Production, Mixing & Mastering

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

A: My current single Running started as a pitch to a Japanese artist, but I liked it so much that I kept it for myself. Seeing it grow gradually from a little demo to full song has been amazing!

Q: What are you working on at the moment?

A: Mixing a very cool album for new label Omnibrella - lounge meets funk sort of vibe and loving it.

Q: Analog or digital and why?

A: Digital as it's convenient and now there's software that matches the analog feel. I do use analog chains on occasion and have a tube mic so the analog feel is always there.

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

A: I take my job very seriously and so does my team. We are honest and if we take a project on, we know we can deliver the best.

Q: What do you like most about your job?

A: Every day is a new chapter, new songs, new mixes - I don't have to do the same thing over and over, year in year out.

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

A: If I like the song presented and I usually find something I really like or feel that I can develop and bring out.

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

A: I am fairly well established and my sound is well known and I think it's clear that I just don't throw things together randomly.

Q: What questions do you ask prospective clients?

A: What is expected and if there are any specifics I need to know like important lines or parts.

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

A: Make sure the song, especially vocals, are properly recorded and that the song works.

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

A: A Mac, Logic, UA interface, keyboard and my Mackie HR824 speakers.

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

A: I studied marketing and was offered to DJ at my sister's graduation party. I got hooked and met other DJs in the record store. One thing lead to another and we set up SweMix, a studio and remix service. I spent late nights there learning the craft and before long we had a proper label set up with artists signed. In the early 90's the reputation had spread to the UK and US and I was offered to remix this new singer called Robin Stone and her song Show Me Love. I took it on as I loved the random fact that we had similar names. As a single, her name was shortened to Robin S and the song was a massive worldwide hit and I have never looked back after that.

Q: How would you describe your style?

A: Full flavour, funky and song based and always a big bass line.

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

A: I love working with artists in general and have no particular dream artists, always more fun creating magic with the unexpected.

Q: Can you share one music production tip?

A: It's always the song - make everything work with it. Less is often more so find a few things that work rather than filling it up.

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

A: House music is what I am know for, but have produced albums where I can go a bit wider. Always a touch of soul and R&B in my work.

Q: What's your strongest skill?

A: Creating a bed for the song that makes it interesting and working as a whole.

Q: What do you bring to a song?

A: I always try to bring out the actual song, not hide it behind a wall of sound. Each instrument and sound has to bring something to the table.

Q: What's your typical work process?

A: For remixes I'm getting a basic kit together that works with the vocal, then keys and basic structure. Once the musical idea is there, I focus on bass line and details. Once the basic production is there, I look at overall structure and arrangement. Add or subtract where needed. With song production the process is similar, but I tend to remix the song once the full vocal is recorded to reach full potential.

Q: Tell us about your studio setup.

A: Logic Pro running on Universal Audio hardware. For vocal recording a Manley Ref C tube mic running through a classic Calrec pre-amp.

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

A: Quincy Jones was an early inspiration along with Jam & Lewis.

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

A: Production and remixing. Also a lot of vocal production work like comping and tuning. I also mix two weekly radio shows.