Latin Producer, Guitars, Mixer

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

A: Soraya's album "Luces y Sombras" was a great experience because she is an amazing singer and we "clicked" since the day we met. This album was very important for me because Soraya trusted me with creating a whole different concept from what she was known for. 2 of the songs I wrote and produced reached #1 on Itunes in Spain, and they were top 40 radio songs too.

Q: What are you working on at the moment?

A: I'm recording an album for a Colombian artist called Lowe Leon. We are mixing Mexican music with Country and some other sounds from the world!

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

A: Philip Sterk...a great pedal steel guitar player from Nashville. He was the reason I found Soundbetter.

Q: Analog or digital and why?

A: Analog for recording (there's nothing better than capturing an instrument or a vocal with some good analog gear). Digital for Editing and Mixing (recalls, automations, and remixing is so much easier in the digital domain)

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

A: I will always give everything I have in order to make your song the best of the best. I don't settle for mediocre songs. I always want to create hits.

Q: What do you like most about your job?

A: Traveling and meeting new and talented people from different countries.

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

A: Why does producing a song costs X amount of money? Well...If you want a professional and competitive song, you must invest in it. This means you have to work with the best of the best, so we can get the quality that you want for your product.

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

A: People think that producing limits your involvement in songwriting. And to me, my biggest success comes from approaching production from a songwriter's perspective. If you don't have a great song, you will not be able to fix it with production.

Q: What questions do you ask prospective clients?

A: What is your goal in music? What is your timeline? What are your biggest musical influences? What's your plan to release your song?

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

A: I would tell them to look for people that are professionals and that have an approach and vision of music that you share. Producers and artists have to have good chemistry and you can sense it when you have the first conversations.

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

A: Apogee Duet, Neve 517c, Neumann TLM 103, Tree Audio LC 1 Comp, IK Multimedia iLoud Micro Monitors

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

A: I come from a musical family and I learned to play instruments when I was very little. I studied Music, Audio Production and Entertainment Business at Full Sail University. When I was 23 years old I moved to Miami, FL, where I assisted and collaborated with many of the biggest producers in the Latin Industry. That experience led me to produce artists on my own and ultimately to develop my career in Los Angeles.

Q: How would you describe your style?

A: My style is to always take risks.

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

A: Coldplay. I've always liked their sound and their uniqueness. I think they are a band that always surprises their fans with unexpected approaches to music.

Q: Can you share one music production tip?

A: Hooks are not only in vocals, but in instruments as well.

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

A: Latin music has been my main line of work, but I always try to bring different sounds to the table. That's why I have studied and approached other genres such as Rock, Country, EDM, Gospel, Indie, and many others.

Q: What's your strongest skill?

A: Identifying great songs and matching them to a great concept.

Q: What do you bring to a song?

A: Uniqueness, Hard Work, Professionalism, and Polishing.

Q: What's your typical work process?

A: I like to look for a concept beforehand and try to make each song unique. My goal is to bring out the best of each artist that I work with so that they feel empowered by my vision. That's why I don't think much about genres, and I try to look and identify great songs before I even start producing. Each song develops in it's own particular way. Sometimes you start with the track, or sometimes you start with a stripped down version that later turns into a full arrangement. However, I spent most of the time trying to get the vocals sounding as good as possible so that singers feel comfortable with their performance. Depending on the project, I will record with a variety of session musicians that I have met through my years of experience. This is the part that I enjoy the most, because I get the chance to take my ideas to a next level of studio performance.

Q: Tell us about your studio setup.

A: My studio is focused on Programming, Mixing, and Recording simple setups. I trust my Focal Alpha studio monitors for my references, and my Apogee interphase has been with me for years. My main DAW is Pro Tools but I also work in Logic. I have a variety of instruments for recording such as Taylor Acoustic Guitars, Fender Strats, Fender Jazz Bass, Cajon, and Handheld Percussions.

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

A: I'm a big fan of David Foster. I think he defines what being a Producer is all about.

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

A: Producing and Writing songs for artists is my main line of work. I like to start the process with raw ideas or tracks to write on top, so I can develop unique concepts and songs that stand out.