Beats, Producer, Mixing

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

A: Actually it's always my current project that makes me proud the most. I see my whole profession as a process. Every new project has it's own needs and holds the opportunity to learn and improve.

Q: What are you working on at the moment?

A: I always work on my own music. My new single will be released in a few weeks.

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

A: Rob Murray is an awesome engineer. Ruby has a great voice and an instinct for catching top lines.

Q: Analog or digital and why?

A: Analog makes sense when recording. There you get it's full warmth and up-frontness. Digital is fast end easy. Both have their pro's and con's.

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

A: Your music will shine!

Q: What do you like most about your job?

A: I understand myself as a part of a creative team and I love to add my spirit to a customers audio project.

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

A: Is my recording good enough? Do not care about perfect recording too much. Performance is key. Just make sure the signal peaks somewhere around -12db. How do you want my tracks delivered? Please send me your audio files properly named and as dry as possible, all in full song length.

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

A: I try to avoid misconception by transparent communication. But probably: "I can't make you sound like Christina Aguilera unless you sing like her!"

Q: What questions do you ask prospective clients?

A: What is the most important emotion you want listeners to find in your music? Do you want me to make good sound or get creative, too? What is the most important element/instrument in your song?

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

A: Listen to your heart. After chatting back and forth a bit, you should be able to find someone to rely on.

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

A: A huge photovoltaic system, laptop, usb mic, headphones, guitar,

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

A: I started producing and mixing music in 2006 while I studied musicology. I learned everything about it in self-study. All my experiences rely on try and error and try again...and again and again. I love to find solutions.

Q: How would you describe your style?

A: Rough for rock music. clean for pop and soul All in all more creative than technical.

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

A: Definitely Dev Hynes! I would love to learn everything about the feelings behind his music.

Q: Can you share one music production tip?

A: It is awesome if you capture a good sound, BUT performance is everything. If you don't feel it while performing, the best engineer with the best equipment in the world couldn't capture it.

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

A: I work a lot on pop, rock and soul related genres, but I am open to new stuff to expand my horizon.

Q: What's your strongest skill?

A: Digging deep into new problems.

Q: What do you bring to a song?

A: Clarity, punch, spice and excitement. All to enhance the emotion.

Q: What's your typical work process?

A: 1. I analyze the pieces structure and emotion. 2. With that in mind I organize my project. 3. If necessary I do all the editing and restoration work. 4. I take a break from the project to refresh my ears. 5. I mix the hottest part of the song beginning with drums and vocals (or what ever the topline is) 6. I write automation to adjust for the whole song. 7. I bring in creative effects and room to create excitement and depth. During the whole process I have an eye on my gain staging to leave enough headspace for mastering. 8. Mastering. I think that needs to be done by a third person, but I can do it and according to it's application I'll follow EBU R 128

Q: Tell us about your studio setup.

A: The masterpiece in my studio is my ears and my heart. My ears hear what I am doing and, since music is all about emotion, my heart is my emotion-meter. The rest is not too fancy. Actually I am reducing my stuff to the minimum, right now.

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

A: As a musician I am absolutely inspired by the artist Dev Hynes. The delicacy in his approach to creating music totally changed my perspective. As an engineer I must confess it is a book that has inspired me the most. Behind the Glass by Howard Massey is an awesome collection of deep insights into the production processes of highly endowed producers all over the world. I learned, that everything is possible!

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

A: Most commonly I'll do the mixing for my clients.