Rock Vocalist and Lyricist

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

A: D.N.A., a longtime project with my friends Alexandre Santos and Neil Fraser, plus Mikael Carlsson and João Colaço. I sang and wrote the lyrics for the Life EP. It’s deeply emotive music, and the lyrics came from deep in my soul. I’ve worked with many bands, but this one stands out for me.

Q: What are you working on at the moment?

A: New original music with D.N.A., more vocals with Atlantea, and live dates fronting Sweet Home Alabama and singing with Rock the Classics and Raiding the Rock Vault.

Q: Analog or digital and why?

A: I started out in the analog world. The very first album I made was on tape, and it’s warm. That’s the only word I can use to describe it. I work digitally now because it’s fast and flexible, but I still chase that warmth.

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

A: I’ll treat your song like it’s my own: honest communication, clean files, and I won’t stop until the vocal serves the song.

Q: What do you like most about your job?

A: Adding that special touch to someone’s hard-earned music. Musicians pour themselves into their songs, and they deserve someone who gives back 110%, as they did when they created it.

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

A: “How much do you charge?” My starting rates are listed on my profile, but every song is different. Send me the track and tell me what you need, and I’ll give you a clear quote before we start.

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

A: That a great vocal is just one good take. A finished, professional vocal takes many takes, careful comping, and doubles and harmonies that fit the song. That’s the work you’re paying for.

Q: What questions do you ask prospective clients?

A: Do you have a vocal line and lyrics already? How many songs? Is there a reference track or a singer you’re picturing? If you don’t have lyrics or a melody yet, do you want me to write them? And what do you want the song to say?

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

A: Get your song as close to finished as you can before you hire anyone. Know the vibe, have a reference track, and have the lyrics if you’ve got them. It saves you money and gets you a better result. If you need help with lyrics or melody, I can do that too. I’m easygoing and I’ll always help where I can.

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

A: My J-45 guitar and four packs of Elixir acoustic strings. I’m assuming there’s no power on the island, right? :)

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

A: I’ve been singing in bands and making records since the late ’80s, starting in the Massachusetts clubs and then the Los Angeles scene, and I’ve toured the US, Canada and Europe for the last 20 years. I’ve sung on and written for Kill Ritual, A Rising Force, Rage of Angels, Electric Messiah, Alchemy Fire, D.N.A. and Cineasta, and sung on three Atlantea albums.

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

A: There are so many, but if you twisted my arm: Devin Townsend. He’s fearless about mixing heaviness with beauty, and that’s where I like to live too.

Q: Can you share one music production tip?

A: Record your vocals as dry as you can, maybe with a touch of reverb in your headphones. You’ll sing cleaner and clearer, and too many effects make you lazy. Don’t lean on pitch correction either. Work the section until you nail it, and if you can’t nail it, find a new melody line.

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

A: Mostly metal and hard rock, plus melodic rock and classic rock. I love all music, though, and I’ll sing anything. I once did a trance track that I really dug.

Q: What's your strongest skill?

A: Power and emotion in the same voice. I can bring the big rock and metal delivery, then pull it back to something intimate when the song calls for it. Writing lyrics that mean something comes a close second.

Q: What do you bring to a song?

A: Passion, personality, and a writer’s ear. People try to figure out who I sound like, and the answers are all over the place, which is probably why I’ve always gravitated toward original music.

Q: What's your typical work process?

A: I get to know the song first: I listen, read the lyrics if there are any, and find the groove. If you need lyrics or melody lines, I’ll ask what you want the song to say. If you don’t have an idea yet, I let the music speak to me. It sounds strange, but it works. Then I track, comp, and send clean, dry stems ready to mix.

Q: Tell us about your studio setup.

A: I was a longtime Pro Tools guy on a Mac Pro tower, but today I work in Logic Pro on a MacBook Pro with a Focusrite Scarlett 18i20. I have a few microphones, but the ones I use most are my Aston Spirit and Aston Origin.

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

A: I’ve always been a big fan of Ian Gillan, and in the ’90s it was Jeff Scott Soto. I admire the work he’s done for so many bands. I’ve been lucky enough to sit with him a few times while working on the Monsters of Rock Cruise. Great guy as well.

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

A: Lead and backing vocals for bands, producers and songwriters, often with lyrics and topline melodies when the song needs them. I also sing demos for studios and the occasional audiobook.

Q: How would you describe your style?

A: Intimate, Powerful and Passionate.