Music Producer & Engineer

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

A: Stefón Charlot is a singer/songwriter from Brooklyn who is going to be BIG big. I'll put my money on that. I had the great honor of producing his upcoming EP and cannot wait to unleash it on the world.

Q: What are you working on at the moment?

A: I am working on several projects currently, however, they are all top secret, so that's all I can say. :)

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

A: Nope! I'm out here solo.

Q: Analog or digital and why?

A: If analog is available then analog! It just sounds so great. But from a convenience and workflow point of view, digital is the new standard.

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

A: I promise to make every effort to bring your vision to life! I understand that each project I take on is a piece of my and the artist's reputation, so I want the best result possible for both of us.

Q: What do you like most about your job?

A: Music has been my passion since I was a kid. Being able to roll out of bed and do what I love is the most rewarding job I could ask for.

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

A: I mostly get asked if I can work with their pre-recorded demos, whether those be voice notes, a beat they made, or a beat someone else made that they want to change. And of course the answer is always "yes!".

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

A: That it's not a real job, or that I'm not a real producer. But yet, here we are.

Q: What questions do you ask prospective clients?

A: What sound are you trying to achieve? What are some artists that have a similar sound? Any particular songs? What is your ultimate goal with this project? What is getting in the way of seeing your vision through? What is your expected turnaround time?

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

A: Make your intentions clear - what do you want this project to sound like and feel like? When do you want it by? How much help do you need to make you vision come to life? Communication is the most important thing! Don't be afraid to let your feelings be heard.

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

A: My Mac, my microphone, my headphones, my audio interface and my keyboard. I'll just have to hope said desert island has power and wifi.

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

A: I have been making music since I was 15, so 17 years? (gasp). I spent a lot of time experimenting and finding my sound early on. My early music, frankly, was trash. I taught myself everything I know, and I think going through that process is what made me open to trying new sounds and genres. When I finally built up the confidence, I moved to Brooklyn and started building out my network. I have been here for 6 years now and I am grateful to have a steady flow of clients. SoundBetter looked like a cool idea, so now I'm here!

Q: How would you describe your style?

A: I don't like picking a specific style, because I feel that I'm very versatile. But for the sake of the question, let's go with "experimental mainstream underground pop". How's that?

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

A: As I mentioned above, Kanye has been a huge inspiration for me and therefore he's at the top of my bucket list. Others would include Jay-Z, Nas, Frank Ocean, Tyler the Creator, Kendrick Lamar, J. Cole, Eminem, Rihanna, Beyonce (of course), Kehlani and Kid Cudi. The list could go on forever but I'll stop there!

Q: Can you share one music production tip?

A: There's so many, but if I had to pick the one that people miss the most, it's mixing. You don't have to be a professional engineer to have a decent mix on your beat. Make sure your drums cut through the mix. Make sure your melodies aren't clashing. Always compare your mix to someone else that you admire. Do they sound like the same quality? If not, YouTube it until you get it right.

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

A: I most often work on pop music and all of it's variations. The most common requests are hip hop, R&B, and soul and electronic. I enjoy working pretty much any genre though!

Q: What's your strongest skill?

A: I am very good at beat making, specifically when tasked with creating a certain sound or "vibe". I know what a happy song should like, what a sad song should sound like, what a dance song should sound like. All I need is a few key words and maybe a song for reference and I can create something original and modern.

Q: What do you bring to a song?

A: The biggest reason my clients come back to me is that I am flexible and patient and deliver on my promises (their words, not mine!). I've also been told that I provide great quality and have a very unique ear for music.

Q: What's your typical work process?

A: I try to be flexible to the artists needs. I'll do the best I can with what the can provide. I even have artists who send me a simple voice note with a melody and I go from there. Others provide guitar riffs, drum patterns or samples they want me to build around. Some will provide a specific song from another artist they want me to mimic. I'm fine with anything!

Q: Tell us about your studio setup.

A: I'm a bit of a home-body, so I prefer to work from home. I have a pretty basic setup with a drum pad, midi keyboard, Apollo Twin, iMac 5K and KRK Rokit monitors. When needed, I work from a studio nearby in Ridgewood. That's usually where I do my in person sessions.

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

A: I started producing because of Kanye West. I have always admired his versatility and his willingness to take risks and adapt. I strive to do the same in my career. My other favorites are Quincy Jones, Rick Rubin, Dr. Dre and Sounwave.

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

A: I am hired most often for custom production, usually in the R&B, soul, hip hop and pop genres. My clients like my ability to adapt to their sound. I look to push the bounds of a project and take ideas to another level.