Audio Engineer & Producer

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

A: I will put 110% into your project, ensuring you are happy with the final results.

Q: What questions do you ask prospective clients?

A: Regardless of my role, I will always ask clients what they want the final result to be. For example, if I'm mixing, I will ask something like "What records would you like to influence the production/mixing styles of your music". Where possible, two playlists of "inspiration sounds" and "sounds to avoid" is always a useful resource to me.

Q: Analog or digital and why?

A: Both - Nowadays, we are fortunate enough to see digital equipment at reasonable price providing a fantastic quality that doesn't affect the sound you put through it (unless you want it to!). However, there are some things that analogue does better and digital can't come close. Ultimately, I like to have the option of both where possible!

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

A: 5 Piece Mariachi band? Great entertainment (as on a desert island there probably isn't too many power outlets...). Or if there were power sockets, I'd probably take my beloved Fender Strat, a Fender Twin, a drum kit, a Scarlett 2i4 and an AKG C414.

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

A: I got into music around the age of 10, beginning to play the guitar. I became obsessed with guitars, amps, guitar pedals and at the age of 15, I got my hands on a 4-track recorder and an SM58. This was a great combination and learnt a lot from that little rig. Skip a few years ahead and I had begun studying Music Technology at Birmingham Conservatoire, working with a giant range of artists. Nowadays I run work from my studio, continuing my craft!

Q: How would you describe your style?

A: Flexible - Over the years I've worked with a lot of different genres and therefore adhered to many styles desired by the client. Whatever sounds good/appropriate for the music!

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

A: I'd love to work with a band like Foals or the Maccabees. There is certain depth and 3 dimensional sound that they always achieve that fascinates me...plus, always amazing compositions! For the same reasons, Beck would be another artist i'd like to work with. All of these artists really put a lot of thought and care into the sounds they create before they reach the microphone Ben Folds would be interesting due to the nature of his music and the elements he combines. Of course, I'd would have loved to have worked with Pink Floyd during albums such Dark Side Of The Moon!

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

A: Tough one to answer! If I had to split it by genre, I often find myself working with rock, pop and electronica music.

Q: What's your strongest skill?

A: I think my strongest skill may be my overall passion for music. When I was a teenage, I restricted myself into liking only very specific music. Going to university opened my eyes and ears to a massive range of artists, genres and instruments from all over the world. Nowadays I will literally listen to (and often enjoy) almost anything!

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

A: Justin Vernon as a musician and a producer is a big inspiration to me - Bon Iver's self titled album was a masterpiece to my ears. I loved his work with The Staves on "If I Was". I really enjoy the work of Michael Brauer, Jaquire King and Ken Scott.

Q: What's your typical work process?

A: I like to make lots of small brush strokes rather than big swipes at my work. Chipping away, piece by piece is the best method for me to achieve an end result i'm happy with. I also believe that adequate breaks and time away from a project is essential for a fresh mindset and ears. Also, adequate amounts of tea and coffee - no exceptions!

Q: Tell us about your studio setup.

A: My studio exists in the top of a barn that was built a couple of years back. My main signal chain/equipment is my Focusrite Liquid Saffire 56 feeding to my KRK VXT6 monitors. I have an ever-growing collection of outboard equipment, instruments and guitar amps/effects, widening the amount of sounds I can achieve!

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

A: Most commonly, I provide a service that takes a track from the recording stage, through an editing, mixing and finally mastering process.