Producer | Songwriter | Mixer

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

A: David Schoenwetter is an incredibly talented producer, songwriter and friend. We've worked together on a number of projects over the years and I'd happily recommend him if I wasn't the right fit for a project.

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

A: My promise is simple. I'll treat your music with the same care and attention as I would my own. I'm not interested in delivering something that's simply "good enough." My name is attached to every record I produce, so I'm fully invested in creating something we're both genuinely proud of. My goal is always to deliver a commercially competitive, release ready record while building a long term creative relationship that lasts beyond a single song.

Q: What do you like most about your job?

A: Watching an idea evolve into a finished record. There's something incredibly rewarding about hearing a rough demo transform into a song that feels ready for the world. I also love building long term relationships with artists and watching their confidence and music grow with every release we create together.

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

A: That music production is just about adding sounds. In reality, it's about making thousands of creative decisions that all serve the song. Sometimes the best production decision is removing something rather than adding another layer. Great records aren't usually created by doing more, they're created by making better choices.

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

A: Do your research, come prepared and be open to collaboration. You're hiring a producer not just for technical ability, but for experience, perspective and honest feedback. The strongest records happen when artists trust the process, communicate openly and put the song above everything else. If we can do that together, we'll give your music the best possible chance of standing out.

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

A: A piano or guitar, a laptop running Logic Pro, an audio interface, a microphone and a good pair of headphones. If I can write, record and capture ideas, I'm happy. Great songs always start with great ideas, not expensive gear.

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

A: I studied Music at Leeds University before moving to London immediately after graduating to pursue music full time. I started out by knocking on studio doors, eventually landing an internship that became the foundation of my career. Over the past decade I've gone on to write and produce music that's generated more than 90 million streams, worked with artists and labels including Warner, Sony, Universal, Ultra and Armada, and become a Grammy Voting Member. Every project and every release has taught me something new, and I'm still as passionate about making great records today as when I first started.

Q: How would you describe your style?

A: Modern, emotional and commercially focused. I love combining strong songwriting with polished production to create records that feel current while still standing the test of time.

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

A: Ryan Tedder would probably be at the top of my list. I've always admired his ability to combine world class songwriting with incredible production while making records that connect with millions of people. I'd also love to work with Fred again.. because of the emotion and honesty he brings to his productions. His music proves that technical excellence and genuine feeling can exist in the same record.

Q: Can you share one music production tip?

A: Always ask yourself whether every sound is serving the song. It's easy to keep adding layers because you can. Often the biggest improvement comes from removing something and giving the important moments more space to breathe. Simplicity and clarity nearly always win.

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

A: Primarily commercial Pop, Dance and Electronic music. That said, I'm always drawn to great songs first. If the song is strong, I'm happy working across genres and bringing the right production approach to help it reach its full potential.

Q: What do you bring to a song?

A: Over a decade of experience, another set of professional ears, and someone who's completely invested in helping you create the strongest version of your music. I'm not a "yes" person who agrees with every idea just to keep a client happy. If I think there's a stronger melody, a better arrangement or a production choice that will elevate the record, I'll always share it honestly and respectfully. My goal isn't to change your vision. It's to help bring the very best version of it to life.

Q: What's your typical work process?

A: Every project starts with a conversation. I'll listen to your demo, understand your vision, then share my ideas on how we can strengthen the song, whether that's the arrangement, structure, production or even subtle songwriting changes if I think they'll elevate the record. Once we're aligned, you'll send me your guide vocal and I'll build the production around it. When the instrumental is ready, I'll guide you through the vocal recording process, suggesting harmonies, layers and vocal production ideas before you record at a studio local to you. Once I receive the stems, I'll mix and master the track into a commercially competitive, release ready record. Afterwards, I'm always happy to share advice on release strategy based on my own experience releasing music independently and working with labels.

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

A: Ryan Tedder, Fred again.., Calvin Harris and Mark Ronson have all influenced the way I think about music. What they have in common isn't just great production, it's their ability to make people feel something. That's always been my biggest inspiration and the standard I try to hold myself to.

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

A: One project I'm particularly proud of is co writing and producing "Warrior" by Robert Falcon and Mark with a K. Seeing it go on to generate millions of streams and hearing it played around the world was an incredible feeling. More recently, I've become just as proud of the records I create with independent artists. Helping someone take a rough demo and turn it into a finished song they're genuinely excited to release is one of the most rewarding parts of what I do. My role is rarely just producer. I'm usually involved in songwriting, arrangement, production, vocal production, mixing and helping shape the record from start to finish.

Q: What are you working on at the moment?

A: I'm currently producing music for a range of artists across Pop, Dance and Electronic music, alongside releasing my own music under my artist project, leon taro. Working on both client projects and my own releases keeps me connected to every stage of the process, from writing and production through to mixing, release strategy and promotion, which is something I can bring into every project I work on.

Q: What questions do you ask prospective clients?

A: The first question is always, "What are you trying to say with this song?" From there we'll talk about your vision, your influences, where you feel the song is today, and where you want it to end up. I'll also ask what artists or records inspire you, as that helps us establish a creative direction before we begin. Most importantly, I want to know if you're open to collaboration. The best records are made when everyone is focused on creating the strongest possible song, rather than protecting every original idea.

Q: What's your strongest skill?

A: I'd say my biggest strength is seeing the bigger picture. I don't just focus on making sounds. I focus on making songs. That means constantly thinking about melody, arrangement, emotion, energy and how every production decision supports the record as a whole. Having produced professionally for over a decade, I know when to push an idea further, when to simplify something, and when a song is already saying exactly what it needs to say.

Q: Tell us about your studio setup.

A: I work remotely from my professionally treated studio in Los Angeles, built around Genelec monitoring, UAD and a carefully selected collection of instruments and software that I've refined over the past decade. More importantly than the equipment, I've built a workflow that allows artists anywhere in the world to collaborate easily. Whether you're recording vocals locally or sending me ideas from your bedroom, the process is designed to be smooth, creative and enjoyable from start to finish.

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

A: Most of my work is full production, taking a rough demo all the way to a finished record that's produced, vocally produced, mixed and mastered, ready for release. I also regularly help artists with additional production, vocal production and mixing. Whether you need someone to shape the entire creative vision or simply elevate an existing production, I love helping artists bring out the very best in their songs.