Mixing & Mastering

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

A: It is a project I produced & mixed during a writer week in France. The song is called Pink Clouds. We made so much music that week and this was the last song. It just felt like the theme song a the week, it had so much energy. I loved working on that song. I produced, co-wrote & mixed it. It made me feel invincible.

Q: What are you working on at the moment?

A: Currently I am working on the mixes of a Dutch Electro Pop artist EP.

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

A: Not yet, but soon hopefully!

Q: Analog or digital and why?

A: Both! Analog sounds so nice! The warmt, the fullness, being able to touch it physically just makes you happy and that feeling is in the room. But digital has so much POWER! All the things you can do in digital, from automations to saving insane presets, your workflow can really benefit from digital. I love both and I really try to feel what suits better in the moment.

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

A: I will make you happy.

Q: What do you like most about your job?

A: The freedom of shaping my career. And offcourse; working in music!

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

A: Question: when will I get my masters back? Answer: tonight!

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

A: Maybe people hesitate sometimes whether I know what I'm talking about or doing. I love what I do and work hard for it.

Q: What questions do you ask prospective clients?

A: - When can we talk face to face or over the phone? - What is it that you are looking for in a master or mix? - What is the vibe, energy & mood you are working towards with this project?

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

A: Get in touch with them personally, on the phone or even in person. Get a feel of who they are. The provider could be a 5 star engineer, but if his view, personality, vibe etc. - doesn't fit your project, they'll never bring you the result you're looking for.

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

A: - Macbook Pro M2 - Apollo Twin - Dynaudio speakers - Native Instruments Maschine MK3 - Arturia Keylab 61

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

A: I have been making music for over 14 years now, started when I was 12. Around my 15th I started making beats in garageband. When I was 19 I started studying Music Production & Audio Engineering. Then I did some internships in different Studios. Currently working in a Studio in Amsterdam and working as a freelance mixing & mastering engineer.

Q: How would you describe your style?

A: Muscular & not afraid to be vulnerable. Music is about showing emotions and opening up. That's what I try to do.

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

A: Maceo Plex. His sound is crazy, not just as a DJ but also as a producer. He makes everything sounds like him. That is very unique.

Q: Can you share one music production tip?

A: Make your creative border as thin as possible. Your studio should be running with one click of a button. You should be able to get going within 2 or 3 minutes after you decided to start working.

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

A: Hiphop, Pop, Dance & Electro. But I love working in lots of genres. Rock, Indie, RnB, Alternative, Techno. I love good music.

Q: What's your strongest skill?

A: Communication & dedication. Yes, my ears work perfectly as well, I know very well what I'm doing. I know my gear & my plugins. I know what to reach for in a situation. But my dedication is what will get your project to the next level.

Q: What do you bring to a song?

A: Clarity, depth, vibe, body, color & MUCH more. Honestly, every track is different. I can't bring the same game to different tracks. My approach has to change. Every artist is different, every track has it's own feel. What I bring is unique to every song and every project. What I give is what I feel it needs and what the artist wants be to give to it.

Q: What's your typical work process?

A: In mixing I always start with the most important part; setting a 45 minute timer to make sure I take breaks! Then I start with the other mos important thing, the levels. Then I set up a very gentle master bus processing, nothing crazy, but I like to give everything some color from the get-go. From there on I start with what feels best, often it's the drums. But it can be anything; the vocals, the piano, the samples. Next, I want to get the main mix ready before diving into automations. The mix has to be alive and flowing nicely before doing automations. From this point it's different for every track. In mastering I always start setting up the project and setting a 30 minute timer to make sure I don't stay stuck for too long. Once done, I listen to the track and scan the vibe, mood and the information. From here on, mostly I start with a very simple EQ, but really every track is different from there.

Q: Tell us about your studio setup.

A: Running an Apple Macbook Pro M2 32 GB Ram. Two sets of monitors, Adams & Dynaudio. Mackie Big Knob volume controller. Multiple Boss pedals for analog sounds. Running Pro Tools and Logic Pro X. I find myself mixing more & more in Logic Pro X, not for the sound but for the workflow.

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

A: Hit-Boy, Max Martin, The Weeknd, Harry Styles, Kendrick Lamar, Parcels, Nas, Nothing But Thieves, Daft Punk & many more.

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

A: Mixing, mastering & vocal productions.