Keyboards, Piano, Production

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

A: I arranged and recorded keys/BGV's for a Chris Moerman album called Sounds Like Sunset. It was ten years ago but when I hear it I'm still proud. It has a raw songwriter feel with elements of rock and a lot of arpeggiated live pianos.

Q: What are you working on at the moment?

A: I'm finishing up some B3 organ for two country artist pitches in Nashville and arranging/producing a chill songwriter track for an artist in Montana.

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

A: Alec Parrish for drums

Q: Analog or digital and why?

A: Both, I believe some sound better for different purposes.

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

A: I will deliver a timely and quality product that will meet your expectations. I want you to be extremely happy with how your project turns out.

Q: What do you like most about your job?

A: I feel like helping someone finish and express a dream through music is possibly more rewarding than working on my own songs.

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

A: How much do you cost to produce an album? It really all depends on how many other people we need to employ in order to get to the results you want (players, mixing and mastering, renting a studio).

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

A: That there is always a formulaic way of creating music. Standards of quality are important but there are no rules to creating a great track.

Q: What questions do you ask prospective clients?

A: What is the emotion or feeling you want your song to promote? Is there a song that you would compare it to sonically?

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

A: I feel like there's a level of quality that can only come from someone caring about your project. I believe in the importance of art and that it is for everyone to create so all projects deserve the same care and attention to detail.

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

A: I would take a UAD interface, a Nord Keyboard, a Gibson acoustic, microphone and a MacBook Pro. It's more than you need!

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

A: I have been touring primarily as a keyboardist and singer for nearly 15 years. A decade ago I decided to learn production and have been helping other artists with their projects ever since. My goal is always to use regular life experiences to inform creativity for the longevity of my career.

Q: How would you describe your style?

A: I love tone and simplicity in music. I generally gravitate toward more indie and songwriter style productions but I feel like I've grown a lot more versatile over the last few years.

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

A: Jonsi, I think he is one of the most innovative producers and performers of our era. I find everything he or his band Sigur Ros puts out to be magical and heavily inspired by nature.

Q: Can you share one music production tip?

A: I have a catalog of wood creaks, pedal noises and other sounds that I've collected over the years. I like use them under piano recordings to give them a little life. They can be so subtle but totally liven up the vibe of a song.

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

A: I have worked on a lot of songwriter, indie, rock, pop, gospel and country songs.

Q: What's your strongest skill?

A: I feel like I have a skill for arranging a song to fit a specific emotion or vibe. I enjoy deconstructing a demo and putting it all back together. Splicing parts together from samples and recordings to create an arrangement is a blast!

Q: What do you bring to a song?

A: I like to think I have a knack for giving songs something unique with keyboards. Usually it's something simple like a note placed in the right space or listening for what a song really needs before trying to play a part.

Q: What's your typical work process?

A: When I'm not touring I will usually start early in the morning and listen through projects I'm working on with fresh ears. I like to come back to each part a couple times and make sure it sets well with the other instruments.

Q: Tell us about your studio setup.

A: I have found that keeping it simple helps me to not be so paralyzed by options. I only keep gear that I use frequently like my UAD interface, a couple guitars, keyboards and mics. I have access to Nashville's amazing studios for any drums or live recordings.

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

A: Jonsi, Lord Huron, Peter Katis

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

A: I usually produce and play all instrumentation for full tracks.