Production and Film Scoring

Q: What's your strongest skill?

A: If I'm being entirely candid - and I should be - I would say that my strongest skill is creative vision or foresight. I can see or hear what something will be or could be without the majority of its parts. This goes for music, story, lyric, video, art, etc. I think I have a knack for the big picture. Except when it comes to business. I am NO entrepreneur, I'll tell ya that right now.

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

A: I created a song called Dizzy and I'm extremely proud of the music video. I had to do everything from the ground up to make it happen and I did it on a limited budget. It was a headache, but worth it. I'm a filmmaker, so I created the video, as well. I'm proud of this project in part because of the lengths I went to do everything (storyboard, script, shoot, direct, edit) but even more so - working with the actors. I'm so proud of them. They're kids and they wanted to be in a fun movie and they did it. They were wonderful and creative and made the shoot that much better. Go check it out on YouTube or my website "TEO - Dizzy (Our Moment) Official Video" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=itf094exZTE teomultimedia.com

Q: What are you working on at the moment?

A: Too many things. Scores, productions for a handful of artists, my own projects and a better diet.

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

A: Lainy C and Olivina. These two ladies have the most wonderful voices on this platform. I promise. For almost any project you could be working on - they are audio gold.

Q: Analog or digital and why?

A: Both. Cuz, why not...

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

A: You will get the very best I can give. If I put my finger prints on it, I will work tirelessly to make it great and then improve on that.

Q: What do you like most about your job?

A: I do what I love and it's something I'm good at.

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

A: "What's your rates." "I'm hourly."

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

A: That it's easy. It's not. It's one of the hardest things to do. A vocation - creating something from virtually nothing and its value being entirely subjective to its observers. There's not many more difficult tasks than that. In conjunction, knowing your work is so vitally apart of who you are, yet, its function does not make its sentience - or its tether to your soul - obvious.

Q: What questions do you ask prospective clients?

A: Fill me in on the project. I'm new to it, so I need to know everything that you know. We need to be on the same page, the WHOLE time. What's your budget and your timeline? If I know those things, I'll know what kind of product we can aim for and potentially what it would be like in terms of scale and value.

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

A: Be clear about your goals and your hopes in the project.

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

A: 1) Guitar (with spare strings) 2) Sketchbook (with a writing utensil) 3) Camera 4) A sand resistant laptop with all the battery power 5) A 1,000,000 TB portable hard drive.

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

A: I've been producing for about a decade now. I hope to continue creating things that I'm proud of. Hopefully people will hear or experience it and be happy they did and not wicked bummed out... My 5 year goal is to still be creating music and art. I don't know if that's a well defined path... I don't know if I have a well defined path... I should probably work on that.

Q: How would you describe your style?

A: Vibey Pop with ambient undertones. I dabble.

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

A: I don't know. That's an odd question to me. I just want to work with artists that are happy about creating something new and fun. The type of artist I don't want to work with is the kind that is entitled and believes they're the gift to every and any session.

Q: Can you share one music production tip?

A: Don't get stuck on the right synth or drum "sound" you're looking for. Just create a lay-in... that's what I call it. DO something. Mimic a song you like. Recreate its tone or feel. Or pull from your own mind. Just don't get hung up on the small details till much later in the process.

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

A: It ranges between Pop/Electronic to Ambient and moody. I work with pop artists, however, I produce music for TV and Film which tends to be on the moody and ambient side - especially when it's a score.

Q: What do you bring to a song?

A: I hope I bring competence and creativity. I definitely do tend to instinctively lean in the direction of fusion. It happens because, while limits and boundaries are important and key, when you know where they are, it's fun to stretch it and see where it takes you. That said - I'm a producer. So, I hope I can make a dope tune.

Q: What's your typical work process?

A: I dunno... Work, I guess? Every project is different. I suppose I have to begin with hearing the song. Honestly, it can be boring or exciting, depending on if I'm scouring for sounds or banging on my controller and arranging those sounds. To me, the whole process is fun. I usually like the artist in immediate contact with me to make sure the process is smooth and quick.

Q: Tell us about your studio setup.

A: It's a small workspace. Too much going on in too little of a room. I have a rather large desk (so I can feel important by myself). I try to make my space functional for any moments use and for any kind of creative decision. I have the capacity to track vocals, guitar, drums or piano (from my living room). Essentially - I'll, at least, attempt whatever needs to get done. My main workspace is my iMac 27inch and a 47inch TV above that, on the wall, for film scoring and editing. Behind me to the right is my art desk where I paint and draw.

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

A: Talking about music, in any capacity, usually with another creative, will fill up my inspiration decanter for a long time. Movies will inspire me. Talking about stories or song idea's - feelings about a certain issue or scenario will bring me inspiration. I know it's all a bit ambiguous. But, I'm often inspired by things I don't see coming. Not your typical inspirations, I suppose.

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

A: I mainly produce and write with my clients. I like to get into the mind and heart of the artist and feel what it is they are trying to convey. I see my job as an extension of the artist or a tool with a brain. They know what they want, typically, even if they say they don't. They definitely know what they DONT want. It's my job to whittle away at the obvious choices until something novel develops and we have a clear image of mood, direction and emotion. Every artist is different and every song, every project, is, as well. I like approaching new projects from a point of lack, so I'm eager and hungry for the song to become filling and brilliant.