Vocalist, Guitarist

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

A: I am most proud of my solo project because I have evolved so much as an artist! I'm proud of my ability to reinvent myself and my willingness to try new things.

Q: What are you working on at the moment?

A: My solo project, always! More specifically, producing for my own project.

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

A: MUNNYCAT!

Q: Analog or digital and why?

A: Digital! SORRY! The convenience outweighs the narrowing difference in sound. It's also way more affordable for me and therefore more affordable for my clients.

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

A: I promise to keep working until it moves you!

Q: What do you like most about your job?

A: I literally get paid to make noise!

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

A: Q: When did you know you wanted to do music? A: Since before I can remember

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

A: The biggest misconception about what I do is how much performance (playing guitar or singing) can go hand in hand with engineering. Being a "session musician" and also and the engineer allows me to think 5 steps ahead. Starting with the end in mind is important, even if you end up somewhere else.

Q: What questions do you ask prospective clients?

A: What is your vision for this song? How much creative license are you willing to give me? Would you like the audio delivered clean, with my effects or both? Is this song meant for pitch or for your own project?

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

A: Hire someone who is as passionate about making your song sound good as you are! AKA: me ;)

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

A: Laptop, Apollo Twin, Acoustic Guitar, Electric Guitar, and my Blue Spark microphone.

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

A: I have been singing since before I can remember, playing guitar and writing songs for 14 years, and doing music full time for the last 5 years. Went straight into the school of life after high school and never looked back! Up until COVID I have made a living from performing live. On the recording side, I have been lucky to have many successful and talented producers mentor me over the last 5 years.

Q: How would you describe your style?

A: Dark pop with an R&B twinge.

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

A: I'd most like to work with Halsey because I can tell she has a lot of similar influences. She's pop, R&B and rock all at the same time which is every style that made me want to do music growing up!

Q: Can you share one music production tip?

A: Less is more!

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

A: I mostly work on Pop, R&B with a little bit of an edge.

Q: What's your strongest skill?

A: My strongest skill is song arrangement, I am good at adding to songs without taking away from the song itself.

Q: What do you bring to a song?

A: My favorite thing to bring to music is uniqueness while still being accessible to listeners. I love playing with the balance between chaos and simplicity.

Q: What's your typical work process?

A: TRACKING VOCALS: I love being able to engineer and record myself while I'm being creative! You can usually find me parked in front of my laptop with a mic situated in between my face and the screen. Using my Apollo, I print my vocals with the Manley Voxbox off the bat, sometimes subtle autotune. Generally, I can get everything I need within four takes for each section of a song, then I comp it. If anything needs a nudge, I edit it in Melodyne. After the lead vocals are set in stone, I will record backgrounds and make sure they're plush with the final lead take. Depending on the clients needs, I can dress up vocals with my regular vocal chain or do some fun stuff with Little Alter Boy, distortion, a vintage exciter, or a vocal synth. TRACKING GUITARS: I mostly love tracking with my Gibson Les Paul Special. I use my Apollo Twin and print in real time with whatever effects work with the song best. My strong suit is R&B finger style electric, using the Soft Tube Marshall JMP 2203 amp modeler, Galaxy Tape Echo and UA's Oxide Tape modeler. I am able to scale down very produced songs into a guitar/vocal while maintaining dynamics by using various chord voicings and also right hand patterns that distinguish bass movements from the rest of the chord. James Taylor and John Mayer are a huge influence for me!

Q: Tell us about your studio setup.

A: I use Logic with my UA Apollo Twin. I have just about any UA plugin you could ask for as well as the entire waves suite. Melodyne, Little Alter Boy, FabFilter & iZotope plugins. For microphones, I use either the Blue Spark or the MXL V69. I have a Taylor 714 Acoustic guitar and a Gibson Les Paul Special. I've soundproofed my bedroom and use it as my studio in Denver, Colorado!

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

A: I am so inspired by K Pop producers! Because they have the freedom to think outside the box in that genre, it opens up a lot of creative opportunities.

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

A: Most commonly, I am hired to track, comp, tune and mix vocals and/or write a top line.