Modern Vintage Mastering

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

A: In 1979, I started playing the piano at the age of eight and joined my first band five years later at thirteen. Shortly after that, in 1985, I recorded that same band in the attic of my parents house. Basically I have never stopped since, so I have been involved in music most of my life and been living of it, supporting my family, for more than 20 years now.

Q: Can you share one music production tip?

A: Possibly the hardest part of self-producing is knowing when to stop. So, my tip would be: stick to your choices when they were made on instinct - don't overthink stuff and try to step away from it as soon as you can. Most likely you all ready nailed it!

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

A: The type of music varies greatly and ranges from hard hitting stuff to delicate and experimental, but I do a lot of Reggae, too.

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

A: I'm inspired by music that comes from the heart. It doesn't matter if that music happens to be electronic or acoustic. Any type of music that captures an emotion, really.

Q: What's your typical work process?

A: First of all I listen. Most of the time I will listen thru the entire album before touching anything. After that I go for the feel the music is giving me, or conversely, is not giving me yet and choose my tools accordingly to bring out what I feel is appropriate.

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

A: That I will always make the master louder than the mix.

Q: Analog or digital and why?

A: Both, most of the time. Sometimes analog only (if you discount the AD conversion) and sometimes just digital, depending on the music. But analog plays a big part in what I usually strive for.

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

A: Happiness. Or failing that, I'll settle for satisfaction...

Q: What do you like most about your job?

A: Making a positive contribution to the art of music.

Q: How would you describe your style?

A: Organic and real. I love texture and depth in sound. When I don't listen to music I love to listen to nature, it has infinite resolution and spaciousness - and that is something I try to bring back to how I treat music.

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

A: Björk. I love her voice and urge to experiment with textures and rhythms.

Q: What's your strongest skill?

A: Empathy I guess. I always want music to be itself and the best it can be.

Q: Tell us about your studio setup.

A: My setup has evolved over many years to include the tools I need to create and experiment. It is there to shape sound to reflect the mental image I always have had of what good sound and music could be.