Scoring+Songwriting+A Cappella

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

A: We recorded a group of young, homeless singers in Madagascar. They sing for money, and the Embassy in Antananarivo brought us in to work with them. We recorded in a gym and produced a track as well as a live show for about 40 other ambassadors as a show of the talent and capabilities of an otherwise ignored population.

Q: What are you working on at the moment?

A: Creating a concept album with a video series. We have a few tours coming up this year. I'll be running sound for a few things in Melbourne.

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

A: That'd depend on the client.

Q: Analog or digital and why?

A: Digital. It's way more accessible to people around the world. Analog certainly sounds amazing, but the photographer's adage of "The best camera is the one you have" extends to music creation. Many more deserving artists have access to top-quality music creation now; the barriers to entry have toppled and I think that's extraordinary.

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

A: I'll do my best and I will listen to you. No guarantees--this is a creative field. But I do have your best interest in mind.

Q: What do you like most about your job?

A: People and the way we all evolve together.

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

A: The biggest question is usually how much. I tell them. Otherwise, the questions are usually about whether we can try something, and the answer is almost always yes.

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

A: That anybody knows better about what you want to hear, than you.

Q: What questions do you ask prospective clients?

A: What are your influences? What reasons and intentions are behind your [song/movie/album/etc]? What do you want to say?

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

A: Let's work hard. Let's pour some heart into this. And give me your honest, best effort.

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

A: Guitar, Pen/Paper (that's 1 right?), and 3 other singers.

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

A: Got my degrees in Psychology and Architecture. Did music part time (learned on the fly). Then got accepted to The SingOff just after I got laid off from my job as an architect. We lost but regrouped to travel the world (now at 50 countries). I learned more. We got hooked up with doing work with at-risk youth overseas and fell in love with those missions. Started a studio in Melbourne with a film company and produced albums and film scores/trailer music. Still travel/tour as I produce and learn more and more.

Q: How would you describe your style?

A: Evolving.

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

A: Lady Gaga. She seems awesome and her musicality is off the charts (and earned). I feel like I could learn a lot from her.

Q: Can you share one music production tip?

A: Don't be precious.

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

A: Vocal pop music

Q: What's your strongest skill?

A: This is gonna sound lame, but listening to people. Met a TON of "pros" who are happy to tell you why they are right, but when it comes down to it, it comes down to what sounds good. I can listen and adapt to what people want.

Q: What do you bring to a song?

A: Emotion. I mean, I can tune and align and mix all day, but who cares if there's no heart, right?

Q: What's your typical work process?

A: Most of the work is just getting to know somebody. We can spend 2 hours just chatting and write a song in 30 minutes. Sometimes, you gotta just grind it out, and I find that switching between doing and being analytical gets me through speed bumps.

Q: Tell us about your studio setup.

A: Most of my work is done on a mobile setup. I live for flipping the mattress on end and putting up a mic in the hotel room. My studio in Melbourne is pretty simple (NS7s, NT2-A)

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

A: Anybody who treats people around them well. I have a lot of time for nice. I have no time for mean in the name of being professional. Brad Delp (from Boston) was nice to me one time. Maybe that's where it came from.

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

A: Most clients give me 1/2 developed ideas and I make them into songs. That means a lot of beat making, songwriting, and recording/producing.