Writer, Vocal Expert, Producer

Q: Tell us about your studio setup.

A: Everything that I personally create, record and produce is on Logic Pro X. I move a lot to different studios, so my basic setup is always with me: Macbook pro, SSL 2+ interface, my beloved Neumann TLM 103 treated with a Kaotica Eyeball. Every processing is in-the-box. When I assist in another studio, I tend to adapt to the setup I find: I've worked with producers using Live, Cubase and ProTools but I am more comfortable with Logic Pro X and my sets of plugins. In my room I have a pair of good old KRK rokit 5, otherwise I use a pair of AKG K550 MKII or Audio Technica Headphones.

Q: What are you working on at the moment?

A: Lately I'm doing a lot of orchestration and arrangement for my church group songs, I just finished a 60 minutes piece of music (19Tracks) for a musical theatre project about the passion and crucifixion of Jesus. I'm running an AMAZING creative lab with awesome young talents of a local label where I teach stuff and help their craft and career. On SoundBetter I'm recording and producing backing vocals for a beautiful worship project in Spanish, and I have a few more project pending as a vocal editor, producer, songwriter and ultimately singer... the remaining 95% of my time, I'm working very hard to raise my son and keep my wife happy.

Q: Analog or digital and why?

A: I've heard processed vocals with analog gear sounding much worse than digitally processed, because of a wrong setup. So it depends on who's managing the hardware. Personally, I work in the box.

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

A: I promise you I'm not perfect. I'm surely not the best there is. But when I commit I care about who I'm working with.

Q: What do you like most about your job?

A: It's always rewarding

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

A: A Bible, a piano or a guitar, a couple of notebooks and a pen

Q: How would you describe your style?

A: I value a good melody, soundtrack-like harmonies, and in the interpretation maybe too much attention on the rhythmic side. I like to rhyme too... and I usually arrange vocal parts to become a fully self-sustained section in the production.

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

A: My dream job would be to work with Gary Barlow and Take That... and make songs for Disney movies with them!

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

A: "Cantàmmo a Gesù!" is a catholic music project with the kids of my church and I loved to be one of the authors and producers of it.

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

A: Emilio Lanza, top acoustic guitar player. Absolute genius.

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

A: A lot of producers tend to get stuck to what they fell in love instinctively, usually the first demo.

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

A: The biggest misconception about vocals is that it's just like any instrument. And another is that raw vocals are better than processed.

Q: What questions do you ask prospective clients?

A: What is the goal of your project

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

A: Be patient and trust the natural work process

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

A: In the entertainment industry for about 15 years. Music recording and songwriting industry for the past 7 years.

Q: Can you share one music production tip?

A: Articulate words when you sing, make space when you produce, and when you write treat your song like a puzzle where the pieces have always been in your heart and head already.

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

A: I started with electronic dance music, so I did a lot of electronic productions, but now I'm working more on melodic pop. Lately I wrote and produced a lot of contemporary christian and worship music.

Q: What's your strongest skill?

A: When crafting a vocal, I tend to notice production details that many producers don't pay attention to.

Q: What do you bring to a song?

A: I like to think I bring an accurate "delivery" of the story and, given my musical tastes, an overall brightness and "pop-ness" to it.

Q: What's your typical work process?

A: When I write and record my own vocal on an instrumental track, I take about a couple of days to do research (and prayer) for inspiration, then I "get into character" and write, usually recording a lead vocal in the same day. Then, after the demo is approved I spend a few days crafting the sound, and perfecting the interpretation. When I work behind other singers, we have 2-3 preparatory session for each 4-5 songs to record. I first tend to give an input to the lyric writing process, and then we mold the performance, taking away all the interpretation and technique flaws. In the recording session with the artist I usually draw more from the emotional side, but it's also good to experiment tips to make "that" note or phrase sound better. I prefer do the editing and the recording on the same day, so that I don't have to call the singer back, who might be in another mood or vocal condition.

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

A: Four general types of work: song writing, vocal performance, recording coach and vocal production. Usually combined together.

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

A: Watching old school producers and arrangers work can hypnotise me. I always work best alongside a good musician producer.