Production | Mix | Master

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

A: I am especially proud of my work with Kelsy Karter. We went from 0 to millions of streams. I was a co-writter on all of her stuff, producer, mixer, and best friend through the whole journey. Now she is signed and has been touring and I cannot wait for her next album to come out. Going to move the needle in rock music!

Q: What are you working on at the moment?

A: Currently working on Kelsy Karter's next album, working with Jagwar Twin on his new music and working on a new Sync project through Position Music.

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

A: I signed up for sound better a while ago but I got busy with an album so I just picking it back up and still new to sound better so I am not sure if I have anyone on here.

Q: Analog or digital and why?

A: That depends on the song. But I would say Hybrid. Digital allows me to do things in a fraction of the time but with pairing it with analog gear you allow the human to come through.

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

A: I promise I will give their projects my 100% focus and attention until it is 100% what they want.

Q: What do you like most about your job?

A: That I get to wake up everyday, make magic and do what I love.

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

A: Mostly ask when the song is going to be done and how much it's going to be. I tell them the song will be done when it feels right and I tell them what I think I am worth.

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

A: That anyone with a laptop and protools can do it. Years of failures and successes have brought me knowledge and tools to help anyone now.

Q: What questions do you ask prospective clients?

A: I ask what their long term goals are, who they would tour with, and if they could build a theme park that reflects their music, what would it look like?

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

A: I have been with artists from 0 and have been there every step of the way until they reached their goals. So I know what it's like to be a new artist and fighting your way to the top.

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

A: MacBook Pro fully loaded with all my plugins (that counts as one right?), Arturia Keystep, Beyerdynamic DT 770 Pro headphones, UAD Apollo and my Fender Strat

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

A: I was in bands all through high school. Toured the country in College on summer vacation. During my regular college in 2011 I also got certified from Berklee School fo Music Online for Songwriting and Studio Production. My band then got a manager and since I was writing most of the songs, he asked if I would want to go to LA and write with some artists. From there I made the rounds and ended up with a handful of cuts and a lot of unreleased music. I then decided I wanted to work with an artist and build them from the ground up, so I found a couple of those and worked with them for no money up front and just made great music. They went on to get signed by major labels, being written about in Rolling Stone Magazine and have millions of streams online. And I still work with them to this day. I took some time off this last year to deal with some personal stuff and now I am getting back into it. So I've been doing this for 10 years now.

Q: How would you describe your style?

A: Pop from an Emo background.

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

A: I would like to work with Harry Styles or Kanye West. They are both going down in history as the greats and that is what I aspire to do.

Q: Can you share one music production tip?

A: My favorite thing to do is instead of recording a bass on the verse, is to play the bass part on the guitar. Then throw Little Alterboy on it and pitch it down. It adds this unique texture that then sets the bass from the verse and the chorus apart.

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

A: Pop/Alt-Rock

Q: What's your strongest skill?

A: My strongest skill is telling the truth and helping people find what makes them unique.

Q: What do you bring to a song?

A: I bring a 10+ years of working in the industry in LA and as well as a touring. I know that a song has to work on an iPhone and on a stage because boy have I been on stage and realized a song doesn't work. I also bring my skills of meditation and spirituality to make sure everything comes from a place of authenticity and working from a higher perspective too.

Q: What's your typical work process?

A: My typical work process for mixing is to listen to the song 2-3 times through and make notes on the things I want to improve. After that I start with the drums and vocals, level and EQ first. Once those are sitting nicely I work on the rest and usually will sit on a mix overnight before sending out. That way I can wake up with fresh ears and make any adjustments. The same kind of method for mastering as well. For production I start with chords and arrangement. Then work on dialing in the drums and rhythm section, then add fx, sweeps, transitions. Always listening on different devices and in my car. Until the song feels right.

Q: Tell us about your studio setup.

A: Fully loaded, brand new Mac mini. With UAD Apollo and majority of UAD plugins, Waves Horizon, Acustica Audio, Slate Digital Everything, Izotope, Soundtoys, Yamaha HS8 Monitors, Kemper, slew of guitars, basses and keyboards.

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

A: I aspire to be like John Hill, Emile Haynie and Jeff Baskher

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

A: I mostly work in production, mixing and mastering for my clients.