Metal Guitar, Metal Mixing

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

A: I have worked on many personal projects with clients. I have many favorties. I like ones where the client allows my to work my style of guitar playing. This allows me to be very creative.

Q: What are you working on at the moment?

A: I am working on personal projects. Very guitar driven projects.

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

A: My promise is to deliver the highest quility of product to my clients. My view is that a happy client makes me happy.

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

A: I have most of my clients ask me for guitar work. I think they like my style of playing.

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

A: I am very new to the platform so at the moment no. I am hoping to change that.

Q: What do you like most about your job?

A: My favorite thing is the creative process. Such as creating new guitar lines. Seeing how on riff will work with another. What would is sound like if I cut this track out during this section? It fun to discover ideas on the way.

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

A: I think people my often forget that I can act as a producer for time to time. I like to add creative ideas. My musical background allows me to be creative. This could help my client find new ideas for their project that they might not have thought of.

Q: What questions do you ask prospective clients?

A: My biggest ask is that clients know what they want before we start. This will help me create the best outcome for you.

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

A: Interface, Headphones, guitar, cables and computer.

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

A: I have been a guitar player since 2000. That is when i started taking lessons. After 25 years I now instruct guitar as a soruce of income. For music production i started in 2013. Thats when i went to University. I have a Bachelor of music degree. My long term goal is to be a session guitar as well as mix and master music.

Q: How would you describe your style?

A: My guitar and musical style is very much influenced by the British metal bands of the 80s. This includes artists such as Iron Maiden, Judas Priest and Saxon.

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

A: The best advice I have is to have a clear vison of what you are looking at in a project. Giving me something to aim at will help me give the best product in return.

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

A: I like to work with guitar heavy music. I like music with a lot if guitar bass and drums. Music that sounds like the classic 80s heavy metal.

Q: What's your strongest skill?

A: My strongest skill is my determination. There will always be issues that arise in everything you do. This includes music. My best skill is to always find a way forward no matter the challenge.

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

A: I would like to work with bands and artists that are looking for guitar parts for the songs. This can include solos and entire songs with guitar tracks. I am also looking for artists that want their music mixed to sound like classic heavy metal.

Q: Analog or digital and why?

A: I am a digital producer. I do use mics and real amps from time to time but digital has such speed and convenience. The quality of digital is at or very near the sound of analog.

Q: Can you share one music production tip?

A: The best one is the cliche "trust your ears". We can use all the visual tools we can but at the end of the day what sounds good to the ear is all that matters.

Q: What do you bring to a song?

A: My style is to have a very punchy solid sounding mix. I like an upfront sound as opposed to an ambient sound. I like to use multiple layers of compression and eq to clean up the mix.

Q: What's your typical work process?

A: I am an in the box mixer and recorder. I like the speed and versatility it has. My set up is a Scarlett 18i20 interface with guitars running to VST’s. I record an electric drum set and use the midi to trigger Steven Slate Drums. I have some mics. Audio Technica Condenser along with pencil condensers and a SM 57 and 58. I have JBL 305 Monitors and ATH M30 headphones.

Q: Tell us about your studio setup.

A: I am an in the box mixer and recorder. I like the speed and versitilty it has. I use vsts and amp sims for my guitar work and many great plugins in Reaper. I have a Focusrite 18i20 interface and 2 JBL 305s. Very digital setup.

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

A: Some of the musical artists that inspire me are Iron Maiden, Metallica and In Flames.

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

A: The most common type of work I do is audio editing and mixing. I do have some experience mastering as well. I often help my clients finish their songs as I am a guitarist of 20 years and a songwriter. I can help add musical elements than will help finish the song. I can provide a recording space if you live in my area.