Producing, Singing, Mixing

Q: What are you working on at the moment?

A: A gospel album, 4 Pop albums and sync music.

Q: Analog or digital and why?

A: Both. Digital plugins are always trying to emulate analog gear. So have some of both and you have the convenience of digital with the actual sound of analog!

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

A: I would never risk my reputation or your music.

Q: What do you like most about your job?

A: That moment when you play your artist their song and you see (or read) their reaction. Music is such a buzz, there's nothing like it in the world.

Q: What questions do you ask prospective clients?

A: What are you looking to achieve? What do you have already and what do you need? What do you expect the final result to be like? Do you have reference tracks I can listen to?

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

A: Don't be afraid to reach out, talk to them, make sure they are right for you and truly understand your music. Awards and credits are great (I know!) but they are not everything. I regularly hire producers and session musicians who have none of those. It's about skill above all and also a personal vibe - what does your gut tell you? Elton John and Bernie Taupin were put together by absolute chance, the internet allows people to connect with others they would never otherwise have contact with. I think that's very exciting and there will always be the right person/people for you somewhere.

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

A: Computer, Keyboard, Solar power to keep it working, Blue Kiwi Mic, Cables.

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

A: I started out as a choir boy in Westminster Abbey. From there I joined an award winning choir before eventually experiencing everything from barbershop to chamber choirs, orchestral choirs and even a boyband. I studied music and music technology and I've been running an artist development company for 10 years and a professional recording studio for 3.

Q: How would you describe your style?

A: Emotional. I think that emotion is the core of every record and if you can't realise an emotion then you've failed.

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

A: I'd love to have been able to work with Michael Jackson. He's dead I know, but I would have learned so much from him, particularly how the tracks were put together and composed.

Q: Can you share one music production tip?

A: Roll off the bass! Leave space in the mix for where bass is really needed. You'll get a cleaner and louder master that way.

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

A: Usually Pop in all its forms and I love country too. But I'm proficient in Hip-Hop and even classical.

Q: What's your strongest skill?

A: That's a difficult one. I've grown up with music. My training was full on from a very young age and so music comes naturally to me and I couldn't imagine myself doing anything else. I'd probably say that production was my strongest skill because it encompasses the making of songs and I count mixing in there too.

Q: What do you bring to a song?

A: Masses! I can write the music, the lyrics, the topline, produce it, mix it - you name it. I've been writing in multiple genres for over a decade, write for sync and unsigned artists across the world. I am a grade 8 pianist (the highest) and an award winning vocal coach, so I can also do session work.

Q: What's your typical work process?

A: The most important thing is to understand your artist and their vision. With understanding, a proper conversation, reviewing reference tracks and knowing what they want from their music, you can help shape their sound as close to how they imagined it as possible and this has worked for me, as in the past 10 years my company has only ever received 5 star reviews online, a fact to which I am very proud. I start with this and then build a solid demo. Once that is authorised, I then build it up to the finished product before it is sent for mastering.

Q: Tell us about your studio setup.

A: I own a custom built recording studio. I did this because sound quality is so important to me. What's the point in having $6k monitor speakers if your room makes them sound like $2k monitors? So I had one built with the full acoustic treatment and this has made it superb to work in for recording and mixing projects and even had massive instagram appeal for all the coloured lighting! I have almost the full suite of Universal Audio plugins, over $40k of VST instruments and effects in total, as well as hardware like the SSL Fusion, Limited Edition Elysia Hardware and various pres and microphones. I use Cubase as the DAW of choice and have used that since it was in its infancy so I'm very fast on it.

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

A: Producer wise it has to be Finneas O'Connell for the sheer amount of effort and attention to detail he puts into his productions and Max Martin for the legend he is with a list as long as...well, very long of hit songs! Artist wise, without a doubt Michael Jackson. Whatever people think of him personally, the music of Michael Jackson will continue to influence the Music Industry for generations to come and his professionalism and perfectionism in music inspires me.

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

A: This would be songwriting and music production. Usually people coming to me are singers who don't write but want original songs, or those who have an idea and want it to be produced to a broadcast quality standard. I realise their vision and do all the mixing in house and then send externally for mastering.