Producer | LA Recording Studio

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

A: Super proud of NARCISSUS which I made with a great artist named lilyisthatyou. The whole process from start to finish was such a great time. we really got to create something beautiful together. I was the producer, cowriter, and recording engineer on this project.

Q: What are you working on at the moment?

A: Currently working with Management on a lot of KPOP pitch records, and doing plenty of Alt-Pop and Pop sessions with upcoming artists in Los Angeles.

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

A: Derek Proch, he's a prolific producer and guitarist.

Q: Analog or digital and why?

A: Both! Each has their own flavor and ease of use. Analog for recording, and digital for creative effects!

Q: What do you like most about your job?

A: Getting to play all these engaging instruments and help take my clients vision to the finish line!

Q: What questions do you ask prospective clients?

A: Do you have a fleshed-out idea for a multi-song project you want to build from the ground up, or are you looking to make singles? What's your timeline, and what are some reference songs you could send so I can deliver something that would be able to sit right beside the reference on a playlist!

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

A: Come with a concept and a vision and I'll help you execute!

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

A: Hmmmm, I'd have to go with my laptop, the MASCHINE Drum Pad, a Telecaster, my H9 Harmonizer, and a U3 Piano!

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

A: When I was ≈ 18 or 19, I decided to pursue music and applied to the Music Industry Program at Drexel University where I went to learn the ins and outs of being a music producer. There, I learned a lot about songwriting, production, recording and audio engineering. I later transferred to the Berklee College of Music to hone my musicianship skills on the piano and guitar. I've been working as a full time producer and songwriter for the past six years.

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

A: I like to work on varying types of Pop music. I would say Alternative or Anti-Pop 'Left-Of-Center' material that tends to have a high energy focus. Also been working a lot in the KPOP, Alt-Rap and R&B Scene lately!

Q: What's your strongest skill?

A: It's a tie between blending different genres together to create something that feels both new and classic, and encouraging my artists to push their creative limits and get out of their comfort zones!

Q: What do you bring to a song?

A: I bring direction to every song I work on. Where are we going? How are we guiding the listener to a chorus that truly speaks to them? I think of each stanza as a different scene that shows a small piece of the picture, and when you add them all up, you get a little musical movie that plays in your head!

Q: What's your typical work process?

A: Typically I either meet with an artist and we start a song together or they bring me a concept or topline and I flesh out the melody, lyrics and production for it!

Q: Tell us about your studio setup.

A: I built my home studio with my own two hands and a few trusty saws! My keyboard is a Roland Fantom-G8, I record vocals with a CM7 Microphone, and I have a pair of PMC 6's to monitor on. I run Pro Tools and Ableton Live on a Macbook Pro. Amenities include a Fender Telecaster and Stratocaster, a mahogany ukulele, a MASCHINE STUDIO beat pad, and a plethora of vintage synthesizers including a vintage MOOG, a Juno 106 and Prophet V.

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

A: I do it all! From original productions and songwriting to mixing, mastering or vocal tuning and editing.

Q: What questions do customers most commonly ask you? What's your answer?

A: The most common question I get is: what kind of different creative service packages do I offer. My answer: Several. I'm flexible! If you want songwriting and demo production, you got it. If you want mixing and mastering, done. If you're looking for the whole enchilada (AKA a song or project from scratch), I'm your guy.

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

A: All of my clients walk away with an authentic, signature piece that they're proud to share with the world.

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

A: The biggest misconception is that I wear every single hat for the entirety of a project. While I would consider myself a jack of many trades, I am always willing to outsource work to a small team of trusted session musicians, producers, and songwriters that I rely on to take my projects to the finish line when needed.

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

A: I'd love to work with Ariana Grande because I absolutely love the stories she tells and would GEEK over her creative process.

Q: Can you share one music production tip?

A: If you really want that Lofi goodness, run your songs through a vintage Sony Mega-Bass Beatbox and lay it down on tape, then run it back into your rig. Also, if you want your 808's to slap, use Ableton Live's Kick Tight Preset of the Corpus plugin. Thank me later ;)

Q: How would you describe your style?

A: My musical style in three depictions would be a combination of the production of "Oak" Felder on the Demi Lovato smash 'Sorry Not Sorry', lyrical storytelling of Billie Eilish and FINNEAS in 'Bellyache', and melodic styles of Julia Michaels and Justin Tranter.

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

A: When I was a kid, my mom used to make me all kinds of mixtapes with everything from classical music (Beethovens Symphony #5) to rap (Eminem), gangster rap (NWA) to pop (Britney Spears), electronic music (Fatboy Slim, Daft Punk) to punk rock (Green Day). FINNEAS' production skills are some of the best in the game right now and DECAP kills it with the drums. In terms of songwriting Billie Eilish & Ariana Grande slay the game, as does Julia Michaels & JP Saxe. I could sit here and ramble for hours!