Vocalist/Guitarist/Songwriter

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

A: I released my debut single, I Can Do This All Day, in September of 2020. It garnered so much attention, landing me on editorial playlists, music row charts, and radio play. It was absolutely incredible to see how people latched on to my song and sound, and became instant fans of an artist they've never heard of before. My team really knocked this release out of the park and I couldn't be more proud of them and what we accomplished with that song.

Q: What are you working on at the moment?

A: Right now I'm working on a debut EP that I'm super excited about. 2022 is shaping up to be a very full year with festival & fair performances to support my release!

Q: What do you like most about your job?

A: Meeting and collaborating with new people!

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

A: I don't know! Maybe that perfect takes are a real thing? The only way perfect takes happen is through compiling multiple takes, pulling the best from each, and fine-tuning each moment. I try to get as close to perfect as possible, but perfection just isn't a real thing until it goes through the editing process.

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

A: My advice is to have a vision for what you want, but keep your mind open. The reality is that everyone brings something to the table in the creative process. Find someone you really click with and use them often!

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

A: I started making music on an 8 track Tascam out of the basement of an old church building around the age of 14. It's been a wild journey. Throughout high school, I just kept making tracks. I spent time in theatre, performing in off-broadway type stuff, then in a pop-rock band for about 4 years that toured through middle and high schools for school dances and special events (yea, it's as awful as it sounds). Then I toured with a post-rock group called Native Tongues for about 4 years, until settling down with my wife and two boys in Milwaukee Wi, where I serve a local church as a music director, writing and recording songs through the week.

Q: What do you like most about your job?

A: Meeting and collaborating with new people!

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

A: I don't know! Maybe that perfect takes are a real thing? The only way perfect takes happen is through compiling multiple takes, pulling the best from each, and fine-tuning each moment. I try to get as close to perfect as possible, but perfection just isn't a real thing until it goes through the editing process.

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

A: My advice is to have a vision for what you want, but keep your mind open. The reality is that everyone brings something to the table in the creative process. Find someone you really click with and use them often!

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

A: I started making music on an 8 track Tascam out of the basement of an old church building around the age of 14. It's been a wild journey. Throughout high school, I just kept making tracks. I spent time in theatre, performing in off-broadway type stuff, then in a pop-rock band for about 4 years that toured through middle and high schools for school dances and special events (yea, it's as awful as it sounds). Then I toured with a post-rock group called Native Tongues for about 4 years, until settling down with my wife and two boys in Milwaukee Wi, where I serve a local church as a music director, writing and recording songs through the week.

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

A: I've worked with a mix engineer named Justin Ginn about 10 times over and absolutely love his process. Another guy I've worked with is Chris Gala, who gives amazing production tips that bring a song to life.

Q: Analog or digital and why?

A: I think tools are tools. In my opinion, analog is way more fun to work on, but digital can get you there!

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

A: I'd bring my computer, apollo twin, gretsch falcon, sm7b, and neve preamp.

Q: How would you describe your style?

A: I'm a guy who grew up listening to Queen, U2, Goo Goo Dolls, OneRepublic, and Coldplay. Somewhere in that mix is my style.

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

A: I'd love to work with Bono because the guy is just a legend.

Q: Can you share one music production tip?

A: I'd say always be up to take a chance and be vulnerable. It translates.

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

A: I've been working on a lot of Indie Pop tracks, specifically with a band called Coastlines. I've also been doing a lot of demo vocals and songwriting for CCM.

Q: What's your strongest skill?

A: Vocals are my sweet spot. Then songwriting and toplining are a close second.

Q: What do you bring to a song?

A: Something I do differently is that I strive to get the performance in front of the mic right, as opposed to fixing takes in post-production. I believe that kind of authenticity translates to listeners. I bring passion and enthusiasm to songs. I want every person I work with to walk away feeling like I gave everything I had.

Q: What's your typical work process?

A: I'm a very collaborative person because I want to nail your heart and vision. My goal is to bring you genuine and creative tracks every time. Secondly, I want to deliver those tracks as fast as possible. My process isn't hurried or rushed, it's authentic and a breath of fresh air.

Q: Tell us about your studio setup.

A: Something cool about my setup is that I work for a church, so I have access to a beautiful live room Monday-Friday. I can give you as much of a live room sound as you'd like, or keep things tight and dry using my Aston Halo. I've got a few different mics to choose from, depending on the track needs. We can use my Charter Oak SA538 Tube Mic, a Lauten Audio Atlantis FET condenser, and Shure SM7b, or a Slate VM1. I've got other weird mics that I've collected over the years, just in case we need to get weird! I'll also typically track through a Neve 1073 or an API 3124 preamp for an analog character. I grew up collecting guitar gear. Aside from a wide range of guitars, I've got a wide breadth of real amps and an ax-fx III. We'll get you the sound you're looking for. I also track through the UAD Ox Box for incredible guitar results. I track everything through my UAD apollo setup into Logic Pro and have more plugins than I probably should, so we can get whatever sound you're going for.

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

A: I am amazed by people like Jonah Nilsson (Dirty Loops) and Clark Beckham. These guys are a caliber so far above the rest; the way they control their voices is just jaw-dropping. I could listen to them all day. I also love the production behind the latest LANY and Joan records; thick synth soundscapes like that just have a way to my heart. Moreover, I'm always inspired by the creativity coming from Mutemath, the 1975, and the Killers.

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

A: I typically am asked to track vocals for projects. I am often brought into a project to contribute to the songwriting process and then cut the vocal track. One of my favorite things to do is topline; people bring me loops and tracks and I get to be influenced by the music before writing the melody and the lyric. That's super fun.