Music Production, Mixing

Q: What do you like most about your job?

A: I feel truly blessed to have always been able to produce and create music everyday as my 'job'. The parameters are constantly changing: there's new artists, new songs, new sounds, new instruments, new styles. You can't stand still for a moment! And that suits me just fine! I love to take an artists vision and bring it to fruition, breathing life into their ideas. It's a passion that drives me, and I still end up working 'til 3am sometimes. And it's amazing to watch an artist grow as we're developing songs, and going further into an album production. I love that I can continue to grow as a musician and producer, and it matters. I love the lifestyle, the freedom, the excitement! As a voting member in the Recording Academy, I get to go to the Grammy's every year, and party all week with other producers, engineers and musicians. I love being a guest guitar player at lives shows every once in a while. Even once at a concert with 22,000 people! I love the recording studio environment, anywhere in the world. That's my sanctuary, my people, where I feel I truly belong. (okay, I really went off here! LOL)

Q: Analog or digital and why?

A: This is a moot point in 2021. The debate has been over. The music world is 99% digital, and all the great analog gear I now have as analog plugins. But, I have spent 15 years behind analog consoles with tape machines, so if you're interested in going analog for a portion of your project, I'm ready! (But I'd say the only real advantage is for live drums, so we can get that sweet tape compression :)

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

A: There are many! I've even had a few singers I know sign up.

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

A: I put my heart and soul into each and every project. Always looking for the magic in any song or any artist. And when an artist comes to me to produce their music, I appreciate the trust they're putting in me and I take it very seriously. Always looking to exceed expectations!

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

A: Artists and songwriters are always interested in how I like their music, and how I believe in them as an artist. And I'm always honest about my opinion. But I learned something from a Jimi Hendrix interview when I was just starting out. He said he listens for what the musician is TRYING to do, even thought they may not be executing it perfectly. And that's been my philosophy on every project. To understand what the artist is Trying to do. And it's my job as a music producer to try and help them get there.

Q: What questions do you ask prospective clients?

A: If it's producing or songwriting for an artist, then the more I know about the artist, their background, their experience, and their musical influences, the better I can target the production to suit their needs. Goals! Before we get into "I want guitars on this", the first question is: what is the goal of this production? It could be anything from "I want this to be a Tik Tok hit, and it's the single on my latest album release coming in June". To "I just want to have fun, and play it for my friends". It's important to know, because there are different approaches to the production in each situation. It's never a "one size fits all".

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

A: Listen to the music they've done. Regardless of style, does it sound solid, polished, tight? Is there a flow, a continuity? Are the vocals sitting where they should in the mix? Does it sound like the style it's supposed to sound like. Look at the credits, who they've worked with, what they've done. Speak to them. Do you have a rapport? Are they really trying to understand YOUR vision, or just impose their own? Do all their tracks sound basically the same? Will the producer be honest with you, if something really sucks? With a difference in opinion, can they take direction from you, or will their egos get in the way? How is the correspondence? Do you actually like them? It's important to note here, that YOUR experience matters as well. Do you have realistic expectations? Did you provide them with everything they need? Did you give them a clear vision of what you're looking for. Did you stress what's most important to you about this production? GREAT communication is always key. :)

Q: What's your strongest skill?

A: Finishing. The ability to deliver a slamming, finished, polished music production. Many producers fall short somewhere along the way in that process. Vocal production, and mixing are 2 skills that I am often hired for, and I take pride in. But building tracks from the seed of an idea into a solid production, playing all the instruments, crafting the sound, the world, is my favorite part of the music production process. And probably my strongest skill. ( Conversely, I am weak writing lyrics, )

Q: What do you bring to a song?

A: Whatever the song might need. I first try to understand where the artist wants to go with it. We may need to change the key, or re-arrange sections, or change the tempo. I try to spot the strong parts that can really be brought out with the right instrumentation or vocals. And if there are any weaker parts in the song, we try to improve those. Maybe it's a chord substitution, or adding an interesting background vocal part. Whatever the song needs. Sometimes it's very little, and sometimes it's just knowing when not to interfere with the magic.

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

A: All the SWV music we did. Engineering, mixing and remixing. The songs were on the radio constantly, hit #1 on the Billboard charts, and sold millions. You never forget that first hit! The 3rd album for Men In My Head that I produced a few years back. Due to the success of the previous album, we were able to get 50 Cent to do a feature on the single, which I also co-wrote. It hit #1 on the Billboard charts for weeks, and we donated over $200,000 to charity from sales. "Run for a Dream" by RJ2, (production) became the theme song for the Disney Half Marathon at Disney-world in Florida every year! They play it throughout the park, on the busses, and even in the news when reporting about the marathon. There are many many more that I am very proud of.

Q: What are you working on at the moment?

A: An EP for a new Pop/Hip Hop female artist with a high profile, 200k followers on IG, etc. Scheduled for a June release. Finishing an album for a female R&B/Rap artist. Production on 2nd Album for Autom8theSky Just finished production and released the new single for Faith based Duo RJ2 out of New York. Continuing on their 2nd album. Restoration, additional production and instrumentation for a re-release of a '70s folk artist. Producing more songs for a few songwriters that constantly write and submit tracks for licensing. (yes, they land something every once in a while) And a lot of smaller projects, and parts of projects. And I try to fit in creating a new Music Production Tutorial for our YouTube channel. (22K Subs) There are always many projects in the works, and constantly changing.

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

A: That the music producer can take a bad singer, and a bad song, and make them GREAT!!! But with all the technology we have, yes, we can make anyone sound "good". Shift the vocals to the correct Pitch and timing, add harmonies, and doubles, backgrounds, etc. And it will sound solid. Real good. But Great has to come from within. GREAT is a product of extraordinary talent and achievement, and no computer plugin can make GREAT!

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

A: Who made up these questions? Why 5? LOL. Okay, I'll play. MY MAC computer, Genelec speakers, my 1970 white Fender Stratocaster, Oxygen pro 61 keyboard, UA audio interface. (big monitor screens are already included, so they don't count towards my total. It's my desert Island so I can make up the rules)

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

A: The brilliant superstars, like Bruno Mars, LIZZO!, Gorillaz, Demi Levato, Maroon 5, Jesse J. Of course, any of the legends! Paul McCartney, Stevie Wonder, Mariah, Beyonce,

Q: Can you share one music production tip?

A: Yes. But I have soooo many. Please check out my YouTube channel for Music Production and Mixing Tips and tutorials. I also talk about Music Career Advice, Mistakes to avoid, and much more. Check it out. YouTube.com/SkyeLabTV

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

A: POP/Charts. Usually whatever type of music is charting, so it's considered POP (POPular) Rock, EDM, Hip Hop, R&B, House, and occasionally Country. Vocal oriented. They all borrow elements from each genre, and that's what makes this fusing, Pop. I also do a lot of work with Songwriters, who may or may not sing. So we hire great session vocalist for those projects. But so many genres are blending together now.

Q: What's your typical work process?

A: Depends on the project. And after producing and mixing music for decades, I still try to keep it fresh, and change it up every time.

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

A: Over 30 years but I ain't old!!! At 19, my progressive rock band (Anti-Gravity) got signed with RCA. Then dropped. Went to audio school (IAR), small studio (Pomona), big production company with 22 labels (Bobby Orlando) to a major recording studio, (Counterpoint, then Quad) worked with major artists, had hit records, built my own recording studio (SkyeLab Sound Studios), brought in major artists, expanded to SkyeLab Music Group, had more hit records, started our YouTube channel. And here I am, still going strong and in love with it, decades later.

Q: How would you describe your style?

A: Multi-Faceted. Appropriate for the project, but always trying to push the fold just a bit.

Q: Tell us about your studio setup.

A: Mac Pro 6-core 3.5 ghz, 2 TB SSD drive, 64 GB ram. Logic Pro, huge libraries and plugins from Waves, UAD, Kontact, Plug in Alliance, Serum, reFX, Soundtoys, Slate, Izotope, Stylus, Toontrack, and too many to list. UAD Apollo Twin, Genelec 8040B speakers, Yamaha NS10m's, M-Audio Oxygen Pro61 keyboard, 16 different strings instruments like guitars (electric, acoustic, lapsteel, 12 string, nylon, mandolin, banjo, Oud) Line 6 Spider guitar amp, Focusrite ISA-215 micpre/Eq, Urie 1178 stereo compressor, DBX160 VU, lots of handheld shakers, and a scissor. (for percussion a la Beatles) For vocals sessions I usually use Quad Studios in New York. (Worldclass, where I used to be a staff engineer)

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

A: The great Quincy Jones, a master musician, philanthropist, with more Grammys than any other music producer. P-Diddy because I admire his work ethic and accomplishments. Producer Max Martin who practically invented modern Pop. Jazz musicians like the late great Victor Bailey, whose devotion to their craft is legendary! But my idols growing up were Jimi Hendrix, Yes, all Motown era soul, P-Funk, Beatles, Chemical Brothers, Beetoven and Shostakovich, and so much more. I just LOVE great music!!! It's my world.

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

A: Singers and/or songwriters come to me with songs, or pieces of songs, or sometimes we need to write some songs. We talk about the goal for the music, and the market we're trying to reach, if any. I try to learn about the artist as a person, to make sure their goals are aligned with the vision. I check the key of the song to make sure we're hitting the sweet spot in the artist's voice, and they're not straining. We sometimes need to re-arrange sections, or change the speed. Then I begin creating the music tracks using the guide vocal or the demo as a reference. If the artist is in New York, we bring them into our recording studio to record vocals. If they're not in New York, we can book a recording studio in there area and work remotely. After the vocals are done, I'll do additional production and finish the music up. Then MIX, and master.