Finlay Cullender on SoundBetter

I'm a UK-based producer, mixer and mastering engineer with over 12 million streams to my name and credits with Top 40 acts. I specialise in helping artists to reach their creative goals via my range of services, which could be a full production, a mix to tidy up the work that's already been done, or even additional production.

I'm a Music Producer, Songwriter and AVID-certified Mix/Mastering Engineer with a genuine love for music.

I have completed a BA(Hons) course at Point Blank Music School in Music Production & Sound Engineering, and can produce/mix music within a wide range of briefs & genres. Below is a description of my services so you can better understand what you might require.

Full Production:
I will create a totally original backing track based off speaking to you, and listening to references you supply me with.

Mixing:
I will take the stems from your project, and 'mix' them to a reference of your choosing. I'll work with you and feed back on your existing composition, and provide guidance where I can. I'll then take the stems and finalise the mix.

Mastering:
I'll take a 'premaster' version of your track (fully mixed, although will give mix feedback if required to improve master), and apply the finishing touches to get it ready for release, in line with industry standard guidelines.

Additional production:
I will work on your production and add/remove things as required to improve the flow of the song, and ensure that it sounds the way it needs to. This can sometimes involve changing basslines, chords, and additional elements. This includes a mix/master at no extra cost too!

Selected credits: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/5vpBb4WTH7iTYdOZl5stpF?si=30629c5d5f6240ae

Click the 'Contact' above to get in touch. Looking forward to hearing from you.

Credits

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Interview with Finlay Cullender

Q: What are you working on at the moment?
A: I'm working on a lot of music for my own artist project and label, which is really exciting.
Q: Analog or digital and why?
A: If time permits, analog all the way! There is something special about the sound you can get, whether it be the cliché of warmth, or more commonly in my use cases, the extra bottom end you can get from something like a Moog.
Q: What do you like most about your job?
A: How different every day is!
Q: What advice do you have for a customer looking to hire a provider like you?
A: Please reach out and enquire and provide information regarding your specific situation! Every artist is different and has different needs, so I'm happy to provide assistance and offer my services to fit those needs.
Q: If you were on a desert island and could take just 5 pieces of gear, what would they be?
A: 5 pieces of gear is a lot! I think it would have to be my Takamine acoustic, and the other 4 would be some decent survival bits and pieces.
Q: What was your career path? How long have you been doing this?
A: I started with music at a young age. My Dad was a drummer, so I learnt piano and guitar (the latter so I could jam with him). I then learnt drums and joined a band at school. I got into dance music from a few holidays we'd had as a family to the Balearic Islands. I've been producing since 2013, and attended Point Blank Music School to further hone in my craft.
Q: How would you describe your style?
A: Melody, Energy, Emotion.
Q: Which artist would you like to work with and why?
A: I'd really like to work with Ian Kirkpatrick one day, purely just to see what we'd create.
Q: Can you share one music production tip?
A: Don't be too precious. A lot of people get attached early on to certain ideas when there may be a better one out there. I think it's important to remain as open minded as you can when creating music. Also, back up your computer! Haha
Q: What type of music do you usually work on?
A: I usually work in pop & a wide range of genres within dance music
Q: What's your strongest skill?
A: I think my mixing is particularly strong, due to the fact I have a background in songwriting and production. It allows me to identify the vital elements and figure out what parts aren't necessarily contributing to the overall outcome of the song.
Q: What do you bring to a song?
A: Consistency and commitment. I know I can operate at a high standard across all projects I work on. I also don't give up until I've found what I'm looking for in a song.
Q: What's your typical work process?
A: For production jobs I like to speak with my clients first, and discuss goals and influences. I also quite like setting up a reference playlist on Spotify with the client and have them add maybe 5-7 songs which they are inspired by. They don't have to sound the same as each other. I'll then make a start and try to capture a mix of those vibes from the songs and build something truly unique.
Q: Tell us about your studio setup.
A: At the heart of my setup is a fully maxed out MacBook Pro, paired with a universal audio Apollo X4. On that MacBook I have all the main DAWs (Ableton/Logic/ProTools), and all the main software packages (Waves, Fabfilter, iZoTope, Native Instruments + way more). For my monitoring I use Neumann KH310s, as well as Kali Audio IN-8s. I have a collection of synths and guitars in my studio too, including Gibson Les Paul, Fender Stratocaster, Takamine Acoustic, and Moog Subsequent 37. I also frequently am using the studios at Tileyard in London for projects that require it.
Q: What other musicians or music production professionals inspire you?
A: In the pop world, I'm a big fan of Ian Kirkpatrick's approach to making music. He's definitely influenced my work on that side of things. For dance music, I take a lot of career inspiration from producers such as Billen Ted, Punctual, Lewis Thompson, etc, as they're behind a lot of the big artists' tunes.
Q: Describe the most common type of work you do for your clients.
A: I've been doing a lot of full production work for female pop artists lately, which has been really fun. I love creating new music and then honing it down until it's a finished piece of work. I've also seen a lot of work lately with DJ/Producer type artists who need help getting their ideas polished, so I've definitely been busy with mix/master clients too.