Music Producer/Audio Engineer

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

A: It's not released/published yet, but the single that I'm currently working on is particularly special to me because it embodies the journey I've experienced as a man. It's vulnerable, and it's honest. It documents my struggles as well as my victories. It's a real representation of what I hope to deliver to every client in the future. G R O W T H.

Q: What are you working on at the moment?

A: I'm currently helping produce/mix an EP for a client who sounds a lot like The Kid LAROI. I'm also finishing a funk-pop single of my own.

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

A: There are too many to list. Depending on your specific needs, you can find the best in the music industry on this platform.

Q: Analog or digital and why?

A: Both. It's impossible to properly recreate the color that analog gives to a record, but the efficiency and ease of workflow that digital brings to the recording/mixing process multiplies one's ability to produce great music.

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

A: I promise to deliver a body of work that properly reflects your creative vision, and to contribute to your work as effectively as possible.

Q: What do you like most about your job?

A: It doesn't feel like a job to me. Music is my passion, and every project presents an opportunity to grow my level of audio engineering knowledge.

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

A: "Can you make my song sound cleaner?" - I've learned a lot over the last 10 years, I have the tools and the experience to make your song radio-ready.

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

A: That it's impossible to make a comfortable living from freelance audio engineering.

Q: What questions do you ask prospective clients?

A: What do you want this body of work to represent? Do you have any references? If you could describe what you want the finished product to sound like, what adjective(s) would you use? Who else do you know that could benefit from collaborating with me?

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

A: Be open-minded, but have a clear vision. The sky is the limit in terms of sound design.

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

A: My computer, my Roland FA08, my WA-67 mic, my Scarlett Focusrite interface, and a pair of Sennheiser headphones. I'd find happiness everyday.

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

A: I originally wanted to work for a major record company, but as life would have it I took time to explore my spirituality and discover a road to self-awareness. That is reflected in the music I create/work on. I've been enjoying my craft for a little over 10 years now, enjoying the freedom of working for myself and continuing to discover why I fell in love with music during every project I work on.

Q: How would you describe your style?

A: My mother has always told me that deep within my being lies an old, soulful vocalist. That trait comes out in the way I mix, creating soul within a track.

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

A: D'angelo. Music is expression, it provides life in many ways. From his vocal harmonizations to his lyrical concepts, he is one of the greats in my opinion.

Q: Can you share one music production tip?

A: Tip(s): Master transitions, experiment with breaks, and provide a groove. No matter the genre.

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

A: I find myself typically working on a combination of R&B, Neo-Soul, Funk, and Lo-Fi.

Q: What's your strongest skill?

A: My ability to hear melodies that aren't yet recorded often give life to a track, both instrumentally and vocally.

Q: What do you bring to a song?

A: I bring an element of texture and dimension, I've never worked on a song that didn't have depth and character. The creative process that I use to mix is inspired by the human experience.

Q: What's your typical work process?

A: I typically start with mixing percussion/drums, scrubbing drum buses to ensure that the tuning of the drums match the key of the song as much as possible. Then I move on to any bass, mastering the low end to determine how much room I have on a track. I then typically work on mixing any guitars and keys, spreading them and giving enough dynamic range to effectively mix in vocals. Vocals, in my opinion, require the most attention.

Q: Tell us about your studio setup.

A: I operate on an Apple iMac, using Focal Trio6 Be 8-inch Powered Studio Monitors in an acoustically-treated setup. All of my vocal recording is done on a WA-67 Tube Condenser Microphone, ran through a WA73-EQ Single-Channel British Mic Preamplifier + EQ. I mix "in the box" on Pro Tools & Logic Pro, using a Focusrite Scarlett 18i8 3rd Gen Audio Interface. And all of my keyboard/synthesizer work is crafted on my Roland FA08 88-Key Synthesizer Workstation Keyboard, which also serves as my midi-controller when creating full instrumentals.

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

A: The catalog of production credit that Rick Rubin has built is awe-inspiring to say the least. Creatively speaking, Kevin Parker (Tame Impala) is one of the most talented artists of our time. Spiritually, Jason Ingram serves as one of the most profound songwriters and producers in CCM. I'm influenced by a large body of people in the music industry.

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

A: I have the most experience mixing vocals and full stem projects (including instruments) for clients. Less frequent than that in terms of work are the vocals that I add to tracks based on a client's vision, as well as any extra instrumentation that might be necessary to bring a track to life.