Vocals/Topline/Keyboards

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

A: I'm especially proud of a song I performed in my indie rock duo, Last August, called "Now You See Me, Now You Don't". It was licensed for a TV placement on Marvel's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. I co-wrote it, recorded lead and background vocals, played all the keyboard parts. I also do all the promo and pitching for that band. It was featured for over 1 minute behind a scene with Dove Cameron.

Q: What are you working on at the moment?

A: I'm currently working on 3 different songs with 3 different collaboration teams, I just finished a lyric video for an artist, and editing dialogue for an author's audiobook.

Q: Analog or digital and why?

A: BOTH. They both bring special attributes into music. It really depends on the song, and what the song needs.

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

A: I promise to finish the work they hire me to do, and to put my best energy and life into their song or dialogue piece, whether as a vocalist, actress, lyric video creator, or dialogue editor.

Q: What do you like most about your job?

A: I like doing something I feel I was born to do. I also enjoy the "process", including working with writers, producers, and artists. I feel like we all have a deep connection, even though we are all unique and different. There is an understanding between those of us who create. I love everything about the studio, I can go without meals and work for hours. (Well, I could, but I have to feed my family so I rarely get away with that!)

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

A: They ask me what my turn around time is. If the client knows what they want and I have the window of time available, I have turned a song around in 24 hours. Generally the time-frame from start to finish is less than a week. It all depends on the client's needs and how many changes are requested.

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

A: Songs that sound the easiest and most relaxing are actually sometimes the most challenging.

Q: What questions do you ask prospective clients?

A: What is the overall "feeling" you want your song to convey? Do you have a song or a singer you hear for this song that you can give me as a reference?

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

A: If you know what you want, it will help me to serve you best.

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

A: 1. solar powered battery charger that powers all the gear. 2. my keyboard 3. stein berg 4. MacBook 5. microphone

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

A: I've been doing this since I was one digit. I've been singing, writing, and acting all these years, trying to make a living at it. Recently, I have focused on writing for sync, and this has opened up many new doors for me to make a living doing what I love.

Q: How would you describe your style?

A: As an indie artist, I sing uplifting, inspirational music in a pop vein, music I collaborate on with producers who often are drummers first. I gravitate to highly rhythmic collaborators. I also have some heart-felt songs I've written at my piano that are singer-songwriter genre. In addition, I am in a duo where I get to sing soul-rock songs, and this is home to me. I spent my teen years in parachute pants, listening to Heart and Bon Jovi.

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

A: I'd love to work with Hans Zimmer. He's brilliant, and he seems kind. I'd also love to sing a duet with Harry Connick, Jr. It would be a thrill to work with Alicia Keys. I'd love to sing with Michael Buble, but I'm sure I'd get all tongue-tied.

Q: Can you share one music production tip?

A: 1. Keep the vocal take clean and dry, and eliminate background noise to send to producers. (Unless producer specifically asks for dirty, wet vocals and request some noise in the background, of course!)

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

A: Pop, indie pop, and rock.

Q: What's your strongest skill?

A: Singing in the genres of pop, indie pop, rock, standard jazz, and pop-country are my forte, lyric and melody writing are equally strong.

Q: What do you bring to a song?

A: My clients tell me they like working with me because I put my soul and life into whatever I sing. I am believable, and can take on characters.

Q: What's your typical work process?

A: I usually get a request by email or facebook message for a particular job. Usually people are familiar with my voice, but if they aren't I send a few samples. I work with the client to make sure I'm on the same page and know what they want. Hopefully they know what they want, sometimes they don't. I will suggest a FaceTime meeting if there is confusion. If I am doing a vocal session, I learn my parts and record a scratch vocal track. I send back a couple of different scratch takes, to give the client a listen and to send me notes for the final session. Once I get notes, I record 2 tracks (main and double). I will do 1 revision, it is included. If more revisions or harmonies are requested, additional rates apply.

Q: Tell us about your studio setup.

A: I use Logic, I own an Advanced Audio CM87 microphone and a Steinberg UR12 interface. I play a Yamaha weighted 88 key keyboard. It is a simple set up and it gets the jobs done. I use Disco, Box, We Transfer and Dropbox to share files with producers and co-writers.

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

A: Hans Zimmer inspires me, as do many composers of film music. I'm currently enjoying music by people from all over the world. Spotify playlists introduce me to some amazing artists.

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

A: I'm available for hire as a session vocalist. I sing lead and background. I also do voice over work and dialogue editing. My clients tell me that I am easy to work with, I take direction well, and I hustle.