Mix/Master/Produce

Q: What are you working on at the moment?

A: An Indie/Reggae/Alternative/Dreamy 4 piece band EP. It should be really cool and fresh. Plus always just a bunch of cool projects

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

A: Zachary Staines. Dude is Aussie so that's a plus and his work is really cool. Would love to co-lab one day

Q: Analog or digital and why?

A: Both. Analog is awesome and has that special something about it that can make something come to life. But I also believe that digital has become so accurate and can (in certain circumstances) do something that is impossible to achieve with Analog. I like having all options available and not limit myself to one or another just because my ego wants to use a fancy expensive toy.

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

A: That I will work with you to make your vision a reality and not bring any 'ego' into the mix. I don't care for people who 'name drop' to make themselves sound like royalty. It's self serving in my view and not really what matters at the end of the day.

Q: What do you like most about your job?

A: Meeting new people and the opportunity to create something unique that hasn't been heard before. To take someone's vulnerable vision and make it a reality for them.

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

A: What will I do for them? I sit down and really want to dive into their minds to find out where they are at, and why they have gone out to search for someone else to help in the first place. Once I work that out, I know how I can help. Rather then just 'doing my thing' and someone walking away unsatisfied.

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

A: Production & Mixing always benefits from a 'new' set of ears on it. Today, most people can do everything themselves with almost no equipment. But I believe there is a lot of value in having someone else with a fresh mind on the record. We can become biased or 'lost' on what we are working on and I think having someone else come in and bring their perspective is invaluable.

Q: What questions do you ask prospective clients?

A: What are you looking for in a Provider?? Where is your record at now and what is it that you believe it needs to go to the next level. I want to make sure that I'm the right person for you and that we're both going to enjoy this. It shouldn't be a one way street. Who's your influences? What made you want to write this record?

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

A: Scrolling through hundreds of provider's shouldn't be something that you spend 20 minutes on and then settle for whoever has the prettiest profile picture. You need to be on the same wavelength when working with someone. If you both have different goals or visions it will never work. Finding a connection that feels more like a friendship then a 'business partnership' makes the whole process more enjoyable and produces a much better result every time.

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

A: Acoustic Guitar, My Laptop, an Electric Guitar, Nord and an Apollo Twin

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

A: I've been doing music my whole life. It started off as piano in primary school. Then guitar. Then insanely analysing songs that I loved hearing. After this I found a big interest in creating my own 'sounds' and feelings. This lead to me collaborating with other musicians. And then learning how to take something that was written by a couple mates in a lounge room, and giving it that special treatment that makes it sound like a commercial release.

Q: How would you describe your style?

A: Again.....Ambient haha. This is where the Coldplay influence comes in. Finding the dreamy lead line or effect that can sometimes be incredibly simple, but it's so memorable. I like incorporating a lot of subtle 'ear candy' that means every time you listen to the song, you hear something new.

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

A: Justin Timberlake. For me, he revolutionised pop and changed the way we approach it. He's always been ahead of the game and never followed current 'trends'. FutureSex/LoveSounds was the first of it's kind and still is its own beast.

Q: Can you share one music production tip?

A: Always find a way to keep the song moving. As mentioned before, V1 & V2 should not be copy/paste. This could mean the drum groove changes slightly, added percussion, and new melodic part to accent the vocal melody. Sometimes (when it calls for it) a complete shift in feel eg. Chorus 1 no Drums/Percussion, Chorus 2 introduce a Groove, Bridge & Final Chorus Big Finale.....as an example.

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

A: If you haven't picked up on it by now, Ambient is my thing. I believe that this can mould into multiple genre's to create something unique. On a broader scale, this usually falls into Pop, Rock, Hip Hop, Electronic & Singer-Songwriter.

Q: What's your strongest skill?

A: Creating ambient, lush soundscapes through sounds, fx, production...and blending that altogether in the mix process. This also means that I make it a high priority to give each section its own unique character/space. I never want to hear copy/paste on sections. Even if it means that the difference between V1 & V2 is subtle, it should still take you on a journey and not feel "stale".

Q: What do you bring to a song?

A: I like to take a song from its roots and add my personal flavour to them. I like creating organic sounds that no one else has heard before and allowing the listener to fall into a 'dreamworld' when listening to the record. The song and all its elements need to move me and make me feel an emotion, not just make me think "Oh that's a cool song".

Q: What's your typical work process?

A: I listen to a demo of the song and work out what gives it identity. What makes it special. And then use that as my goal post. Every decision I make needs to reflect and enhance that trait, not take away from it. I like to keep the artists original vision in tact and not change it completely. Sometimes a song can go a different direction then originally anticipated but this is not done without high communication with the artist and a 'why' behind it.

Q: Tell us about your studio setup.

A: I run out of both a home studio and a professional studio which allows me to produce faster turnarounds as I am always within short distance of a fully functioning studio. I run Pro Tools primarily with the addition of Ableton Live Suite for production elements. I house an enormous collection of plugins including Omnisphere, NI, UA, Plugin Alliance, Slate, Fab Filter, Valhalla, Melodyne, Arturia and more. I own a high quality collection of instruments including Nord, Akai, Fender USA, Musicman USA, Gretsch, Kemper, Maton and more.

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

A: I am a big fan of Coldplay and Justin Timberlake. They stand out and have created their own sound. I love the soundscapes and combination of organic and non organic elements to create something new. My niche is ambience and big lush soundscapes.

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

A: I mainly Produce & Mix songs for artists. I do not do songwriting with the artist (such as lyrics), but can help with final arrangement and melody tweaks.