PRODUCER // MIXER

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

A: Miguel - War & Leisure I enjoyed it the most because it was near the end of my time at EastWest, I made a new friend, I was coming OFF the frank ocean album Blonde (which was intense), and he was an insane talent. I loved it. I played drums on it, guitar, mixed the single, drugs, hung out and had lots of awesome people come through. I loved it. I would do it a thousand times.

Q: What are you working on at the moment?

A: Several projects always, mostly production but some mixing

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

A: It always depends on the client and the song and what it needs, but if you need a rock mixer, my former mentor Brendan Dekora is on here.

Q: Analog or digital and why?

A: Both always. Analog is nice when you distort it; digital is nice so it doesn’t change when you reopen it.

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

A: I promise that I’ll make it as best as it can be based on what we agree on in our first chat.

Q: What do you like most about your job?

A: I like making the song sound better. I love going into each part and seeing it all come together.

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

A: I get asked lots of questions all the time! I always answer in the clearest form I can. I’m here to make a song slap.

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

A: Mixing isn’t mastering Production is tuning vocals, not mixing. Mixing is a tone and level balance to make things feel completed, not exactly changing drum sounds, tuning vocals, or changing reverbs. It’s always genre-dependent actually.

Q: What questions do you ask prospective clients?

A: What’s the vibe you were aiming to achieve? How can I help get it there? Give me some freedom to elevate it.

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

A: I am stoked to work on something new and hope you are equally as stoked.

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

A: Pro tools (infinite updates) Speakers (ATC 150’s) JAG SM7 Laptop

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

A: Bands - I played in several rock/indie rock bands for 10 years in East TN. Alex Bewport produced my last band in NY in 2008 and I decided I’d rather be a producer. CRAS - I dropped out of college and immeadiately moved to AZ to go to recording school and then LA Intern/Runner at Ocean Studios in Burbank 2011 (Alice in Chains, the voice season 01, counting crows) - I learned to make a great latte and how to patch gear into the console and got yelled at a lot. EastWest Studios Hollywood (2011) - my first day I met James Hetfeild. I worked through the ranks there. I started as a runner and eventually mixed, engineered, and created the vocal sound with Miguel for the 4x platinum song “Skywalker” Freelance (2018) - I have been freelance since then and have focused primarily on writing and production - mixing a handful of insane talents off the radar. 2020 - covid 2022 - LFG!

Q: How would you describe your style?

A: I am super clean with a side of wavvy and distortion.

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

A: I’d like to work with Frances Bean because I love the one song she posted. The lyrics hit me very hard and I loved it.

Q: Can you share one music production tip?

A: Feeling is the most important part of the production, but it’s important to trust and let go of the demo if you want it to be better.

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

A: Progressive R&B / indie Rock / Indie R&B /

Q: What's your strongest skill?

A: Listening to the artist

Q: What do you bring to a song?

A: I bring a loud and punchy mix with clarity and pleasing harmonics - along with creative elements on the vocal as well. I just want to make whatever song I have sound as huge as it can. I also aim to add dynamics in the different sections so that the small sections feel small and suck your attention in so you can be whipped around properly in the chorus, if that’s the vibe.

Q: What's your typical work process?

A: I listen to the demo and the artist and talk about how to elevate the art. Once we all agree I’ll start there and move into what we think will be best and get moving with an earnest momentum until I’m done. Then we revise from there.

Q: Tell us about your studio setup.

A: I worked at EastWest in Hollywood for the better part of a decade, but now I just love being in my own space. I have sunlight, tons of instruments (73 Ludwig, 1920’s Gretchen snare, a few cassette recorders and a space echo for slap delays - whatever the song needs I have to serve it.

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

A: Rick Rubin / Happy Perez / John Hill / Spike Stent / Shawn Everett / Miguel / MJK / Deftones

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

A: I only want to make good shit.