enormously inventive approach to electronic music production in the pop world i.e. Charli XCX, Rose Gray, Troy Sivan, etc. They blend club-friendly nostalgic sounds with cutting electronic production, all while still serving the song. Besides these recents, my biggest all-around inspiration is Kevin Parker of psych-rock/pop band Tame Impala. Essentially he's a studio-god: not only does he single-handedly perform, produce, and mix his solo project, but he's taken on rolls working with other heavy hitters such as Dua Lipa and Travis Scott. He's expertly able to blend his artistry and character into his work while bringing out the best of what defines these artists, usually including his signature drum-sound/style. He's a versatile musician/producer/engineer who's always able to elicit deep emotions in the music he touches.

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

A: my typical work is tracking and mixing indie-rock/pop for artists in Nashville, TN, though I work remotely with artists from all over the world. This ranges anywhere from solo artists who want me to create an entire track for them, to full bands who want to record their songs.

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

A: I’m commonly asked if I do mastering work. No, unfortunately I don’t but I have plenty of recommendations for those who do!

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

A: The biggest misconception is that through the process of mixing I have the ability to compensate for poor recording techniques. If the tone of a track doesn't sound good, a common error is to think that this can be fixed with EQ. As a mixing engineer I specialize in making what already sounds good sound even better, not fixing problems (with some exceptions;)).

Q: How would you describe your style?

A: I describe my style as 'what ever sounds right is right.' I studied Audio Engineering at Belmont University in Nashville, TN, and much of my education focused on the 'rules' or basic pillars of what makes a record sound good sonically. I always found and continue to find recordings that have been produced traditionally as boring and stiff. What intrigues me is when things aren't done by the book. Often it’s organic, new, and musical. I like to try things that don't always sound proper on paper. Often this can result in something that adds a distinct character to a track. All that to say, I'm probably more of a minimalist. I appreciate modern music but many of my favorite records are from decades past, and I try to capture their simple beauty.

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

A: I would absolutely love to work with somebody like Justin Vernon from Bon Iver. As well as a brilliant songwriter and musician, I would go as far as to say he is a ‘sonic painter.’ His work is challenging and inspiring because he pushes the envelope with music and what we consider music to be. He’s vastly experimental with the way he uses timing and space. The usual rules don’t apply to him when it comes to which sounds to use and how to manipulate audio. I would love to see him in his work process and hopefully gain a little insight.

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

A: I typically work on indie-rock, pop, and americana, but I have experience with hip-hop and country as well.

Q: What's your strongest skill?

A: At the moment, I consider my work with drums to be my strongest skill. Lately I’ve been very satisfied with the product I’ve gotten; it makes me want to get up and dance.

Q: Tell us about your studio setup.

A: My studio is in the heart of South Nashville. It is comprised of two rooms, my control room and a live room, both with extensive sonic treatment. I monitor through Yamaha HS-7s (modern NS-10s) with an optional sub-woofer and run the latest version of Ableton on my Macbook pro. I record through an Apollo x8p as well as additional out-boad preamps. My studio has a wide selection of microphones and instruments, and I utilize some wonderful analog-emulating plug-ins off an Apollo UAD-2 Satellite as well as Waves, SoundToys, Steven Slate Drums, etc.

Q: What do you like most about your job?

A: What I love most is that I get to experience the moment when a client's vision becomes reality. The ghost of a finished recording has been floating around in their head for who-knows-how-long, and it's a gift to be able make that a reality. It's very satisfying.

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

A: I've been messing around recording things since I was a teenager. It started with a laptop and a Rockband video game USB microphone. It's gone from there...I studied Audio Engineering at Belmont University in Nashville, graduating in 2016, and now I'm a freelance audio engineer in Nashville.

Q: What's your typical work process?

A: When it comes to mixing I pride myself in not having a typical work process or a "formula." When you go about working with every song in the same way you 1. forget that every song is unique 2. run the risk of all your work sounding the same 3. can easily burn yourself out. When I first open up a project I just listen to the song as a whole. I like to know what it's about and try to feel it before I start picking it apart. Once something catches my attention or gets me excited then I dive in.

Q: What are you working on at the moment?

A: I'm currently working on mixing a track for Nashville Pop/Americana songwriter Abby Walters

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

A: My 'promise' is that your track will take on a new life after I work on it. My goal is to exceed your expectations.

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

A: 10 out of 10 times, find someone who is genuinely excited about your project. Your song is your baby, and you want to hire someone who recognizes that. I encourage SoundBetter users to choose professionals

Q: What questions do you ask prospective clients?

A: Hi! How are you? What's your name? What sort of style do you consider your music? What was your role in this project? Is this your creation? What is this song about? What does this song mean to you? What are some of your favorite records? What are some good references for what you'd like this track to sound like? What is your timeline for the completion of this project?

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

A: Yes, I typically recommend Ryan Morris to my clients for mastering the mixes I give them. He delivers a great product with a great attention to detail for a great rate.

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

A: My trusty acoustic guitar, maracas, a laptop, headphones, and a microphone.