Country/Pop Demo Producer

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

A: I recently wrote, played and produced an EP for an artist named Emily Earle that her team is currently shopping around to major labels. She is an up and coming country writer/artist in Nashville who was on The Voice several seasons ago. I would share the songs with you if I were allowed to!

Q: What are you working on at the moment?

A: I'm working on some sync covers for a publishing company here in Nashville.

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

A: Owen Danoff is a GREAT songwriter that I work with very regularly. Fast and very high quality.

Q: What do you like most about your job?

A: I love the creative process of finding the right sounds for the client's track. Every song has it's own specific needs!

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

A: Reference tracks are THE BEST thing to provide. If there is a sound you're looking for, I need to hear it!

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

A: I have been a live drummer on the road for about 10 years. I've toured with many country artists. In the past, when I wasn't on the road, I started to develop my gear/studio and started recording for friends demos and projects. I slowly developed more connections and now I still tour most of the year while doing sessions whenever I'm home - independent artist masters and a lot of demos.

Q: Can you share one music production tip?

A: Make sure you can always answer the WHY am I adding this part here or taking this part away there, etc. Everything needs to have a reason.

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

A: I usually work on country music and americana/singer-songwriter music.

Q: What's your strongest skill?

A: My strongest skill is layering the right sounds together.

Q: What do you bring to a song?

A: I bring a groove that I think is hard to find with most drummers. The subtly of snare ghost notes and tucked percussion is what makes a drum part really "hit" for me and that's what I strive to get on every track.

Q: What's your typical work process?

A: I will typically listen to a song through and take notes on any ideas I have throughout (after having read through what the client is looking for and listening to any references they offer). I might grab some percussion or sit behind the kit and start messing with sounds until I find the groove/perc/sounds/tones/etc that work and feel right. I'll play through it a handful of times and then take a 5 min break before reassessing where I'm at to make sure it's all working. Then I'll either mix a bit and send, or search a bit more for a better fit - whether that means drum part, perc part, tones, etc.

Q: Tell us about your studio setup.

A: I have a 10x20 fairly tight-sounding room where my drums are usually aimed down the room length-wise. I've got several kits as well as hundreds of loops/samples to choose from.

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

A: As far as session drummers, I love Aaron Sterling and Paul Mabury. As far as producers, I love Joey Moi and Jay Joyce.

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

A: I find that most of my work is either heavy-hitting, larger-than-life drums to help lift and push a country/rock song OR it's super tight and upfront drums for softer, more "in your face" type productions.