Producer 〄 Beat Maker 〄 Mixer

Q: Tell us about your studio setup.

A: I'm a Logic Pro stan until I die. Right now I'm rocking a NI KK49 with JBL LSR305 monitors, the Sennheiser HD650s/6XXs, Sony MDR-7506s, Schitt Modi Uber & Schitt Magni 3s, and a Neumann TLM102 for the mic.

Q: What are you working on at the moment?

A: I'm currently working on a 6-track EP, an r&b/country/Americana track a ton of other single track projects, a bunch of mix commissions, and more.

Q: Analog or digital and why?

A: Both, honestly. It all depends on what feel/vibe you're going for on a track. If you that warm humanized feel, go with analog. If you want that crispy, commercial vibe, go with digital. If you want both, go crazy.

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

A: That I do this work to get rich. I do this work because I love it and it truly makes me happy. I charge as little as I can so that I can provide affordable services for clients, as well as making sure that I don't have to sit in a cubicle for the rest of my life to fund my passion.

Q: What questions do you ask prospective clients?

A: Every client has unique needs and wants, but some of the general questions I ask are: • What type of track are you looking for? • Are there any specific artists' sounds that you want to emulate? • What is the overall vibe of the record/project? • Is it a themed/concept project? There are definitely more, but I take it on a case-by-case basis.

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

A: I would say know what you're looking for and do your best to be specific in your direction for us. We literally do nothing but aim to please, so the more information we have on what you want, the better we can serve you and help you be successful with your music!

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

A: • My Mac • Neumann TLM103 mic • Apollo Twin interface • Sennheiser HD650s • Hard drive

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

A: When I was younger I was in probably 8 or 9 different hardcore metal bands, probably right up until 16 or 17. I had always been listening to the predecessors of hip-hop and rap though, lots of jazz, motown, funk, etc. At probably 18 or 19 the rap bug bit me after listening to Waka and Brick Squad for a week straight. At that point I that this was what I was going to do for the rest of my life. Haven't looked back since.

Q: How would you describe your style?

A: I would say my style is predominately dark and melodic rap/trap/hip-hop. That's what I like to make for myself so I do a lot of that. I do my best to make experiment with factors that a lot of people aren't using in their tracks to keep it fresh and so that it resonates with as many people as possible.

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

A: Personally, I would love to work with Kanye. He truly is a music visionary and involves and activates other artists in so many different genres to contribute to pushing music forward. More than that, he's involved in much more than just music, fashion, business, etc. Would love to work with him.

Q: Can you share one music production tip?

A: There is nothing that YouTube can't teach you. Also, make sure you know how to mix properly. The mix of a track can make the sonic difference between a muddy swamp and a shiny mansion.

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

A: For the past 6 years I've been working specifically in the hip-hop and rap genres. Anything from Travis Scott type work all the way to English grime. It's too fun not to work on it.

Q: What's your strongest skill?

A: I would say my strongest skills are record production/beat-making and melody/vocal melodics crafting. These are the things I enjoy the most and spend the most time working on.

Q: What do you bring to a song?

A: I bring 13 years of mixed genre production and creation experience (hip-hop, rap, trap, trapsoul, metal, jazz, funk, motown, deathcore, hardcore, alt-rock) to every single song that I work on with clients. As an artist myself, I know how important it is to have a record that you are truly proud of and happy with. I help all my clients achieve that, period.

Q: What's your typical work process?

A: The process for me and my clients typically rolls like this: • We discuss the concept, feel, direction, vibe, etc., of the track/project • Once that is decided I'll hop right into producing a track that fits our discussion • At that point I send the beat over to you so you can write to it and send me back vocals (I also offer artists songwriting services and melody crafting [optional]) • Once I have vocals, I perfect the beat and mix the track and vocals and send back to you for approval • At that point we can make revisions, try ideas you might have and troubleshoot until we have it perfect • I can then master the track for you (optional) • Finally, once we're finished, I can consult you on and create album art for you (optional) [I have a background in graphic design].

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

A: Oh man, there's so many. For producers I'd have to say Sounwave, Boi1da, MikeWill, Mike Dean, Kanye West, Hit-Boy, Tay Keith, Pi'erre Bourne, Southside, MetroBoomin, Sonny Digital, Lex Luger, Pharrell,; the list goes on and on. For musicians I'd have to say Kendrick, J. Cole, Kanye, Travis Scott, Young Thug, Jay Rock, JID, 6lack, Bryson tiller, Ab-Soul, $uicideBoy$, Night Lovell, Uzi, Denzell Curry, Mick Jenkins, Mustard, Sade, Steely Dan, Earth Wind & Fire, Bobby Caldwell, George Benson, Sting, Fleetwood Mac, Joe Sample, and more. Like I said, the list goes on and on.

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

A: The most common work I do for my clients is record/track production beat-making and mixing. I really enjoy the creative process of it.