Devan Skaggs on SoundBetter

15+ years experience touring with Taylor Swift, A Perfect Circle, Tim McGraw, et al. I've now pivoted to production work full time. Guitar is my main instrument, specializing in Blake Mills style tracks.

I can work with any budget. Producing can vary greatly depending on the song(s) so tell me about your project and I'll figure out something that works for you. Mixing is always somewhat involved but there's still wiggle room for your needs. I'm extremely flexible on my rates for guitar tracks because I just love sitting around and recording guitar so much. Reach out! Let's make something!

Here's a link to all of my commercially released work. All produced and mixed by me:
https://open.spotify.com/playlist/38SVVHdrImX3eEApSsOm3G?si=8f5ac2dcd2fb498f

I'd love to hear about your project. Click the 'Contact' button above to get in touch.

Credits

2 Reviews

Endorse Devan Skaggs

by Andrew Ryan
Devan has a great ear when it comes to melody, and a keen understanding of using what’s needed to serve the ego of the song, not the ego of the musicians involved.
Devan helped record and co mix my last record as well as playing a multitude of instruments including electric guitar, synth, steel, and was instrumental on keeping the sessions productive and proactive. I highly recommend his services.
by Victoria Bigelow
Devan is lovely to work with! He can do almost anything you need, and takes direction really well. He also has a lot of great ideas and can really help you bring whatever your envisioning to fruition. 10/10 would work with again

Interview with Devan Skaggs

Q: Tell us about a project you worked on you are especially proud of and why. What was your role?
A: Victoria Bigelow. I've produced and mixed almost everything she's put out and she signed a record contract summer of 2023 with Immortal Records.
Q: What are you working on at the moment?
A: Victoria Bigelow - Songs For No One Vol. 2, Alex Dunaway new EP, ROISIN new EP
Q: Analog or digital and why?
A: Both if possible, but digital if you can only have one. The most possibilities and potential for the cheapest price tag.
Q: What's your 'promise' to your clients?
A: I'm not done until you're happy.
Q: What do you like most about your job?
A: Recording is the only time I feel totally myself and totally alive. There's nothing on earth I would rather do, ever.
Q: What questions do customers most commonly ask you? What's your answer?
A: What's the best rate you can offer? Answer: I can work with any budget. Let's just talk it out!
Q: What's the biggest misconception about what you do?
A: That I'm a hermit. I love being out and about. I just love the studio more.
Q: What questions do you ask prospective clients?
A: Who are your favorite artists? What are your sonic references? What's your timeline? What's your budget?
Q: What advice do you have for a customer looking to hire a provider like you?
A: Know exactly what you're after. You will only get clear results if you know clearly what you want going in.
Q: If you were on a desert island and could take just 5 pieces of gear, what would they be?
A: Telecaster, Princeton Reverb, 1073 Preamp, 1176 blue stripe compressor, Macbook Pro
Q: What was your career path? How long have you been doing this?
A: I started with a high school band as we all do. After seeing where that would and wouldn't take me pos-high school, I went to school at The Conservatory of Recording Arts. I graduated top of my class. I spent the next 15 years touring with artists like Lifehouse, Tim McGraw, Taylor Swift, A Perfect Circle, Shaw Colvin, Steve Earle, et al. Once the pandemic hit I pivoted full time to producing and mixing music from my studio.
Q: How would you describe your style?
A: Intuitive, detail oriented, song focused.
Q: Which artist would you like to work with and why?
A: The artist I most want to work with is one I haven't heard yet. I'm most interested in finding fresh, raw talent. It's where all the fun of music is for me. Finding something new that no one knows about and trying to make it into something people will know about.
Q: Can you share one music production tip?
A: Commit to things early on. Make decisions and stick to them so the process can keep unfolding.
Q: What type of music do you usually work on?
A: Indie singer-songwriters. Phoebe, Weyesblood, Clairo. In that wheelhouse.
Q: What's your strongest skill?
A: Arranging, without a doubt. I have a strong intuition about how to build parts around a song so as to support the song itself.
Q: What do you bring to a song?
A: Passion and enthusiasm. I believe that what you feel while recording gets imprinted in the audio and the audience can sense it. I try to always impart as much passion as I can to every note I record.
Q: What's your typical work process?
A: Depends on the project of course but I typically start with a simple guitar/vocal recording of a song and then build the production around it piece by piece starting with drums and guitars when applicable. I subscribe to the less is more philosophy. It's all about preserving the emotion in the vocal.
Q: Tell us about your studio setup.
A: My setup is totally in-the-box. UAD interface into LUNA. UAD, Arturia, Native Instruments, Soundtoys, Waves, Fabfilter, et al for plug-ins. Adam Audio for monitoring. Tons of guitars and pedals. Guitars are my specialty and main instrument. I also play bass, drums, and keys.
Q: What other musicians or music production professionals inspire you?
A: Blake Mills, Rick Rubin, Radiohead, Joni Mitchell
Q: Describe the most common type of work you do for your clients.
A: I work mostly with women singer-songwriters. I'm married to one and I feel like it's where my production work shines the most.
Q: Is there anyone on SoundBetter you know and would recommend to your clients?
A: Theia