Producer, songwriter, arranger

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

A: I recently collaborated with a singer which was a great experience. I am proud of the project as I believe I interpreted the clients vision and realised this via my production. The client said: "column:inches is, hands down, one of the best chaps you could meet and work with. From the heart you'd be a fool not to connect with him. Nice producer, a head full of knowledge, great guitarist, and kind!"

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

A: Starting with classical guitar as a kid to performing in garage punk bands as a teenager, I progressed to playing in various bands internationally as songwriter and lead guitarist/keyboard. During this time I released a number of CDs with the various bands and worked with producers like Martin Terefe (Martha Wainwright, Ron Sexsmith etc) and Gordon Rafael (The Strokes, Damon Albarn, Ian Astbury etc), with Martin asking me to write and perform for (Diana Ross' daughter) Leona Naess' album. A career altering experience for me was being selected to attend a seminar run by Steve Albini (producer of Nirvana, The Pixies, Robert Plant and Jimmy Page etc) 'Mix With The Masters' at La Fabrique in the South of France (where Radiohead etc have recorded), where he shared his in-depth studio experience and knowledge with a select group of 13 professional-level participants from all over the world. The focus was his incredible technical knowledge of recording to analogue equipment (including analogue tape), how to run sessions, how to handle artists, how to manage a career, the right attitude, and how to remain successful. Mind expanding and life-changing, it has given me a fresh focus on my work and approach. The skills I acquired during Mix With the Masters also provided me with the confidence to explore different and more eclectic soundscapes, which resulted in my 'contemporary classical' EP 'unread'. Excitingly the track 'ungreen' from the EP was played on BBC 6 Music on Tom Robinson's show earlier this year where he presented a mixtape of his personal selection of tracks from 'BBC Introducing'. Tom Robinson described column:inches as 'like a one-man Penguin Cafe Orchestra'... Following a collaboration with artist Lil'Lost Lou on some of my songs, she asked me to arrange/ play/ produce her 'Beatles-inspired' song' for the very successful 'Joolz Guides'. https://www.youtube.com/watch? v=JZqy7qXGxuA Joolz Guides has 114, 000 subscribers on his Youtube channel, and the Beatles 50th anniversary tour episode (which includes the song I produced) has up to now had 95,362 views one month post-release. I'm looking for opportunities to produce other artists, as well as release my music in a variety of mediums such as radio, TV and film. I have been involve with music now for approx. 35 years.

Q: What are you working on at the moment?

A: I am working on producing a piece of music for a cabaret artist to 'strip' to!

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

A: No.

Q: Analog or digital and why?

A: Both - digital is great for convenience (e.g. numerous takes, undo etc), but analog forces you to interact with hardware rather than rely on plug-in presets (which can be generic and may not be not suited to your particular circumstance.)

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

A: I will provide something that will stand the test of time (e.g. good quality and not subject to any passing trends.)

Q: What do you like most about your job?

A: The ability to help others realise their vision.

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

A: How can you like so many eclectic styles of music? My reply - there is just one tyre of music, and that's good music!

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

A: I'm famous!

Q: What questions do you ask prospective clients?

A: What is your brief - how many songs, what style of music do you create, who are other artists you admire, what is your deadline, what is your budget.

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

A: Rehearse your songs prior to recording session - it's better to record a great live take than try and 'fix it in the mix' (which never works in my experience!)

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

A: Apple iMac, Universal Audio Apollo x8, Genelec speakers, Martin 00015 acoustic guitar, Gretsch Broadcaster bass.

Q: How would you describe your style?

A: 'Analog within the digital realm!'

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

A: I would like to work with Steve Albini again - he has an incredible technical knowledge of recording to analogue equipment!

Q: Can you share one music production tip?

A: Don't underestimate dynamics in a song - you need the 'quite bits' in your production to make the 'loud bits' sound louder'!

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

A: I'm well versed in many different musical genres but am strongest in styles such as alternative rock, indie rock, psych rock, post-punk, and also folk, blues, jazz, ambient, and classical music.

Q: What's your strongest skill?

A: My attention to detail!

Q: What do you bring to a song?

A: Technical skills and an 'analog approach in a digital realm - two examples are: 1) I originally trained as a classical guitarist but also specialise playing a variety of additional guitar styles (e.g. rock, folk, psych, slide, finger-picking etc) on acoustic and electric guitar (as well as bass guitar) at a highly professional level. 2) I recently attended Steve Albini's (producer of Nirvana, The Pixies, Robert Plant and Jimmy Page etc) 'Mix With The Masters' seminar at La Fabrique in the South of France (where Radiohead etc have recorded), where he shared his in-depth studio experience and knowledge with a select group of 13 professional-level participants from all over the world. The focus was his incredible technical knowledge of recording to analogue equipment (including analogue tape), how to run sessions, how to handle artists, how to manage a career, the right attitude, and how to remain successful. Mind altering and life-changing, it has given me a fresh focus on my work and approach.

Q: What's your typical work process?

A: I can create a full production from a 'bare bones' song.

Q: Tell us about your studio setup.

A: I use Logic X, and have the Universal Audio x8 interface with a large selection of Universal Audio plug-ins. I also have hardware effects, acoustic and electric guitars, valve amplifiers, effect pedals, analog synths, etc I edit vocals (using Melodyne software), programme highly realistic software pianos/ synths (including Arturia emulations of Mellotron, Moog Mini, Jupiter 8, Arp 2600, Farfisa, B3 organ etc) drums/ timpani (Superior Drummer software), and violins/ cellos/ double bass (Spitfire Audio software).

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

A: An electric variety - from folk guitarist John Reborn, to psych rocker Ty Segall, to contemporary classical/ electronic artist Max Richter.

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

A: Producer, engineer, multi-instrumentalist, arranger, vocal tuner, guitarist (acoustic, electric, bass)