Writer, Producer, Engineer

Q: How would you describe your style?

A: I'm a rock, pop, country producer with a focus on strong melodies and musical accompaniment that supports the song.

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

A: Ryan Tedder! I think working with Taylor Swift would be a blast too. After meeting and talking to her a few years ago, I was struck by how down to earth and honest she was. I really do admire her process and creativity.

Q: Can you share one music production tip?

A: Give away my secrets? Ha! I would say, the first step into a great recording is a great song. And all the tricks, the bells and whistles, the ear candy, the effects, all of it....are useless if the song itself isn't good. If we strip it down to a vocal and a piano/guitar it should still be a compelling song. I think sometimes people lose sight of that.

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

A: I always answer with "good music." I enjoy music across a broad spectrum of styles, but it has to be well done and well crafted. I generally work in contemporary pop, singer song-writer, rock, country, crossover country, alternative....I have a wonderful synth collection that I love to infuse into pop/rock styles as well.

Q: What's your strongest skill?

A: I'd be hard pressed to choose between song writing and production. I've invested a lot of time into both skills.

Q: What do you bring to a song?

A: I've been studying music since I was 4. Classically trained on the piano and then adding drums and guitars to my studies. I graduated from Berklee College of Music with a double major in Song Writing and Electronic Music Production. I've been writing and producing music for over two decades now and have been fortunate to be in the room with a lot of wonderfully talented artists. I have a strong ear for melody and a deep understanding of song structure and what it takes to make a good song into a great song.

Q: What's your typical work process?

A: Greatly depends on what the project is. My main job as a producer/engineer/instrumentalist is communicating with the artist/collaborator to make sure we realize their vision for the song. I can bring lots of ideas to the table, but they need to stay true to what the client is trying to achieve. I am a firm believer that a producers role is bringing the best out of the artist, and not injecting too much of themselves into the work.

Q: Tell us about your studio setup.

A: I ran a major facility in the heart of New York City for 15 years. 3 years ago, we closed up shop and I moved the entire facility to the quiet country side of southern Vermont. It's been an amazing change. The studio is equivalent to a facility you'd find in Nashville, LA, Austin, NYC, etc. Large format console, loads of pre-amps, a huge mic closet, two custom drum kits, boutique guitars/amps, vintage Steinway grand piano, vintage outboard effects, vintage compressors and eqs. Go to my website and check it out! http://www.strawberryfieldslane.com

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

A: That list could fill up this entire page. I'd like to come back in my next life as Ryan Tedder, so there's that! But really, there are so many amazing people in our industry to learn from and be inspired by. Folks like Max Martin, Dave Cobb, Jack Antonoff, etc all bring so much to the table. I got to spend some quality time with Phil Ramone who sadly passed away a few years back, and was really in awe of how we worked.

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

A: I've worked in and ran major recording facilities for over 15 years and in that time, I've worn a lot of hats. For many of my clients, my focus is on production, arranging, string/horn arranging, co-writing, and mixing. I have been called a wizard with Melodyne and vocal comping. For other clients, I do voice-over editing and audio clean up/restoration.

Q: What are you working on at the moment?

A: Always writing, always creating.

Q: Analog or digital and why?

A: Why in the world would you ever choose between this? My studio is loaded with some of the best analog equipment in existence and I would never give it up. But I also have loads of incredible software, a massive digital mixing console, and virtual instruments that blow me away daily. The beauty of a professional recording studio is we get to blend both worlds so seamlessly.

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

A: Any project/song that I agree to work on...I'm going to give it everything I have. I don't like watching the clock or having a client who's afraid of spending an extra hour to get it right. We're going to get it right!

Q: What do you like most about your job?

A: I love the creative collaboration. It's such a pleasure to take an idea that a client started and watch it grow into something so much bigger and stronger. It's a wonderful part of the job.

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

A: That we just press some magic button and everyone suddenly sounds good!

Q: What questions do you ask prospective clients?

A: What are your goals for this? How much input would you like from me (as a producer)? What is the emotion and message your music is intending to convey and how can I help you achieve that.

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

A: Be really clear about what you're looking for and what your vision for the final product is. It's great to have reference materials to point to as well. Other songs that are out there that contain elements you like.

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

A: If we're talking gear, can I assume I've got a laptop, audio interface, and speakers? and some magic source of electricity with 120v outlets? Solar generator perhaps? 1-4 My 8 channel Neve rack, my vintage LA2A, my vintage Pultec EQP, and my vintage Nuemman u47. I could be happy with that. 5- I wouldn't want to live anywhere without my Steinway grand piano (weather would be brutal on it though!),

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

A: Classically trained pianist growing up. I picked up drums and guitar along the way. Attended and graduated from Berklee College of Music with a dual major in Song Writing and Electronic Music Production. I worked in the studios around Boston while focusing on song writing and developing local Boston artists. After, I moved to NYC where I opened up a major Times Square recording studio and ran that until 2016 when we moved the studio to Vermont. We worked with many major label artists, indie artists, broadway shows, and TV production crews regularly.