Sound Design, Electronic Music

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

A: The mix of the vinyl release of Oquestrada in Portugal. They became really big and got to perform at the Nobel Prize ceremony in Oslo, 2012 together with Kylie Minogue, Fanfare Ciocarlia, Seal and Jennifer Hudson. I am happy for them and proud of being part of their path.

Q: What are you working on at the moment?

A: I am working in my own music since the begin of 2016 and in some remix requests.

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

A: Not that I know. Until now, at least.

Q: Analog or digital and why?

A: Both. Because there are advantages in combining them, because a like in everything a final balance must achieved. Thats the secret, at least for me.

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

A: Understandment, dedication and excellence.

Q: What do you like most about your job?

A: The creative side of this job is what I like the most. Having said that I also like to balance it with other related tasks such as mixing. Its one constant exercise :)

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

A: Most asked question is if understand their intention and what can I do to help them achieve it. My answer is I always do my best to put myself in place but with the necessary skills to complete your task.

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

A: Not everybody, but some people think the electronic side of music is so easy and frying an egg. Which is not true, of course.

Q: What questions do you ask prospective clients?

A: I like to know their background and to understand their perspective in order to tune in with their goal.

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

A: I think there is a lot of offer and you should check your option of course. I would look for someone who understands what I want to achieve ...

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

A: One pair of Yamaha HS8 + Waldof Q rack + TR 909 + Moog Sub37 + Allen & Heath mixing desk

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

A: I have finished the SAE in Amsterdam in 2005 and afterwards in worked as a foley/sound designer for a small company which was producing cartoons for the Dutch television on the time. In 2007 I moved back to Portugal where I worked as Electronic Music Tutor and offered also mixing services to a lot of local artists. Some of them were or became really big and even signed to Sony Music. I moved back to Amsterdam just because I prefer to live here and I worked here for MTV during 3 years. At the moment I also started a electronic record label and I have been performing mostly in Berlin and Amsterdam.

Q: How would you describe your style?

A: Electronic infused music extending to house and techno.

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

A: From all the ones on another extensive list, I think Aphex Twin would be the first choice, because he is such a big influence since the beginning and I would learn so much for sure.

Q: Can you share one music production tip?

A: I dont want to go to much into details here but one would be try to misuse quantization in different ways. Would will be amazed with the possibilities.

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

A: Electronic music.

Q: What's your strongest skill?

A: Sound designing and mixing.

Q: What do you bring to a song?

A: Character above of all.

Q: What's your typical work process?

A: It really depends of needs to be done. For example for creation/production , I like to do it with hands on and standing rather than seating and staring to the screen with hand on the mouse. Mixing on the other hand requires another approach as sound designing does.

Q: Tell us about your studio setup.

A: I have an acoustic treated room with a Vicoustics solution. Set up is based around a Mac Pro desktop using Logic Pro and Ableton Live depending on the task. There is an analog Allen & Heath desk and a new RME sound interface. Speakers are a pair of Adam A3X and one extra pair of Yamaha HS8. There are few hardware synths and more coming and going as this is one of biggest addictions and at the moment the highlights are a Waldorf Micro Q and a Access Virus Indigo.

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

A: A lot. I have a broad taste of music therefore its not possible to mention everybody. Highlights are, Aphex Twin, Boards of Canada, Ebo Taylor, Mulatu Astatke, Amon Tobin, Depeche Mode, Kraftwerk and the list goes on.

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

A: Mostly mixing, arrangement, beats making and sound design.