Producer / Mixer / Songwriter

Q: What are you working on at the moment?

A: I’m working on a full length for a wonderful artist from Texas, by way of Nashville. We started the pre-production process a year ago, listening to demos, making work tapes and honing in on what he wanted to say with this record. At this point we’ve got basics cut for 12 songs and are getting into the heart of the record. It’s been a really rewarding process and is a great example of how sometimes projects can take time and patience.

Q: Analog or digital and why?

A: There’s a time and a place for both. I love the way my old analog toys sound and I also love the way my newer digital toys sound too! The flexibility and efficiency that the digital workflow has brought to my record making process has been inspiring for me.

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

A: That I’m going to show up and bring 110% to your project. Aside from playing music growing up, I played a lot of baseball, so from an early age, I was engrained with that team mentality. It’s also something that was fostered in my years playing in bands, where I learned how to bring disparate pieces, ideas, personalities together in order to succeed. With each project that I go in on, there’s a team aspect: we’ve created a team that exists to serve the artist’s music and their career. In this analogy, winning is realizing the artist’s creative vision. I can’t go home until I’ve done that for the artist - that’s just how my mind works.

Q: What do you like most about your job?

A: I love getting to connect with people and be a part of their creative journey. For me the human element and having these often profound shared experiences with artists with is incredibly rewarding. Plus, being in the studio feels like being in a big kids playhouse, where we have all these sound-making toys at our fingertips, so that’s pretty fun.

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

A: How much does it cost to do “x”? To which I typically say, “Let’s define what “x” is in your specific situation. Then we can figure out a plan that makes sense for you and me.” The reality is there is no ‘one-size fits all’ for making a record — each project has it’s unique set of parameters. Sometimes you can make great records really quickly and sometimes they take a long time (the inverse is also true). I think it really comes down to understanding what the artist is looking to do and utilizing the resources that are available in the best possible ways to make their project happen.

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

A: That a producer will have all the answers. I think it’s more about the producer’s ability to keep searching for that perfect part, transition, chord-change or (insert elusive thing that you’re looking for) than having “ready made” answers.

Q: What questions do you ask prospective clients?

A: What are you looking to do and how can I help you do it? What are you trying to say? What are you excited about musically right now? Where are you in your career? What do you want to do next? What are some of the things that you’ve done that you’re most proud of? What are some of the places where you feel likes you haven’t realized what you’re trying to say artistically? What are some of the things that you feel have been held you back creatively and/or career wise?

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

A: Find a producer whose records you like (both sonically and aesthetically), who you vibe with on a personal level and who digs what you do as well. That way your project begins from a place of common ground. Basically, find someone who you’re comfortable around, who you would enjoy having a coffee or a drink with who also happens to be experienced at making records. There are so many talented producers out there - you will find someone who gets and loves what you do. Their ideas will feel like an extension of your own and they will be able to help realize your vision in a very natural way.

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

A: Pro Tools Rig, Shure 7B, my 1965 Gibson J-45, my Fender Jazzmaster, Mellotron 4000D

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

A: I’ve been playing guitar since I was 4 years old and started writing songs as soon as I knew how to play an Em and A chord. I had my first experience working with a producer (Roger Greenawalt [Ben Kweller, Nils Lofgren, The Pierces]) on my own music when I was 13 after my friend’s mom passed along my home demo to him. When I was 16, I got my first job working in a recording studio called Clinton Recording Studios and fell in love with being in the studio. When I got out of high school, my band signed a record deal with Warner Music Group and we worked with producers Gus Van Go and Werner F. (The Stills, Arkells, Sam Roberts) who were wonderful mentors for me. They taught me so much about the record making and songwriting process. I also made a record with Eddie Kramer (Jimi Hendrix, Led Zeppelin, The Rolling Stones) who graciously imparted me with epic amounts of record making and life insight. While I was playing in bands, I would produce for other artists as well. When I was 26 I took the leap into opening my own recording studio in Brooklyn called Degraw Sound, where I’ve been making records for the past 8 years.

Q: How would you describe your style?

A: Pop-focused writing and song-structures with left of center sounds.

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

A: There are so many! In no particular order… Harry Styles, Lana Del Rey, Maren Morris, Kacey Musgraves, Taylor Swift, Chris Stapleton, HAIM, Sharon Van Etten, Phoebe Bridgers… because they’re all amazing.

Q: Can you share one music production tip?

A: Stay out of the way of the song. No matter how cool an idea is, if it doesn’t serve the song, let it go.

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

A: “Song” is in my answer to pretty much every question, but songs are really important to me. At the risk of sounding redundant I’d say “song-oriented” music. I feel like if the song is there and there’s a story to be told or an idea to be conveyed that I can relate to it and help realize it across a number of genres.

Q: What's your strongest skill?

A: Patience.

Q: What do you bring to a song?

A: From a young age, the process of songwriting has resonated with me and that is something that I’ve been able to hold onto over the years. I feel like I bring that enthusiasm: searching for a great song and exploring it from all angles to make sure I draw out the best elements in each song that I work on.

Q: What's your typical work process?

A: I like to get inside the song with the artist and understand what they’re trying to convey to the listener. We brainstorm ideas together and talk about their vibe so that I have a good sense of what they’re about and what they’re looking to do musically. Once I feel like the song is ready and that we have a direction, I’ll jump in on production. For each artist the process is always a bit different — sometimes they’re in the studio with me, sometimes I’m working remotely, but in all instances, I really prioritize understanding the song and the vibe.

Q: Tell us about your studio setup.

A: My studio is set up with a pretty extensive collection of sound-making toys. I have a bunch of vintage guitars, amps, synths and drums, which give me amazing sounds, and I’m also running Pro Tools HDX with Waves, UAD, Sound Toys, Fabfilter (all the modern stuff which offers me a lot of flexibility). I have a nice collection of outboard gear with Neve 1073’s, API, a bunch of 1176’s, LA2A, Distressors, SSL, Pultecs and over 30 microphones — everything from a vintage Neumann U87, FET 47, a pair of KM84s, Coles 4038’s, a pair of old AKG 414’s, Beyerdynamic m160’s, Shure 7B (can never be without one!) to a FLEA 47, which in my humble opinion is a awesome recreation of the U47 and shines on vocals. I also have some fun funky lo-fi mics and a beautiful RCA 44 from the 1940’s.

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

A: Shawn Everett’s work as a producer/mixer has been inspiring to me over the past few years. I love that he’s able to work on such a diverse range of projects (Brittany Howard, Kacey Musgraves, The War On Drugs, Kesha, Vampire Weekend) and I think his records sound fantastic.

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

A: I typically work on projects from start to finish, which means that I begin with song selection and pre-production and then work with the artist every step of the way until we have the record fully produced and mixed.