Composer/Arranger, Saxophonist

Q: What are you working on at the moment?

A: I am currently working on a short orchestral fantasia that will go into my portfolio when I apply for a master's program. I am also in the middle of making two albums: one jazz album, and one synth album for helping people study or sleep.

Q: What's your strongest skill?

A: Composing

Q: What do you bring to a song?

A: I provide a song with a strong melody. I highly believe in the moving power of melody and how it can greatly affect the trajectory of a song. The melody is the thing that is most memorable in a song, the thing that people hum along to. A song without a good, solid melody is like bland pizza.

Q: What's your typical work process?

A: When composing classical music or jazz, I typically start brainstorming ideas by recording bits of myself on the piano or by sketching on paper. Then, after I have a good idea of how I want my piece to sound, I start composing on paper, and then afterward, I notate on Sibelius. When I'm making a more mainstream-style song, like a Youtube saxophone/EWI cover, I start off by messing around on the piano/keyboard. I use Garageband for all my covers (I used it for "Q"), and I know all the in's and out's of Garageband that I have not yet found a need to upgrade to Logic. First I record all the tracks minus the melodic track (keys, synths, bass) all using my midi keyboard, and I record them along a smart track with drum programming. Then I record myself on sax/EWI with my USB mic. After that, I polish up the mixing and add the final touches.

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

A: Quincy Jones is my biggest inspiration. He has worked within a wide range of styles, from classical to jazz to funk to pop. Jacob Collier is another big inspiration of mine, mainly because he has shown that it is possible to create awesome music all by yourself.