Record Producer & Mixer

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

A: I really love the work I am doing with Jazz band Knats. It was a little out of my comfort zone to take on this project and produce, engineer and mix it all, but they're all incredible musicians and the blend of influences we have really made for an inspiring record.

Q: What are you working on at the moment?

A: A tonne of music - a Lithuanian Ambient Pop artist, a Jack Johnson-esque singer songwriter, a crazy Bleachers style band, Nick Cave style singer songwriter, Phoebe Bridgers style singer songwriter. I love it all!

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

A: Mark Broughton!!

Q: Analog or digital and why?

A: Both, I quite often track only with analogue equipment, and mix in the box, or in a hybrid situation. I'm used to using analog elements on my mix buss, and believe this delivers a better sounding product, that more closely resembles a record. I'll do whatever it takes to get a great end result!

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

A: That I will give them a product that they are proud of.

Q: What questions do you ask prospective clients?

A: What would you like to sound like? What's your story? What are your goals?

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

A: Make sure your music says something!

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

A: Laptop, UA Interface, Keyboard, Guitar, Headphones.

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

A: I've been working in studios for 10 years. I've been playing instruments for as long as I can remember. After graduating with a Masters degree in composition, I continued to write, and find other artists to work with. It has been my only hustle, but I couldn't imagine another way of living.

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

A: I tend to work on anything 'Indie': Indie Rock, Folk, Pop, Classical - anything interesting!

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

A: Most often, I'm working with the artist to get the most emotional nuance out of their song. This might be through creating an arrangement behind their vocal, coaching players through their performances or mixing records.

Q: What do you like most about your job?

A: I love seeing the artist's reaction to their music, hearing it in a place they didn't expect it to be, blown away by how good it sounds. I love seeing the song do well on streaming platforms!

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

A: In remote work, a lot of clients are unsure and want to know how this will pan out in a satisfying way. Often I get asked on how to release songs in today's industry and how to 'make it' - I have a bunch of documents and help I can give in these situations.

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

A: That it's easy, and anyone with basic gear can do it. They're not wrong, but they're not right either. The client is paying for expertise, taste, compatibility. There will be moments where it is plan sailing, but also moments where we want to tear our hair out. The client is relying on the experience of the producer to guide them into the right area. Experience dictates taste, and the collection of sounds and instruments a producer had differentiates us from one another.

Q: How would you describe your style?

A: Nuanced and polished.

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

A: Olafur Arnalds. His music set me on my compositional path, fusing a blend of genres but retaining a sense of authenticity. His ability to experiment and create a sound-world is second to none.

Q: Can you share one music production tip?

A: It doesn't matter how complicated the music is, as long as it moves people.

Q: What's your strongest skill?

A: Creating an emotional and interesting arrangement so that the song flows and sits in its own soundworld.

Q: What do you bring to a song?

A: I bring a sense of form and structure to the music. In a wider sense, I can really bring out the arc of the track and make sure it delivers an emotional impact. On a smaller scale, my attention to detail means everything in the song will have its own place.

Q: What's your typical work process?

A: I generally work fast and intuitively. I will liaise with the client to find out their needs. If I'm working on a production, I will likely receive a demo and a vocal with some basic tracks to fill out. I will then provide a rough structure and instrumentation for approval, and work until we finish. If mixing, it is largely the same. I will receive the tracks, I will check to make sure everything is there and that there are no issues. I send multiple versions to ensure I'm on the right track. After this is approved, the artist has the opportunity to have three further revisions included in their original fee.

Q: Tell us about your studio setup.

A: I have a multi-room facility that enables to have large amounts of flexibility in my workflow & creative endeavours. There are two rooms, one more traditional space, with a 24 channel SSL AWS console, various pieces of outboard and a lovely live room. The second room is more of a mixing & mastering space, with more boutique outboard. It can double as a sort of bedroom or project studio with access to a huge array of synths and more. Everything I'd ever need is at my fingertips. We have a tonne of guitars, pedals, synthesizers, drums, as well as a few tid-bits, all vintage or new, to choose from, allowing a wide variety of sounds to be created.

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

A: I love Shawn Everett because of his ingenuity and willingness to experiment and present seemingly ubiquitous sounds in novel and exciting ways. I also admire Philippe Zdar, Michael Brauer, Tchad Blake, Greg Wells and many more for similar reasons - I love their approaches to mixing and how they think what a song should be. Musically, I enjoy all sorts in the 'indie' realm, whether it be Olafur Arnalds & Nils Frahm, to Phoenix or Catfish & The Bottlemen.