Music Producer/Engineer

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

A: I suppose my solo album is what I'm most proud of: https://open.spotify.com/album/2rvC6DaTYfXoE3Z9snJkvi?si=e4c9ebb9cfb14cc1 I take on a lot of roles in every project but this is the one where I wrote, performed, recorded, produced, mixed, and mastered every last bit myself.

Q: What are you working on at the moment?

A: My current client is describing a Radiohead/Blonde Redhead type of sound so I'm working on some math rock beats at the moment. On the side, I'm in the middle of basic tracking for my second solo album.

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

A: Unfortunately, no. Admittedly, I spend too much time in a session and not enough networking.

Q: Analog or digital and why?

A: Both. Digital has caught up to analog in a lot areas and it saves so much time. And lots of emulators now sound just as good as the originals. But if I can record live drums, guitars, bass, synths, etc. through a nice mic-pre, that's what makes music really come alive. This goes double for hip hop. Otherwise, it's just yet another Soundcloud beat.

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

A: No song is finished until you say it's finished. I will work as hard and as long as it takes to leave you with a track you are proud of.

Q: What do you like most about your job?

A: When the artist jumps up in excitement at what they're hearing. That makes any frustrations worth it. Also, the part of the project when you're in the trenches working on the session for 8 hours at a time making sure every little thing is just right. It's very zen for me.

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

A: Do you think it's a hit? Yes, but now the real work begins for you. Do you have Auto-Tune? Yes. If you're worried about your voice, focus on your tone and I can help with the pitch. Can you record live instruments? Yes. I regularly record live guitars, bass, vocals, and percussion in my studio. Which DAW do you use? I've been favoring Ableton Live lately, but I still regularly use Pro Tools and Logic when the need arises. If we're going to a commercial studio, Pro Tools is definitely the way to go for the session.

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

A: You'd have to ask someone else. I'd like to think the perception is generally accurate.

Q: What questions do you ask prospective clients?

A: What's your favorite artist? How do you want to take that influence and find the truest version of yourself within that? Are you going for it or this just to have some fun? Both are equally acceptable answers but that can often change how much pressure you're putting on yourself.

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

A: Just be passionate about what you're doing and have a general idea of the kind of sound you want to have. Even the top pros will say "I want a <this artist> type of song". Even if you don't know what emotion you want to get out, that's what I'm here for. Let's talk and get to the bottom of what you're feeling. Most of my best song collabs come from a conversation about life and then we find our theme through there.

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

A: Laptop Apollo x6 interface my Fender 57' reissue strat does a whole drum set count as one piece of gear my Rhode K2

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

A: I started with music production in college recording various artists around Boston and recording all of the bands that I was drumming for. I went full time as a producer/engineer about 3 years ago when I moved to LA and started working with various industry songwriters (Maroon 5, Chainsmokers, etc.). I'm now in Vegas and generally working out of my home studio but love working in a commercial studio when the opportunity comes up from time to time.

Q: How would you describe your style?

A: It changes from artist to artists but my main through-line would be a sense of atmosphere and space within every project that I work on. I like a song to feel of its time for its genre but I like to borrow from other genres so everything feels like a fresh take.

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

A: The Weeknd. Some of the best sound design and beats in the industry. Plus, he will straight-up ghost you if he doesn't like your stuff, so if you're in the room, you know your work has at least reached a minimum threshold of high quality.

Q: Can you share one music production tip?

A: Very basic tip: Removing frequencies from the kick drum actually makes it hit harder. And using side-chain compression on the bass synth to react to the kick hits helps gel the rhythm section together, especially in dance music.

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

A: Pop and hip hop these days. But I'm a rocker at heart and love to work on Tame Impala-type psychedelic rock in my free time. Thanks to Travis Scott and a few others, those elements actually have a lot of use with pop and hop hop lately. Who doesn't like delay and flanger?

Q: What's your strongest skill?

A: Drums probably but I'm exceptional at keeping the session organized and talking through what the artists wants until we arrive at exactly what kind of emotion we want to get out.

Q: What do you bring to a song?

A: Aside from ensuring everything stays organized, I bring a passion and heart to every song I work on. Helping with the chorus, getting that drop feel just right, making sure everything is as sonically pure (or purposefully not) as possible. I'm a multi-instrumentalist armed with all of the latest production and mixing chops and songwriting techniques.

Q: What's your typical work process?

A: At the start of every project, I assess what the main goal is. What kind of track are we trying to create, consider the potential influences to draw from, and then see how we can merge the influences with new ideas and production techniques to sound fresh. It's all about what the client wants and we will go back and forth as long as it takes until you feel the track is the purest expression of what you wanted to get out.

Q: Tell us about your studio setup.

A: I have a full production setup with the following: Apollo x6 interface API 512c mic pre Chandler TG 2-500 mic pre Neve 1076 mic pre Mics Rhodes K2 Sennheiser 421 Shure SM7b Shure Sm 57 Software: Pro Tools Ableton Logic Kontakt Omnisphere 2 UAD Waves Arturia Collection Auto-Tune Pro

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

A: Tame Impala, Travis Scott, St. Vincent, Mike Dean, The Weeknd, Khalid, Bruno Mars

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

A: Most of my work includes editing, comping, arranging, and mixing. However, I have extensive experience with tracking and producing as well.