Vocal Specialist + Songwriter

Q: What are you working on at the moment?

A: I am currently working with a small number of Ireland/UK-based R&B and pop artists, developing material for upcoming EPs in partnership with them, through assisting with songwriting and production. An upcoming personal EP is also occupying a fair bit of my time at the moment, but I'm not complaining - I still pinch myself that I get to do this kind of stuff!

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

A: Zak Higgins. One of the humblest and most talented producers and engineers working out of Ireland right now.

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

A: My absolute best. Punctuality, and clarity of communication.

Q: What do you like most about your job?

A: Finding the way to make someone's sound and song they have within them get out there. Sometimes you just need a little nudge; I find it humbling and really enjoyable to be that nudge sometimes.

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

A: Know what you are looking for and hoping for, but also try to be open to your idea becoming more than you started off with. Collaboration is beautiful and will bring your work to the next level, but it only works when you're able to be ok with being brave enough to trust someone to have good ideas too.

Q: How would you describe your style?

A: Pop sensibilities with a leaning towards the off-beat and cinematic.

Q: Can you share one music production tip?

A: Keep it simple. Not every track needs 100 Jacob Collier-style layers to it - simplicity is the friend of great music, most often.

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

A: R&B, pop, hip-hop, ambient, indie.

Q: What's your strongest skill?

A: I understand harmony. What notes work well together, how to make interesting chords. I've had the opportunity to learn from some of the best when it comes to understanding harmony, and it makes me really good at making sounds feel great.

Q: What do you bring to a song?

A: A solid understanding of the dynamic of lyrics, with a particular heart for songwriters interested in flirting with 'academic', literary lyricism. Dependable, bright hooks. Cinematically-inclined production. A soulful, hearty tenor voice, aware of pop, but with a bit of grit too.

Q: What's your typical work process?

A: Meet with the artist/client. Get a sense of their heart, desire with the track, notes and pointers. Listen to relevant reference tracks. Build a track/write lyrics acc. to request. Build a first draft, send to client asking for feedback and requested edits. Go back to track, implement edits. Send back again.

Q: Tell us about your studio setup.

A: My studio set-up is simple and effective. I have both a Rode NT1 condenser microphone, and a Shure SM57 dynamic microphone - both sufficient for quality recording of vocals, guitars, and whatever else I end up needing or feeling like. I use a Scarlett Focusrite 8i6, and as for keyboards, a Roland FP-10 and a Korg MS2000 synthesizer. Finally, for beats and alternative sounds, I love some of Native Instruments sounds and programs, and have their Maschine Mikro MK3, which is very useful.

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

A: Matthew Rad, 9th Wonder, Aphex Twin.

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

A: Songwriting - working through lyrics and melodies with an artist, and helping them tell the story they want to tell, in way which is compelling and feels authentic to them. Production - creating tracks from scratch, especially working from a reference (one or more songs that a client is looking to draw inspiration from), and then building a track out of that. Vocals + Choral Work - I understand harmonies well; over 9 years of experience travelling and performing with high-calibre choirs has been really helpful. I take requests for lead performances in a certain style (with lyrics provided, or if requested I write them), and can also build choral arrangements around existing vocal performances.