Music Producer and Songwriter

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

A: Satellite Mode's last EP was so rewarding to work on. I was one of the writers and producers on the record. I worked alongside some of the greats in the industry such as Sam Cohen, Peter Katis and Joe LaPorta to bring the sound to life. My writing partner Jess Carvo and I also pushed into new frontiers lyrically which was extremely rewarding too.

Q: What are you working on at the moment?

A: Producing two artists and working on the new Satellite Mode EP!

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

A: Theo Klein is a great producer.

Q: Analog or digital and why?

A: Combo! I prefer analogue synths paired with UA digital plugins.

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

A: I'll always listen and I'll always deliver on time. I won't get in the way, I'll help bring out the honesty. I'll give my opinion, but the final call is always yours.

Q: What do you like most about your job?

A: Being able to make something from nothing. Being able to work with like minded people. Being able to make others feel better through music.

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

A: How early do you want demos? Should I share only one song or a whole bunch? I want EVERYTHING. Sometimes I'll hear a nugget of magic in an otherwise half baked song. Sometimes the full song is missing some magic. The earlier we start in the process, the better!

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

A: That's it's super technical! A lot of what I offer is based on feel, experience and intuition. An amazing synth, plugin or piece of gear isn't going to make a song great. It's about intention, vulnerability and honesty. I'm great at bringing those things out in artists I collaborate with, and it's always an enlightening experience for both!

Q: What questions do you ask prospective clients?

A: I ask what their goals are. Is this a passion project or are they looking to become a professional recording artist? What are their influences? What is their favorite season of the year? What are some key defining moments in their life? I think it's important to get to know someone before hopping into a record together!

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

A: Let's collaborate as early in the process as possible. Let's share Spotify playlists of what sounds we're going for and influences. Let's keep it light and upbeat!

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

A: Moog One, Rick Electric Guitar, Nord 4D, Bass and an SM7

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

A: I've been in bands for 15 years and have shifted to a production focus over the last 5 years. I saw that I really enjoyed the process of turning a melody and catchy lyric into a full blown production. My career path right now is two fold --- continuing to push my band Satellite Mode forward while producing music for artists along the way. Some folks that have a "dream" career path include Andrew Wyatt, Mark Ronson and Patrick Carney.

Q: How would you describe your style?

A: My style is a combination of classic pop sensibility combined with an electronic and psychedelic soundscape.

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

A: I would like to work with artists that have a true understanding of the sound they are looking for, but are open to new genres to expand their art in ways they didn't imagine. The curious artist. The one who loves the take that had some mistakes, but the intention was sincere. Artists who are motivated, grounded and above all fun to work with.

Q: Can you share one music production tip?

A: Song first. Song first. Song first. Focus on the song before building out a production or it can get pretty messy.

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

A: I typically work on alternative leaning pop songs. Songs that sound a bit left field from mainstream, but still have a classic pop sensibility from a structural perspective.

Q: What's your strongest skill?

A: My strongest skill is producing from a songwriters perspective. I don't get lost in dialing in the perfect kick tone before I know the song is as good as it can be. With that mentality I feel I can guide the artists through the journey of producing a song, and help see forest from the trees.

Q: What do you bring to a song?

A: I bring clarity and focus to songwriting. I help artists tell their story in the most straightforward way to cut directly into the listeners attention. From a production standpoint I bring a unique sound to each song that connects with you as a songwriter. Your taste and energy needs to seep through each section of the song. I help artists tap into what that really is.

Q: What's your typical work process?

A: I have a "song first" mentality. I feel that a great song should be able to played on an acoustic guitar / piano with no beat or production. Once we have that down, I'll move into the production chair and focus on the basic rhythm section (Drums, Bass and Block Chords) to hone in on the general vibe of the song we're going for. From there it's a deep dive into each of those elements to give the song life and a unique feel. Next I move on to the ear candy on top of this foundation with synth leads / guitars etc. Last and most importantly we move on to the finalization of the vocal tracks and harmonies to capture the emotion of the track through the most important instrument: the human voice.

Q: Tell us about your studio setup.

A: I have a furnished basement in Crown Heights, Brooklyn that I converted into a studio. It's an analog synth wonderland along with electric guitars, bass guitar and hand percussion. The space has just been renovated and is quite comfortable to make music for long periods of time. Currently working on my studio tan! With regards to outboard gear I have an Apollo Twin Quad with an Audient ASP 880 and Great River 1NV as pres.

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

A: Artists that continue to evolve during their music career inspire me most. The Beatles are the Holy Grail of production to me, as I feel even the most modern bands can be traced back to a certain phase of the Beatles. My style leans more electronic and bands of the 2010s also inspire me a lot, as I feel there was something unique and real about their music. Bands like Phoenix and Foster the People that mesh meat and potatoes songwriting with electronic sounds have always resonated with me. Currently I'm quite into Psychedelic Funk, artists like William Onyeabor and the Shuggie Otis, and my taste remains ever evolvingl

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

A: I act as both a writer and produce to my clients. As a producer, I help focus the instrumentation and feel of a track to bring out the most unique and ear-catching moments of the song. My goal is to capture the essence of each song through not only the composition, but the little details details along the way. As an artist myself, I can see things from both the artist / producer side. I know how important it is to execute on a vision, but I also love opening doors to new sounds and textures along the way. As a writer, I help artists tell their story in the most direct way and catchy way. Whether it's small adjustments to lyrics or structuring the form itself, I find great joy in collaborating with artists from an early stage to set up the foundation of the song, before hopping into production land.