'Songwriter' 'Produce' 'Mixer'

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

A: Pro Tools, Mac Book Pro, Apollo Twin, Neumann U87 and my Taylor 412 acoustic guitar.

Q: Tell us about your studio setup.

A: Comfortable, air conditioned, private, acoustically treated natural-light control room with Yamaha NS-10M monitoring (great for critical listening/mixing) and Makie HR824s; Perfect for co-writing, building tracks, cutting vocals, live instruments and mixing. Front end: API Lunch box with 2 Mic pres & 2 EQs Universal Audio 2-1176 Dual Limiting Amplifers Mics: Neumann U87 (70's vintage), AKG 414, Shure SM57, AKG 451; Monitors: Mackie HR824, Yamaha NS 10M, Samsung 27" video monitor DAW: Pro Tools LE 11 w/Universal Audio, Waves plugs | MacBook Pro 2.6GHz Intel Core i7/ 16GB RAM I/O: Universal Audio Apollo Twin (UA DSP Octocard also available), Digi 003 Instruments: M-Audio Oxygen 25 keyboard, Yamaha P-95 weighted keyboard Digital Piano/MIDI controller, Taylor 412 Acoustic 6 string guitar (w/Pickup), Takamine Nylon 6 string guitar (w/Pickup), Fender Strat, 1972 Fender Precision Bass w/EMG pickups, 19th cent. Italian Gypsy Upright Bass; Hardware Synths: Full gear list here: http://www.standupsound.com/gear-list

Q: What's your typical work process?

A: Meet with the artist or producer and find out what they're looking for. Then based on those discussions, write or co-write, or find breakthrough songs that work for the client's artistic persona. Produce quick demos, pick the best of the best, and then cut masters on 2-3 of those. Pre-produce with Guitar/Keys/MIDI/sample mockups, record the artist's vocal, then build the beat/track around the vocal. Once the track is mixed, the artist gives me mix notes from which I have the mixer make mix tweaks.

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

A: I'm proud when a song/production connects with people. I pour my heart and soul into every project I write/produce with the intention of making it a breakthrough record for the client.

Q: What are you working on at the moment?

A: Productions of songs I co-wrote for indie soul artist Jhevere; a topline I wrote for a DJ/Producer track, songwriting/pre pro for a new artist called Hope.

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

A: How long does it take? My answer is "It takes as long as it takes to make it sound like a hit record.."

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

A: Let's focus on creating/finding breakthrough hit songs that accurately portray your artistic persona. Let's leave the ego, the hopes and fears, and the music business, outside the studio..

Q: What's your strongest skill?

A: Creating melody/lyric hooks that tell the same old story in a fresh new immediately impactful way; modern, timeless productions.

Q: What do you bring to a song?

A: Making it as immediately impactful as possible.

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

A: Pop songwriting, production, artist persona development and marketing.

Q: Analog or digital and why?

A: Depends on the intention of the music. I record/mix in Pro Tools but often incorporate analog or analog textures to deepen the sonic palette.

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

A: I will deliver a hit record that expresses who you are as an artist.

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

A: Pharrell, Al Green, The Beatles, Nile Rodgers, David Bowie, Adele, Ryan Tedder, Curtis Mayfield, Jay Z, Calvin Harris, Carole King, Phil Spector, Avicii, Bruno Mars, Ellie Goulding, Max Martin.

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

A: That it happens magically. The result is magical, however the magic comes from a relentless attention to detail to create hit songs and hit records.

Q: What questions do you ask prospective clients?

A: Are you serious about music as your career?

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

A: I've been writing songs and producing records for 25 years. I got my first break at age 21 as a music creative director for top-tier ad agencies and clients such as Y&R, JWT, McCann, Coca-Cola, Burger King, Amtrak, U.S. Army, Dr. Pepper and the U. S. Open, among many others. Since then I've written hit songs selling more than 5 million, for artists such as Clive Davis-signed Curtis Stigers, Jennifer Love Hewitt, Martin Sexton, European Pop Idol; songs and compositions that have appeared in major studio films, and on HBO, Fox, Sony, Warner Bros., CBS, and TLC television shows.

Q: How would you describe your style?

A: Future Vintage Pop

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

A: Any artist that has a unique story to tell and a relentless hunger to tell it.

Q: Can you share one music production tip?

A: Cut lead vocals with only a click and one instrument (keyboard or guitar). The artist and producer will be able to focus and better judge the quality of the performance if the track is not distracting when cutting the vocal.

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

A: soulful pop in all of its forms

Q: What do you like most about your job?

A: I love to inspire/get the best out of, other talented, creative, inspired people.