Producer & Mixer

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

A: I recently produced a song called "SOS I'm In Love" for an artist named Maddie Poppe, who was the winner of American Idol's sixteenth season. I'm proud of this release because I also co-wrote the song with Maddie and several of my close songwriter friends. It is a super fun song to listen to, and I had a blast pushing myself to play all instruments & mix the song myself.

Q: What are you working on at the moment?

A: I'm touring most weekends, and producing a couple songs at the moment for artists in Nashville and in other locations.

Q: Analog or digital and why?

A: A little of both! Analog methods lend themselves to more organic performances, while digital technology speeds things up quite a bit and is definitely necessary in today's landscape to attain that radio-ready sound.

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

A: I promise to get the sound you're looking for in your song. While I have my own musical influences, I'll stay out of the way aesthetically to make sure the track sounds exactly the way you'd like it to.

Q: What do you like most about your job?

A: The clean slate of a new project is incredibly exciting to me. It's a special feeling to start with an idea, trust the process, and come out with a final product.

Q: What questions do you ask prospective clients?

A: What are your goals for this song? What are the primary emotion(s) you'd like your song to convey? What other musical influences would you like this song to channel?

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

A: Acoustic guitar and 2 cases each of food and water. Does that count?

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

A: My first exposure to music was in taking piano lessons as a child, and playing in the wind symphony & jazz bands in high school. I played in a hip-hop band in high school, which is where the bug for music production really bit me. After that, I completed my degree in Commercial Music at Belmont University in Nashville, TN. From there, I've been touring and producing music internationally for 8 years.

Q: How would you describe your style?

A: Soulful with attitude.

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

A: Charlie Puth! He's got such a passion for music and creating it in new & exciting ways.

Q: Can you share one music production tip?

A: Music production is like cooking: if you ensure excellence at every stage (recipe creation, ingredient selection, preparation, cooking, and plating) you will find a good result.

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

A: It's a three-way tie between Pop, Country, and R&B / Hip-Hop.

Q: What's your strongest skill?

A: I would say my musical awareness. I have a degree in music from Belmont University, and more than a decade of professional experience reading, performing, and producing music - so I have a strong handle on how to bring the best out of a song or composition using my arranging & production skills.

Q: What do you bring to a song?

A: Simply put, I bring a love and passion for music! There's not much I love more than creating music, and I love crafting unique songs with something to say. I also bring 10+ years of experience in a variety of genres as an international touring musician and producer.

Q: What's your typical work process?

A: I start by working on a "mood board" of influences and sound ideas with the client to determine artistic direction for the song. Then, starting with a scratch demo or guitar / piano / vocal recording, I build an arrangement of the song. I add the "backbone" of the track, whether that's drums, keyboards, or guitar, and continue to flesh out the song with instruments like dobro, pedal steel, horns, and synthesizers. Then, I mix the song, making sure each element can be clearly heard. Lastly, I master the song - ensuring that its loudness and sonic quality is perfect for all listening sources.

Q: Tell us about your studio setup.

A: I record from my home studio in Nashville. I use a variety of microphones and outboard gear to record guitars, vocals and percussion; analog synthesizers; and virtual instruments. I mix on my Yamaha HS8 monitors and through headphones and in-ear monitors.

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

A: Some of my favorite producers include: Mike Elizondo (50 Cent, Turnstile, Linkin Park), Jay Joyce (Eric Church, Miranda Lambert, Cage the Elephant), Ethan Gruska (Phoebe Bridgers, boygenius, Madison Cunningham), Quincy Jones, and Jon Bellion.

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

A: On a day-to-day basis, I'm producing music for artists. This includes making a plan for the song, including a "mood board" of influences and sound choices; arranging the song; recording all instruments; mixing, and mastering the song.