Mixer/Engineer/Producer

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

A: Sadly the band are no longer together but working with the reggae band The Kayanites aka I&I was a special project for me as I'm a huge fan of the music but also as we recorded everything live and the band were incredible. We managed to finish 5 songs in 2 days from production to mixing, and I still really enjoy listening to them all.

Q: What are you working on at the moment?

A: A film score and mix for a documentary about a very charismatic squash coach. This will be the second film I have worked on for the same directors and I'm really excited to be doing some writing this time around.

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

A: Bruno Ellingham I think is on SoundBetter. He's extremely talented.

Q: Analog or digital and why?

A: As I explained in a previous question, I don't feel like there really is a debate around this any more. The things you are able to acheive with digital audio outweight any perceived benefits in sonics with analogue, but there is most definitely a more effective time for both. That said, give me dials to tweak and I'll happily stay there for days!

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

A: That they will walk away happy with our work.

Q: What do you like most about your job?

A: Creating lasting products with interesting people.

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

A: Nothing is ever the same between projects, that's what I love about working in music.

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

A: That it's easy.

Q: What questions do you ask prospective clients?

A: What music they listen to.

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

A: Get in touch to just shoot some ideas back and forth before even talking about the work itself. I alwalys like to think if we are on the same page in conversation then chances are we'll prodcue some great work together.

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

A: My moulded IEMs, MPC Live, Space Echo,

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

A: I started making tea in a studio around 10yrs ago and quickly found myself as the in-house everything there. This lead to working with other artists in other studios and also into live sound work that snowballed into a separate career path itself.

Q: How would you describe your style?

A: Thought-out, smooth, textural and I would hope intrinsic to the song itself.

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

A: Sly & Robbie because they are masters of groove and have an incredible ability to create interest around the building blocks of song with accents and adlibs.

Q: Can you share one music production tip?

A: Work quickly. Usually your first instinct is the right one, and if it's not you'll know for sure either way!

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

A: Absolutely anything that moves me.

Q: What's your strongest skill?

A: Dedication. I become a little obsessed with the projects I'm working on. It becomes a part of my being until it's finished.

Q: What do you bring to a song?

A: My absolute aim is to understand the emotion and intent of the song and make all moves about bringing it out. If I can sit back and feel something when listening to it, then I know I've at least done the job.

Q: What's your typical work process?

A: I try to keep mixing hours pretty short and if I can't get the song out in the time, I'll generally approach it from a different angle from the ground up. Tweaking a project for days, weeks, months, almost never works out in the end.

Q: Tell us about your studio setup.

A: As with nost people these days, I'm mostly ITB (in the box) as it immensely expands the realms of possibilty in both technical use and the range of projects that can be in action at any one time. I love analogue audio and it will always have a place in the recording phase, I'm very lucky to have been given a grounding in both aspects from the get go. When recoerding and writing, I love my Logan String Melody for some dusty string synth sounds, the MS20 for bass and my MPC Live for quick beats when needed. I also have a Korg Stage Echo in my room that I love and am always keen to send stuff out to it.

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

A: Dan Austin and Paul Corkett are way up there on the list of inspiring people for me. Also Deewee studio in Belgium as they have their sound absolutely nailed.

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

A: Recording and mixing, including editing, vocal tuning etc. mostly but I have been doing lots of live sound work in the last few years too.