Creating your next hit

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

A: Well, I played the drums all my life, and after 18 I decided to fight for my dream of having a studio to record other dudes while I would be playing on a band. By the age of 21 I was able to become a production studio apprentice, and from then on, worked as a roadie, studio manager, production and recording assistant, until I proved myself capable of recording on my own, with the approval of my old studio boss Mendes (from Thape Studios, Portugal). Kinda did it, and I didn't stop working and learning since then, being now 31 yo.

Q: Tell us about your studio setup.

A: Mac-based setup running Logic Pro with a Focusrite, ADAT with Midas mic pres, Alesis MonitorOne and Yamaha HS7 monitors, XTouch for fader support and mix automations, a lot of XLR inputs, and a deep knowledge of the plugins I bought along the way, besides watching every Mix Masterclass that Youtube shows me. AKG and Shure microphones to record anything that produces sound, and a AKG headphone set for better audio cleaning / EQing / Mixing individual instruments before working the song in a whole. Recording music since I was a Studio apprentice back in 2008.

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

A: I have this one crazy collab as a DJ, where I was invited to make the scratch cuts for a Megaran (aka Random) song called “The Desert”, produced by my friend Jay Bee (Canada).

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

A: “Can you do it?” “Yes, sit tight and gimme a minute!”

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

A: I haven’t really checked, to be honest.

Q: Analog or digital and why?

A: It depends! But since I always use a computer somewhere, I’d say... Both?

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

A: Your song will be a banger

Q: What do you like most about your job?

A: The freedom to speak in a wordless language and to be understood so easly when I play

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

A: That I only push buttons and program things.

Q: What questions do you ask prospective clients?

A: It depends on the approach and the client’s idea...

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

A: Don’t take criticism in a bad way. It helps us all grow.

Q: How would you describe your style?

A: Unique, since I try to copy no one.

Q: Can you share one music production tip?

A: Watch your volumes and take good care of your instrument

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

A: Rap music,blues, rock and grunge, some metal

Q: What's your strongest skill?

A: My creativity. Not having the money nor the gear I dream about teached me to work big with small resources. And it sure worked!

Q: What do you bring to a song?

A: Well, most people I work with claim that my work is recognisable because it sounds bright and clean, with a full round bass and voice clarity, besides playing bass with octaves every chance I get, just like I groove on my drums like that dude from the Muppets Show.

Q: What's your typical work process?

A: It varies accordingly to what is needed on the work in hands, but it usually takes coffee.

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

A: Wooof, where would I start..? Can’t really name an artist, but from Classical to Death Metal, I sure study a lot

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

A: Voice recording, instrumental composition, rap mixing and mastering, grunge rock recording and mixing, scratch cuts for rap songs