Songwriter, Lyricist, Pod Eng

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

A: My EP 1WPM, I took all the doubts people had in me, my own confidence and what matters to me and I make a very versatile 6 course meal from it. Open Eyes and One More really showed metal as I made these during lockdown...

Q: What are you working on at the moment?

A: My debut EP '1WPM' just came out. So at the moment I'm working on what comes next. Also thinking ahead to when we can truly get back to life as we once knew it...

Q: Analog or digital and why?

A: Digital because I have no choice *shrug* also in music terms, the ability to do more with less is always going to win out in the end...

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

A: I will not phone it in! Maximum effort at all times...

Q: What do you like most about your job?

A: We are alchemists, we go to a different realm of being/consciousness to retrieve something that hasn't previously existed and we make it tangible. There is nothing like it!

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

A: It's very easy to make something out of nothing...

Q: What questions do you ask prospective clients?

A: Are you related to Jeff Bezos? LOL How can I help you to achieve your goal? Can you add another 0 on the end? LOL How much time do we have? How far along are you with the project?

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

A: Buckle up it's going to be a crazy ride! I'm playing, be clear about what you want or be clear about not knowing what you want. There is no room for what lies inbetween those two states...

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

A: The way how 2020 has been going let's not tempt fate by answering these questions...

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

A: I'm a writer and have always been so. Music came by accident sort of like the Flash getting his powers...

Q: How would you describe your style?

A: Mercurial? Yeah as in it's very fluid but simultaneously confident of reaching a higher level.

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

A: Haha as if it were that easy! I assume you mean living? Truthfully there is no one artist as I respect and admire so many; but if I could choose one, Jay-Z. Now fair enough, I grew up in Jamaica but I was always a Hip Hop head. In school people actually called me Jay-Z because I knew all his lyrics and my real name is Jay (convenient I know)... However, the word play and all the stories I've heard about his ideation and association with language. I need to see it for myself and maybe some of that Hov magic transfers by osmosis LMAO

Q: Can you share one music production tip?

A: Yeah sure! Tweak it until you break it and then let that be the lesson...

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

A: I purposely keep things eclectic. If you want to know what comes most naturally to me? Reggae, Dancehall, Hip Hop and to a lesser extent Afrobeats. Although that's from a producer/artist POV. Writing wise I can also apply my pen to Trap, RnB and other genres. I adapt to my environment and what is being asked of me.

Q: What's your strongest skill?

A: I am very detail oriented...

Q: What do you bring to a song?

A: Curiosity, I ask questions of myself, the material, the subject, the audience etc. It's not enough to replicate what's hot, I try to think beyond it in terms of bringing something to the table that might spark inspiration in others. The rest you can't really put into words, it sorta happens. In summary, curiosity and also a fearless approach to experimentation...

Q: What's your typical work process?

A: My work process isn't very typical overall LOL Honestly, I try not to force things but at the same time I understand a deadline is a deadline and will get my ship sailing the right direction pretty quickly. Writing songs, I like to have a warm up session just flowing and building the energy with music + sounds I'm familiar with then I swap that out for what I really want to do. I write with intention! Recording, I try to get a nice blend of clean signal with a tiny bit of air for the vibe and then get as many different takes as needed. After that it's all clean up and file hygiene from there. I force myself (reluctantly) to take breaks by going outside or doing something completely unrelated. Then it's back for the mixing stage of things. I'm still learning, so I keep my process fun and experimental but with a view to delivering it in a form people are familiar with. I try not to get lost here but sometimes I do like come up many permutations of the same song just for the education of it. Mastering I really enjoy, I also try to be very efficient here. My monitors and room I am very in tune with so I tend to be in and out once I've gotten to this stage. Render and test on different speakers/cans and we just MIGHT be done!

Q: Tell us about your studio setup.

A: My humble studio is a free flowing creative space. I have a huge writing desk which serves as the main feature, mood lights, studio monitors, big screens and lots of diffusion and absorption placed to offer a nice blend of live/dead ambience. You can probably hear it in my music too.

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

A: Lots to choose from but at the moment Koffee for the way she is representing Jamaica globally. I also like producers with eclectic sounds so Ronny J is one I admire. On the lyricists side of things Vybz Kartel, Kendrick Lamar and recently I've paid close attention to what Joyner Lucas is doing. As for total package creatives? Anderson Paak and Ari Lennox, Summer Walker etc.

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

A: I mostly edit audio for podcasts, film and web purposes.