True Americana

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

A: I was the producer for the latest album from a band named Town Mountain, from Asheville NC. I am proud of this project because of the over all sound quality and musicianship that I was able to draw out of the band. They really stepped up to the plate and did what I asked and and what I suggested when the time came.

Q: What are you working on at the moment?

A: I am currently working on an instrumental mandolin album of all original tunes.

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

A: Isaac Callender, Brennen Leigh

Q: Analog or digital and why?

A: Analog, because it has more depth and ads some cool vibe to the overall sound. But hey, digital is quick, clean and easy, so why not.

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

A: I promise to act professionally and to ad some honest heartfelt music to your song or arrangement.

Q: What do you like most about your job?

A: I love being creative and learning more about music all of the time.

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

A: Q: What do you charge? A: $100.00 an hour.

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

A: That I can only play old time mandolin.

Q: What questions do you ask prospective clients?

A: I usually ask what clients are looking for from me, and what vibe they are going for. I also ask them what music they have been listening to lately and what music style(s) has inspired the particular track that I will be recording on.

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

A: Do your research and listen to as much of the music that I have been a part of in the past. Try to be as specific as you can as to what you would like to get from me musically. Be clear about what format you need my music in and at what sample rate you would like the final product to be. ie; do you wang comped tracks, or many versions of a solo, or rough ideas or completely finished parts?

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

A: My mandolin, my acoustic guitar, my fiddle, a tuning fork, and solar powered digital recorder with a built in speaker. .

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

A: I have been writing, touring and recording my own music for 25 +years. When I was 22 I studied in school for two years, taking music theory and ear training classes. I quickly headed out on the road with a full time band and have been working as a touring musician ever since. I have produced over 20 albums, some with own band, some for hire with other bands.

Q: How would you describe your style?

A: I play old school honky tonk, country and old time bluegrass music. I write in a folk and Americana style as well as in the traditional styles of country and bluegrass.

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

A: I would like to work with any artist to try to help them include some down to earth, grounded, whole hearted music. I hear so many times that music producers are missing out on the true nature of music and sound by using fake instruments to get the job done fast and "perfectly". In all honesty, I hate manufactured "fake" music that is just trying to make a quick buck. Music is so precious and we need to respect it. We need to make something of value, with longevity, for all people into the future. We need music with integrity, across all genres.

Q: Can you share one music production tip?

A: Garbage in, garbage out. Chill out and play from the heart.

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

A: American, country, bluegrass, folk.

Q: What's your strongest skill?

A: Mandolin, and singing.

Q: What do you bring to a song?

A: I bring soul and a grounding quality.

Q: What's your typical work process?

A: I listen repeatedly to a track that is presented to me so as to internalize it, then I experiment with some musical ideas that embellish it without taking away from the original quality. I then take a few attempts at tracking a part that seems natural to me. I then step back and asses what I have added and make sure it again adds and doesn't take a way from the original piece.

Q: Tell us about your studio setup.

A: I have a very simple studio set up. Two Audio Technica microphones and an ear trumpet labs microphone going into a Apogee Duet analogue digital converter gong into garage band on a mac. I set up in my house in a natural sounding space with wooden floors covered in rugs, with curtains over the windows. The sound is natural and light but I can also make things sound dark and heavy if that is desired.

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

A: Joel Savoy is a highly skilled music producer out of Eunice, Louisiana. He has some of the best ears for getting a live group sounding produced and tight. He multi-tracks in a way that doesn't sound multi-tracked.

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

A: I most commonly play mandolin rhythm and solo parts on already written and partly produced songs. I have done a fair amount of singing for producers working on advertising jingles.