Music Producer

Q: Tell us about your studio setup.

A: When working in Italy I use most of the time my own studio which I have built and developed over the years and where I have an extensive range of equipment which I can also use when working for UK artists through my online music production service. I work with Logic in the initial phase, where I need a more creative process, then I switch to Pro Tools for recording and mixing. I love the analogue sound but I need to have all the digital conveniences. So I mix with the analog summing (plus many outboards) but I can have a total recall in case I need to change something even months later. When in London, I normally work in a recording studio in Islington, very close to Old Street . This studio provides an extensive range of technical equipment as well as lots of music instruments, including a real piano, fender Rhodes, analogue synth and vintage music instruments. Offering a great studio to the artists I work with is an important part of my job as this will help create the right environment to find and shape the right style and sound for each band or singer. From my end, working in a good recording studio is obviously important, however my priority is to obtain a specific sound for a mix and thanks to my professional network I have the opportunity to work in other studios where I can find the specific technology and resources I need at any given time. In any case I am not a recording studio but I change them depending on the work I need

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

A: My approach as a music producer is closer to the old music producers, like Flood, Max Martin, George Martin, Quincy Jones, Nile Rodgers, Mark Ronson, Rick Rubin, Dr Dre, Paul Epworth, Nigel Godrich, Trevor Horn. In other words I prefer to have a more musical approach than a sonic one. I like to approach a song first as a musician than as a engineer.

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

A: I usually work for my clients as an arranger and music producer. This means that I don't write songs but arrange them until the final realization. I start with the artist (in presence or remotely) creating a first pre-production, and then follow all the production phases up to mixing and mastering, offering professional song production.

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

A: Pop, Indie-pop, rock, rock-indie, urban.

Q: What's your strongest skill?

A: Musical empathy. I think the arrangement is somehow already written in the song. When an artist writes a song he may not be aware of the arrangement that song should have but he has an idea of what it should be like and can immediately recognize when an arrangement is right for that song. Perhaps my strongest skill is nailing the right kind of arrangement for that song

Q: What do you bring to a song?

A: A professional and personal “dress”. I like to use this term because for me an arrangement is successful when the artist feels good about it. I also help you make the right choices on an artistic level, I choose the right musicians, technicians and studios. I definitely bring a personality, an original sound to the song.

Q: What's your typical work process?

A: As a first thing, I'll create a pre-production. This is the first step where I create a first music arrangement with virtual instruments. I can do it in person or remotely. Of course your presence is preferable, we could try different ways to arrange the song, to sing and obviously empathy in this phase is very important. Understanding what an artist is looking for helps me better understand how to arrange a song. The following step is for me to record the real instruments instead of virtual sounds, starting with the rhythmic session (drums and bass), then guitars (acoustic and electric), keywords, synthesizer or any other instrument depending on the genre of your music and specific ones you need to record in your songs. Once all the instruments have been recorded, we will then record your voice, and where necessary background vocals as well. Finally I will do the necessary editing on your voice and mix the song.