Music Producer & Artist

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

A: I have a couple of special ones, Bako was a project that I worked on that let me explore different ways to make latin music, songs like "Aunque No Sea Reguetón" (I was the producer, composer and co-writer) or "Si Es Pa' Eso" (I was the producer, composer, co-writer and co-mixer) are some of the songs I enjoyed a lot making with him, other one is an artist called Daniel Baute, I produced a song that I wrote called "Estar Contigo", I was the Mixer as well, I guess it was the first time I heard something that I mixed that I think that sounds really good, but I guess my solo project is a special one, is a project where I am the Songwriter, Producer, Musician and Mixer, has given me a lot of experience in every aspect of the art of making and promoting music. a especial one of mine is "Domingo"

Q: What are you working on at the moment?

A: Currently I'm working for independent labels in Germany making music for them, chill out, loft hip hop, latin jazz and, Jazzy tracks and ambient music are the most common genres I make for them, I'm very into the production of my second album as a solo artist and have 2 artist projects, an artist from Virgin Islands, a production for a singer songwriter called Roberto Munard and an special project for a renown luthier called Tobias Bastidas.

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

A: Yes, is my assistant in some of my productions, his sparring its been with me the last 3 years and now doing his thing by his own. His name is Ani De Los Reyes, is soooo talented.

Q: Analog or digital and why?

A: For me doesn't have much relevance as long as you know how to make the moves with what you have.

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

A: On time delivery, Guaranteed quality control in every step of the process, we're gonna learn together, and we're gonna enjoy it together, we're gonna make this happen together. I can be a friend cause I'm a trustful person.

Q: What do you like most about your job?

A: The transformation process that the song has in each step of the production, I love to have the song as a demo and enjoy that process, anyway music is my passion, fulfills my life, so I love almost everything.

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

A: Not believing in my guts when have been necessary to do it. overthink.

Q: What questions do you ask prospective clients?

A: What is exactly what you want with your project? Can you show me some of your music? How do you describe your self in general aspects?, not only as an artist. Yo you like my work?

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

A: that is essential to be self-critical and always think about the music and not in him, that the ego is the most harmful in life and most when it comes to create something, and that in this business is important to be consistent and under any reason, NOT TO QUIT.

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

A: A laptop, an interface, a Telefunken U48, a guitar and a MIDI controller.

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

A: Since I took for the first tima a guitar 21 years, since I started recording bands and the band of my own, 13 years, since I started doing it as a professional 9 years, and here I am, just beginning so far, still learning the art of producing music. every day trying to be better.

Q: How would you describe your style?

A: Is a classy, profound, atemporal, flavory, simple, particular style.

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

A: Hard to answer, I would like to work with different ones, J Balvin, Jorge Drexler, Juanes, Gustavo Santaolaya, Bunbury, John Mayer, Sting, Juan Pablo Vega, Natalia Lafourcade, Carlos Vives, Toto La Momposina, Ziigie Marley, Cultura Profética etc.. I guess I can't name only one cause as you guys can see, my dream is to work with several artists with several styles.. I really want that.

Q: Can you share one music production tip?

A: Don't be afraid to cut info on the production, most of the times less is more, that's something that let the music breath and you can focus all your energy on to get the most possible energy and emotion of the elements on the song.

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

A: Pop, Latin Pop, Hip Hop, Electronic Music, Pop Rock.

Q: What's your strongest skill?

A: I'm a versatile musician, my career has let me work with a lot of different kinds of music, starting with Colombian Folclore, Classical Music, Colombian Music, Latin American genres, Reggaeton, Pop, Rock, Electronic Music like House, Chillout, LoFi, Ambient etc.. So that's an advantage that I have cause I can adapt to different musical environments.

Q: What do you bring to a song?

A: Difference, identity, a brand, a unique way to sound.

Q: What's your typical work process?

A: First of all I start talking a lot with the artist, doesn't matter if I'm producing, writing or mixing or all of previous items, I try to get inside the artist mind to know exactly what he needs, then start with the beginning of the musical process can change depending of the info and music I have, it can be writing the song, it can be making music and then write, I always start with a blank piece of paper and then randomly, but with a very clear vision of what we want, start to brainstorming until we find the right musical vibe. once we got the demo I decide if there's is gonna be real instruments (depending on the genre) or just electronic elements,, always thinking in a grounded concept and always looking forward to hear this that amazes me and the artist, once I got all the musical elements of the track recorded and on the right point i begin to work on vocals and the same process, looking to hear special things, profound vibes and something that the artist and me amaze us, I never push the buttons to make what I want, I just let the music be the boss. once I got everything ready start the final edits on the song and prepare the session for mix, doesn't matter if im mixing or is other mixer who is gonna work on the final steps, but I take my time to make a clean organized session to get the right results. when the mix is ready we already know who's gonna do the mastering engineer (that's the only process I don't do), I'm always thinking and guiding the artist depending on the project needs, so I like to have several options for mastering, once the mastering engineer is booked and send the files to master and voila! we got a new song or album. The point is always think in the music not in the persons, that's gonna ensure a good result and always thinking without ego and with love for the song we are making.

Q: Tell us about your studio setup.

A: Is simple but with the right tools to make a high quality recording: - Apollo 8 Quad Core - 47 UAD Plugins - Focal twin 6be studio with sub - Presonus Central Station for monitoring - Sonarworks Systemwide - Charter Oak E700 Condenser Mic - Rode NT1A (Pair) - Rode Wireless Go - 7 guitars (including, Fender Stratocaster, Gibson Les Paul, Yamaha Rgx 312 customized, Iberia Alhambra, Bastidas High Class Classical Guitar and Taylor Academy) - Lakeland Bass - A lot of different minor percussions - Protools 2020 - A lot of different plugin brands like FabFilter, Steven Slate All Bundle, Plugin Alliance Bundles, Soundtoys All bundle, Valhalla, Izotope, Waves all bundle and much much more. The room is completely isolated to improve his sound, and has some special vibe.

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

A: my inspiration comes from several music styles I have a college degree on Classical Guitar so I have a wide musical background, I was born in Colombia, so the latin flavor is a very strong influence for combined with foreign musicians and producers. Producers like Sky Rompiendo, Rafa Arcaute, Ian Kirkpatrick, Mark Ronson and much more, musicians like Juanes, John Mayer, Sting, Carlos vives, Cultura profética, J Balvin, Jorge Drexler and much much more. I must confess that regardless the admiration and respect I have for this people, I try not to copy the way they make music, I just listen, study and learn the most I can can.

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

A: I usually start, most of the times, without a song, so I write with the artist (or write for the artist as well), make the beats, arrangements, I can play different instruments, so very often I record some of the instruments in my productions (different guitar styles, bass, percussions, keyboards, etc.), I make the editing and mix the song, always based on the vision of the artist, for me, the most important thing on the production I to know what the artist wants with his music; So I can write songs, produce, play, edit or mix if there's an specific need or do all the things in one project.