Composer/Mixing

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

A: I was a head composer of a film that came out in Mexico called "Me Gusta, Pero Me Asusta". It meant a lot to me because I got to compose latin music. I dedicated it to my grandmother who passed some years back. She loved to sing Mexican ranchera music and it was an honor to create it.

Q: What are you working on at the moment?

A: I finished creating a cue for an up coming animated film that I can not give the name due to having an NDA.

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

A: Not currently.

Q: Analog or digital and why?

A: Both because I feel they both add to a gorgeous sonic pallet.

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

A: To deliver music with lots of love.

Q: What do you like most about your job?

A: I like that I get to work with different types of music. I have always been one to jump from genre to genre so its nice to be able to utilize that skill.

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

A: The first question is usually, "how much?" I usually answer, "It varies".

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

A: Mixing is different then mastering.

Q: What questions do you ask prospective clients?

A: I would have many questions but the one I would ask right off the bat would be. Can you give me examples of what you would like your track to sound like?

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

A: Find out if the style of the engineer fits the style you are looking for. Also find out if his personality matches what you are looking for. If you cant vibe with your engineer then you will get a cold track.

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

A: It would have to be the essentials. My laptop, my interface, a keyboard, a microphone and a guitar.

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

A: I went to school at The Conservatory of Recording Arts and Sciences in Phoenix Arizona and moved to LA for an internship which happend to be at Mutato Muzika. There I spent most of my years perfecting my craft as an engineer and then moved into composing music. I have been doing this for almost 8 years now.

Q: How would you describe your style?

A: Raw

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

A: I would love to work with John Frusciante. I have always looked up to his music production and journey into hip-hop. I have loved his music and the rawness of it and I feel it relates to the way I make music and mix the best.

Q: Can you share one music production tip?

A: I always start my tracks with drums. Or if I am mixing a track I will start with drums. The reason being is that I feel that it is the foundation that everything runs off of and its true. A solid drum will drive a person to feel. It will be the drive of every other instrument in your mix. It will also be the most complex part of a mix and song because it has so many elements and each one is so important.

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

A: I usually work on orchestral or my own music which is Indie rock. I love the mesh of hip-hop and rock to create something new.

Q: What's your strongest skill?

A: I would say communication. As different as that may sound I feel like I am great and it. I use it to really understand the client because there are so many engineers out there that want to give you what they think is amazing but I use communication to understand and give what the client thinks is amazing and to me that's key.

Q: What do you bring to a song?

A: Love is the first word that came to mind. I am an artist myself and I love to sing and when I create a song I do it from my heart. So I give the same amount of love and heart to a clients song as I do to my own work.

Q: What's your typical work process?

A: I like to talk to the client to get to know them. I want to hear what inspires them. I like to hear their vision and examples of work they want to mimic. Then once I have established that idea I like to explain to them what I would do, how long it will take and how much. Then I start writing or mixing taking the information I was given and completing a final product that I hope the client will love as much as I do.

Q: Tell us about your studio setup.

A: I have a personal studio at my house which has all my instruments. I am mainly a guitar player so I have a couple electrics which includes an Epiphone SG that was given to me by Bob Mothersbaugh. I also have multiple keyboards and an acoustic piano. A couple of synthesizers and a butt load of samples and plugins to chose from.

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

A: I have got to work with Alan Meyerson and was a huge inspiration to watch him work.

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

A: I mainly compose music and mix orchestral tracks but also records.