Indie Folk Alt Mixing

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

A: I promise to put the care into the project as if it were that of my own band. I care about the details and the sonic imprint my work can have on a song.

Q: What do you like most about your job?

A: I love the challenge that each project presents. Whether that's hunting for a specific sound, overcoming obstacles, or navigating band dynamics.

Q: What are you working on at the moment?

A: I always have several recording and mixing projects on the go. In fall 2022, I will be starting production on new albums for Trust this Mechanism and Davis & James; singles by Anna Katarina, Alic Ward, & Tristan.; mixing and LP for King Raam.

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

A: Yes! Dan Ponich (engineer) and Lonny Eagleton (guitar).

Q: Analog or digital and why?

A: Hybrid. The sound of analog and the flexibility and potential of digital. Ultimately it's the engineer and the know-how to use the tools that create the sonic imprint.

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

A: That mixing can fix a poorly recorded source.

Q: Can you share one music production tip?

A: Trust your tastes.

Q: What's your typical work process?

A: It really is different for every client and the type of project I'm asked to work on. Regardless, it's important to get to know the artist beforehand and discover your working relationship. I love listening to reference songs and get in the musical mindset of the artist.

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

A: Producers such as Shawn Everett, Tucker Martine, Jacquire King, Phil Ek, and Jonathan Wilson are some of my biggest inspirations to the way I make records. All these producers are not afraid to think outside the box.

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

A: I mostly work with clients start to finish on a project. If it's a solo singer-songwriter, we'll first discuss the instrumentation and direction, then decide on the session players needed and proceed with pre-production. This can be anything from attending band rehearsals, working on demos or diving right in. On SoundBetter, I really only have booked mixing projects through this site, which have been some of the most fun and rewarding projects I have worked on. Every song and album really is a different scope, and I like to cater to clients needs.

Q: What questions do you ask prospective clients?

A: What's your goal for this project? Who were these songs influenced by? How does this track make you feel? How do you want others to feel? Do you picture your music in any specific movies or TV shows? Or associate your music to other visual imagery?

Q: Tell us about your studio setup.

A: I co-own a studio called Park Sound Studio, located in North Vancouver, BC. Feel free to browse the studio's website for the complete gear selection. In the control room, I run Pro Tools and mix and record with a variety of instruments, outboard gear and virtual plugins. Some of my favourites includes those from Universal Audio, Plugin Alliance, Fabfilter. oeksound Soothe2, Abberant SketchCassette II, Kazrog True Iron usually make their way onto every mix as well.

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

A: I went to Fanshawe College for Music Industry Arts. From there I worked out of a studio in Toronto and got a hold of Tucker Martine in Porltand whom I assisted on various projects. I fell in love with the west coast and set up shop in Vancouver where I freelanced out of various studios around town before opening up Park Sound Studio in May 2017.

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

A: I love working with organic instrumentation. Anything with an alternative, indie or folk flair to it.