#1 iTunes Charts Producer and Mix Engineer
I'm a producer and mix engineer who's worked on songs that have reached high tier charts on iTunes (i.e. Korey Power - 'Shadows' and 'Street Lights'). My skills mainly come from 20 years of experience in composition, arranging, mixing and mastering projects (from individual tracks to a fully cohesive LP like 'Rêverie' from The Edge of November), premium courses, and seminars with renowned mixers like Andrew Scheps.
I will produce/mix your songs and full projects to have a high quality sound with a focus on elevating your story and sound.
Contact me directly so we can talk about your project and your vision =)
Would love to hear from you. Click the contact button above to get in touch.
Interview with Axel Vapaa
Q: Analog or digital and why?
A: It's not about the gear, it's about what comes out of the speaker! ITB mixing is the best way for me to be creative any time of the day, anywhere on the planet (or in space?). Because I'm mixing ITB, I can work on more songs at the same time, without having the limitations of hardware gear (i.e. recalling hardware setup). This means working faster, and more creatively (to me).
Q: What do you like most about your job?
A: The artistic side of it. Although I also love the engineering part of making a record sound great! Giving excitement to a project and making it come to life is what I love about this job (it's a passion really!).
Q: What's the biggest misconception about what you do?
A: The devil is in the details (a lot of smaller steps instead of a big one).
Q: What questions do you ask prospective clients?
A: Anything that can give me information on the artistic direction and vision for the project Then the technical stuff (Bpm, Stems, Rough Mix, etc).
Q: If you were on a desert island and could take just 5 pieces of gear, what would they be?
A: 1) A laptop 2) A guitar 3) A mic 4) A set of speakers (or headphones) 5) A fridge
Q: What was your career path? How long have you been doing this?
A: I've been producing songs, mixing, and mastering since I was 10. With my first mixer (Mackie) and the early versions of Cubase, I was able to start pushing faders and turn knobs very early. This helped me build my ears, experiment for thousands of hours, and gain experience and knowledge. A lot of reading, masterclass (including one with Andrew Scheps), and courses helped me dive deeper into the technical side of it. I built technical knowledge, and 20 years of experience in this field thanks to supporting parents and a hunger for curiosity.1
Q: How would you describe your style?
A: I love the grit, dirt, and drive on a song. Anything that makes the song feel raw, natural, exciting, and ALIVE!
Q: What type of music do you usually work on?
A: I literally work on anything!
Q: What's your strongest skill?
A: Listening (great for a guy who works in music!). I'm focused on making a record WITH and FOR the artist. Listening and exchanging about the vision and the artistic direction is where I'm great at. With composition and harmony training (music theory), I'm great at thinking outside the box creatively. With the countless hours of experience in mixing and mastering, I'll be able to navigate around the mix and make sure to elevate the song/project sonically.
Q: What are you working on at the moment?
A: Several projects including a Pop/Electronic EP, and several Pop singles.
Q: What's your 'promise' to your clients?
A: I want to help you elevate your music with a high quality mix, and to help you bring your vision together. There's nothing more powerful than an exciting song that is true to the artist's style and sound.
Q: What advice do you have for a customer looking to hire a provider like you?
A: If it already sounds good, don't hire me! You're doing it right!
Q: Can you share one music production tip?
A: Follow your ears and guts! If it sounds and feels good, you're on the right track!
Q: What do you bring to a song?
A: The most important thing to me is the vision the artist has. Working together to make sure we nail that aspect of the project is my priority. I want to bring my years of expertise, my knowledge, and my creativity to the project in a way that is relevant to the artist's stylistic direction.
Q: What's your typical work process?
A: When I'm part of the creative process for the song (producing), I'll work with the artist to make sure we align on the vision. We'll work on the song itself (more creative steps where we'll add instruments and layers, work on arrangements). After that will come the mix with some revisions, if needed. The last step will be mastering to deliver the final mix for distribution.
Q: Tell us about your studio setup.
A: I work mainly 'inside the box' (ITB) with Cubase, Logic, or Pro Tools. Plugins include Waves, FabFilter, Ozone, Plugin Alliance, and much more.
Q: What other musicians or music production professionals inspire you?
A: There are many artists that inspire me out there! The creative process can be influenced by so many artists and genres that I wouldn't be able to cite them all here. In the realm of mixing a song and the engineering side of things, Andrew Scheps is my biggest inspiration alongside Michael Brauer, Tchad Blake, and many others.
Q: Describe the most common type of work you do for your clients.
A: My work depends on my clients. One thing is for certain: We work to achieve the best results, making sure to nail the vision for the track(s)/project. Usually, I am hired as a Producer (where I am part of the creative process + Mixing and Mastering). I've been hired a lot to do solely the mixing and mastering parts. The most important thing to me is to be right on the vision for your project, with a high quality outcome for it.
- Songwriter - MusicContact for pricing
- ProducerContact for pricing
No set amount of revision (as long as it stays appropriate)
Turn around time will vary on the project.
Contact me for all the information you need.
- MacBook Pro M1 Max
- Cubase/Logic
- Waves
- FabFilter
- iZotope
- Plugin Alliance
- IK plugins and a lot more.
Bulk discount
