Pop/Hip-hop Mixing Engineer

Q: What are you working on at the moment?

A: I just finished an EP for N Kelsey, and a single for Abe the Babe. The next job is an EP for ellen ive ove. It's good music with very interesting production. I'm excited for the challenge.

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

A: I engineered, helped produce, and mixed N Kelsey's EP, DELTA. We achieved our artistic goal, and I'm proud of the end product.

Q: Analog or digital and why?

A: Digital, because it's controlled and reliable. I've worked with some of the biggest mixing engineers in the industry, many of which are old timers and masters of analogue. They're switching to digital too. It just makes sense.

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

A: My promise to you: I'm here to achieve your vision and deliver a radio-ready track.

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

A: The most common question I get is essentially "Do you think this is a good track?" The answer I give is that art is art. What matters is that it is your true and genuine expression. Maybe everyone likes it, and maybe barely anyone likes it. Regardless, it's valuable and a victory of the spirit.

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

A: That mixing is a place for fixing things. In reality, it's a continuation of your work--I just put the finishing touches on what you've already created.

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

A: I started exploring music on my family's piano as a ten-year-old and never stopped. Eventually I decided that it wasn't a hobby, which is when I started working at Henson Recording Studios in Hollywood. After a year and a half there, I realized that the gig was funneling me into a specifically analogue engineering career. I knew that that's not what I ultimately wanted to do, so I quit and started working freelance. As they say, the rest is history.

Q: What questions do you ask prospective clients?

A: Who are your influences? What are some good reference tracks for the mix, and what do you like about them sonically? Who is your target audience?

Q: How would you describe your style?

A: Organic, energized and dynamic.

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

A: Switchfoot is both my dream session and guilty pleasure. They were the band that launched my obsession with music, and I still appreciate their work.

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

A: It has varied, but I seem to be drawn to Pop and Indie-Pop. I've done some Hip-Hop as well.

Q: What do you bring to a song?

A: I bring an intuitive and minimalist expertise to every track I touch.

Q: What's your typical work process?

A: I start by organizing my desk and clearing my mind. On first listen, I close my eyes and experience each track end to end. I want to understand what the artist is hearing; I want to find the good stuff and highlight it. Also, I never want to miss the forest for the trees. A track is an organism. For it to live and breath, every part has to play its symbiotic role, and each section needs to ebb and flow in movement with the underlying energy. Once the process is started, it's a race to the finish. I lock in and push till I've got a first draft. Over-exposure is an objectivity killer. I send it out pronto, and wait for the artist's feedback so that we can move forward in tandem.

Q: Tell us about your studio setup.

A: I'm running through Apollo Pres and AD/DA, and out through Adam A7X's, Sennheiser HD650's, a mono Avantone Mix Cube and a multitude of other headphones and car speakers. I work primarily in Ableton, using UAD, Izotope, Slate Digital, Soundtoys, Wavesfactory etc.

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

A: James Auwarter has done good work for me. He was great to work with, and genuinely interested in taking my mixes that final step in the mastering stage.

Q: What do you like most about your job?

A: I get to enjoy music, 24/7. Is there a better job?

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

A: Send me your track, and let's talk about your vision. I'm here to help you reach your goals and release benchmark quality audio.

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

A: My mac, studio monitors, a treated room (cheating? Maybe), my Apollo and a vintage Neumann U47

Q: Can you share one music production tip?

A: Be purposeful. If an instrument or element doesn't add to the energy, cut it, and find something that does.

Q: What's your strongest skill?

A: My strongest skill is hearing the flow of the production and mixing to that energy.

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

A: Benny Blanco, Frank Dukes, Sufjan Stevens, Travis Scott and his crew, Josh Gudwin, Rick Rubin, Spike Stent....so many countless others.

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

A: Mixing, engineering and production.