Music Producer/Mix & mastering

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

A: there is a song from this italian/british singer i have made for her and record her voice, at the moment is not online as she is looking for a record label to release, but once it will be out i can show you !

Q: What are you working on at the moment?

A: on different project with clients, sound design, and finishing my albums

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

A: not really i dont know anyone from sound better so far

Q: Analog or digital and why?

A: both, both world are good and amazing, it would be stupid to say only analog or digital.

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

A: to deliver a good quality product and in the most professional way

Q: What do you like most about your job?

A: making music , post production, mixing and mastering, i love what i do ! :)

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

A: how long does it take for me to finish a song, my answer is that it depend of the project basically, i need to get some sort of inspiration on working on a track for a client.

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

A: i dont really know this one, sorry ! :)

Q: What questions do you ask prospective clients?

A: we can have a skype or whatsapp conversation to get to know each other which i find it very useful and essential to work with someone online, it help to bond the relationship, also i would ask to give me all the possible details about his ideas, cause the best details i get the best outcome of the job.

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

A: if a producer has a lack of ideas, he can consult me and together we can find a way to finish his song. if a client is looking for a fresh new track we can talk and i can make the best suitable track for him

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

A: laptop, 2 monitor speakers, solar powered power unit, mouse, soundcard

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

A: i started making music back in 2007 in London, at the age of 25 years old, i have been making music even before then , but not professionally intended to release on record labels. since 2007 i have regularly released electronic music with different record labels, and i started also different project under other names: zerødays, Bonasforsa, Tales of Sleepless Souls, Raw Axe. i also started working as a co-producer for other people and also producer or beat makers for singers and have taught ableton live in London and also In Mexico where i lived for one year, 2 years ago

Q: How would you describe your style?

A: Rico's music is that kind of music that has many shades and colors. Rico is the kind of musician who has had the "bad luck" of loving too much different music. I say misfortune in quotation marks precisely because it is difficult to describe his music using 2 or 3 musical genres. during his musical career Rico has produced very different music, always changing style, not because of a marketing need, but because of his nature, this thing might have lead his profile into a certain confusion for the listener. One thing about his music that hasn’t changed in his music, it’s the kind of mood, the kind of colour that he uses in composing , Rico's music has a signature that is characterised by very deep and nostalgic melodies, that kind of music that brings you inwards. The choices of very deep and dark sounds, distopyan backgrounds and futuristic sound design are those things that describe his music from the beginning of his first records.

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

A: i didnt have a chance to work with famous artists until now, i have worked with many indipendent music producers and singers, which i can provide reference upon request

Q: Can you share one music production tip?

A: definitely, 1. If it sounds muddy, cut some at 250Hz. 2. If it sounds honky, cut some at 500Hz. 3. Cut if you’re trying to make things sound better. 4. Boost if you’re trying to make things sound different. 5. You can’t boost something that’s not there in the first place.

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

A: mainly electronic music, i make techno, electro, ambient music, downtempo, trip hop, lo-fi hip hop, synthwave, synthpop.

Q: What's your strongest skill?

A: i could say, song writing, as i really enjoy the journey of writing a song, also sound design.

Q: What do you bring to a song?

A: i bring my own experience on working 11 years on music production, as a music producer, ableton teacher, song writer, and lately i have started a sound design career and also a university master course in London.

Q: What's your typical work process?

A: as i mentioned working on ableton live, i can start a tune with some melodic inspiration and i can build the groove and the concept around it, it can be viceversa tough. depending of the level of inspiration and also the quality of info provided by the client which is essential.

Q: Tell us about your studio setup.

A: i work mainly on ableton live, therefore i am an ableton live teacher (not certified tough :( ) i use some analog and digital gear, some elektron analog heat to give a final analog warmth, some korg volcas for synths, an ipad for external music and sound design app, a motu ultralite mk3 sound card.

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

A: too many to listen, the best thing is to listen all the music i have posted and reposted on soundcloud that i have released over 10 years period to see what my music is about

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

A: i can do many types of jobs, i can make a track from zero with the right guidelines, i can co-produce a track already existing, and i can mix and master a finished song