Session Drummer, Music Mixer

Q: Tell us about your studio setup.

A: I'm lucky enough to have a number of places to work. - Mostly on screen engineering, living in London requires as little space as possible. But I and the others I work with have acquired some decent gear over the years. Depending on what you need, we can see what needs to be used.

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

A: My band's EP 10 years ago. Between us we recorded, mixed, mastered and released it ourselves. It's not the best sounding thing ever, but it was an awesome achievement.

Q: What are you working on at the moment?

A: A kind-of metal ep for a small band just one their way to their first release. It's seriously huge.

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

A: Not yet.

Q: Analog or digital and why?

A: Difficult to answer that but I love what we can do with digital sounds now.

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

A: I'll never leave you high and dry.

Q: What do you like most about your job?

A: Listening to what people have to say in their music.

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

A: Can you beef x up a bit? - My answer is,'yes' probably.

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

A: That it's confusing. - It doesn't need to be if you ask the right questions.

Q: What questions do you ask prospective clients?

A: Style of music. Idea of the final sound. How it was recorded and where.

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

A: Tell me what it is you want, try to vocalise what the end-point is for the project and I can tell you what needs to happen.

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

A: I'd be happy with my macbook a decent set of headphones and my drums.

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

A: Playing drums and being involved in the industry for about 15 years, I mixed my first E.P 10 Years ago.

Q: How would you describe your style?

A: Calm and collected.

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

A: Trent Reznor, I imagine he could teach me a thing or two.

Q: Can you share one music production tip?

A: Listen.

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

A: Mainly rock and metal, but I play a bit of funk too.

Q: What's your strongest skill?

A: Asking for help if I need it!

Q: What do you bring to a song?

A: That very much depends on what you ask me to bring.

Q: What's your typical work process?

A: Listen, listen, tweak, listen again. Never work with your eyes.

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

A: Too many to mention! I love what David Bottrill has done over the years, especially with the Tool albums, and whilst we're on Tool, how about Danny Carey for a drummer? - Yea.

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

A: Currently with my mixing work, I've been taking mixes of local bands in the London area and giving them a better product, through either mastering, mixing or in some cases, both. In terms of my drumming, lots of gigging with theatre and function types, plus a couple of my own bands I do to keep it as fun as possible.