Remote Mixing / Music Producer

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

A: The 2nd album of my band LA CIUDAD. Album name "salvador". I produced it and mixed it. The album begins with the story about a car accident I had in 2007 that almost killed me, and that got me into thinking not wasting my time here. That took me to live a lot of great years and adventures. And the albums ends with the emotions and feelling of another stoty: I had a girlfriend, we got pregnand but we lost it 3-4months in. It was hard. We named him "Salvador". A lot of music and passion got involved in this project, took 2 years to make. Find it in spotify.

Q: What are you working on at the moment?

A: A new single for Daniella Saettone, a 3 song EP for Javier Lopez (Mitad del Camino on Spotify), a new single for Daniel Sacro and a new single for Jano Roca. I just delivered Daniel Sacro and Jano Roca a single. We're starting new ones!

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

A: Not yet!

Q: Analog or digital and why?

A: Like any tool: Whatever works better for the project!

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

A: I'll try to make us both happy. If you're happy I'm happy. But if I'm happy, my work would be better, and you'll be more happy. Music production it's a team work.

Q: What do you like most about your job?

A: We can create something new EVERY TIME. That's what I loved advertisement (but hated the industry) and that's what I love about being a portrait photographer (but got tired) and that's why I love being a musician and still do.

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

A: "Can I sound like that?" > No, you would sound like yourself but we can that artist or song as a references. References are good. But until some point. Then we need to let them go. "Can do have it for tomorrow?" > (In music production) I would love to be a FASTFOOD music producer, but i really like a involve myself in to a project, I need my time. I believe in love at first sight but I still need a couple of days really love something.

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

A: Technology has brought everyone the chance to make good sounding music inside your room. But know a lot of people thinks is just about the technology. We "want every pluing"; "every vst". To begin creating amazing music we just need us, a good glass of wine or tea, inspiration and then the tech part would resolve it self. I have listened to great music that was recorded poorly but sounded amazing because it was music with passion and creativity. Emotion always beats technicality.

Q: What questions do you ask prospective clients?

A: I always ask: what do you listen too, what do you like in music, what movies do you like, what are your expectations and stuff like that. I love the talk and get to know people. I have a Podcast now about that.

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

A: Look for humility, passion and creativity. The "final work" can always improve.

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

A: Macbook with VSTs and a DAW, my Slate MIC, my UAD Apollo, My Acoustic Taylor and my Minilab Arturia.

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

A: I always wanted to be a music producer - mix eng. But life not always takes you to what you want. I've been a musician literally all of my life, at age 21 I had a big band here in Lima, Peru (FUERA DEL RESTO) and always been playing. But in 2000s I worked mostly as a Creative Advertiser. In 2010s I worked as a Wedding Photographer (I created TahuanoFoto, a big brand in Peru in weddings, with more than 650 weddings now). But since 2010 I started to reconnect with the technical side of music production, and getting in every course and practice I could. Now, since 2019 I started working part time as a music producer or mixing. And I now have MARAMU STUDIO, trying to make it my full time job. (Of course my company Tahuano will be still working for me :))

Q: How would you describe your style?

A: Relax, easy going, hard working, always giving ideas, always listening.

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

A: John Mayer or Dave Matthews Band. Because they inspired me a lot creatively and I think I can bring something new to them now.

Q: Can you share one music production tip?

A: Record everything. If you are in a car and have a melody idea, record it with our phone. If you're in a studio recording an artist, record every take, even the first one. If you're watching a video and saw a great tip, not just bookmark it, record that part with your phone. Record everything, then revise it and create from it. And 2nd: LISTEN EVERYTHING. Shut up and listen. To the music, to the artist, to the person in front of you. Just listen. Then think.

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

A: Rock, Pop, Fusion, Acoustic. I'll be happy to do more R&B, Funk and "jam band" kind of things.

Q: What's your strongest skill?

A: Creativity (musically and technological) , curiosity and hard work. And some good humor of course.

Q: What do you bring to a song?

A: I really try to embrace the artist vision. Then I try to picture it within my production or mixing skills and work on that (if I need more reference or investigation). I do that because I want to surprise the artist within my empathy and collaboration, so he can be sure I'm doing the best I can at that time to make his music into something more special. I always put all of my creativity and honest music passion in every job. If we are both sure we're working our best, we're in the right path.

Q: What's your typical work process?

A: A good zoom meeting, get to know each other fast and learn what do you wand and mostly: what do you need. Then, if it's mixing, I'll need a couple of days to reference and have a first pass. If it's producing, that could take a week or so. A day of inspiration, a day of putting some ideas together, a day or two of making-recording a good sounding demo (somethings sometimes could go through the final production!) and send it. Wait for feedback, maybe another meeting, and repeat until we are all happy and inspired.

Q: Tell us about your studio setup.

A: I have a medium size home studio in Lima, Peru. Designed with a lot of love and a sound eng. supervision to control (almost all) frequencies. I have 8 UAD analog inputs to record almost everything. 5 types of monitors to reference the best I can (from professionals ones to everyday ones). Some guitars, basses, a big keyboard and some stuff I use time to time (like my Mutron pedal!). And of course, my workhorse MacBook Pro.

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

A: Michael Brauer, A. Scheps, Jon Brion, Alejandro Sanz, Dave Matthews, Steve Lillywhite, Rafa Sardina, Jaycen Joshua and a lot more. I find inspiration everywhere. I love movies and composing for screens too.

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

A: I help them to sound how they imagined. I think everything is possible my todays tools. We can have a "string section" right on our computer. We can do it. Every artist in every part of world can record and sound professionally. And I help them to archive that.