David Kyle Payne on SoundBetter

I PRODUCE ALT / LEFTFIELD POP FOR AUTHENTIC ARTISTS AROUND THE WORLD. It's time to break the mould and make music that sounds like YOU, not a clone of somebody else. I recently did exactly this with UK alt-pop artist Starling, co-producing her debut album with multiple Grammy-nominated producer Damian Taylor (first single is my profile track).

Hi, I'm David Kyle Payne.

I own and run Casella Studio, a remote production business based in London, UK. I specialise in songwriting, producing and vocal arranging+editing.

I worked in the live music scene for many years as a session bass player, but the truth is I'm bored of other people's formulaic and uninspired music. I want to help you be the weird and wonderful artist you truly are, and make the indie / alternative music scene a more interesting place.

I know what makes songs commercially successful (I spent the last 10+ years playing them every week) but I combine these principals with leftfield and alternate style productions.

If you like Lorde, Frank Ocean, Imagine Dragons, Lana Del Rey, St Vincent, The Japanese House, Tom Waits, James Blake, Christine & The Queens, The XX, Sampha, Robyn, Elliot Moss, Rina Sawayama.. get in touch!

If you like NONE of these artists, I'm probably not the producer for you.

Tell me about your project and how I can help, through the 'Contact' button above.

6 Reviews - 1 Repeat Client

Endorse David Kyle Payne

by Louisa
Verified
I absolutely enjoy working with this guy and afraid to work with any other producer. For reference, I have tracks that I've produced and then I always get stuck on arrangement after V2 or Choruses. I feel like I'm way off, but when I bring work to him, he's able to take what I have and flesh it out, enhancing the essence of what's there.. whereas others just completely revamp the entire thing into sounding completely different and yucky. TY David for another great track!!
by Louisa
Verified
Amazing experience! This is the first time I've worked with a producer who understood what I was going for. We were on the same wave length throughout the entire process. With other producers, I've felt like my song skills are way off or maybe I'm too weird. But David understood immediately. He had the same ideas that I did, and he was able to repair a song that I was starting to hate. I'm beyond thrilled with what we completed! The song feels like me and is exactly how it intended to sound. TY!
by Elliot James Mulhern Mastering
Verified (Client)
LOVE collaborating with David, super personal, professional, great communicator and exceedingly talented, highly recommend!
by Iulian A.
Verified
Working with David was a treat. I really appreciated his organization skills, his feedback and his dedication to ensuring that I was happy with the final result.
by Simran B.
Verified
David does amazing work. He took my demo and made it into a full-fledged production containing every little detail I asked for. He really does listen and take in all of your feedback, giving you exactly what you want while adding his own professional touch. You won't be disappointed working with him.
by noor
Producing my first song was a dream that David made possible! The song that I had in my head sounded a little bit different from other songs. It didn't follow the typical form structure of Pop songs, which made its production a challenging one. But David took the challenge and made it a reality. He was open to any suggestions and helped me generously and patiently come up with solutions when I needed them the most. David excelled my expectations with his skillful, artistic touches. I would highly recommend him to any artist who would love to work with a brilliant songwriter and great producer.

Interview with David Kyle Payne

Q: Tell us about a project you worked on you are especially proud of and why. What was your role?
A: I recently finished an album with a UK artist named Starling. I co-produced and mixed the album, and I'm proud of it because I co-produced it with Damian Taylor (who is a six-time Grammy nominated record producer who has worked with the likes of Bjork, The Killers, The Prodigy). It felt really good to finish and I'm excited to see how the singles and the album perform when released over the course of this year (2021).
Q: What are you working on at the moment?
A: I'm currently working on creating some free content to help artists on their creative journeys. I have a free eBook which details the ins and outs of recording professional standard vocals from your house, I have some free sample packs that contain chord progressions to kick start your song demos, as well as some other cool freebies! If any of these things interest you send me a message and I will be happy to send you some links.
Q: What's your 'promise' to your clients?
A: My promise is simple: I will only take on your project if I KNOW that I can provide you with an end product that will excel your expectations.
Q: What questions do customers most commonly ask you? What's your answer?
A: The most common question I get asked is 'what happens if I'm not happy with the end result?' It's a completely valid question (I would ask the same if it was the other way round!). My answer is this: If we communicate effectively, and with complete honesty and transparency every step of the way, there is absolutely no way you wont be happy with the end product. Part of this honesty involves me being honest from the start in regards to a) if I think I am the right person for the job, b) if I can deliver what I say I will and c) if I think we will work well together. If the answer to any of those questions is 'no', I won't take the job on.
Q: What questions do you ask prospective clients?
A: There are too many to list here! I have a whole list of questions I ask when we jump on our intro Zoom call, which I insist on doing with every single client before any money changes hands. The more we know about each others expectations and visions, the easier and more rewarding the whole process will be.
Q: What advice do you have for a customer looking to hire a provider like you?
A: Make sure that before you spend a single cent, you know what you want from the project and that the person you are working with can provide it (this can be established through effective communication). The responsibility of finding this out lies with YOU, and you owe it to yourself as a hard-working artist to put your time, energy and money into working with the right people.
Q: What was your career path? How long have you been doing this?
A: Started out as a full time session musician. Career highlights include playing the O2 Arena in London with Sigala, and playing a run of TV shows in the UK with Meghan Trainor. I have been producing alongside the live shows for about 4 years, but recently I've been making a push to do more production because of social restrictions and tours being postponed.
Q: How would you describe your style?
A: Here's a bunch of words! Soulful, synth-based, quirky, edge, electronic, organic, refined, minimal, true to the emotion of the song. It's actually very hard to answer this! I love minimal electronic beats as much as I love blazing orchestras and epic synths! This probably hasn't made anything clearer haha.
Q: Which artist would you like to work with and why?
A: Lorde. What an amazing artist, songwriter, lyricist and human. I would learn so much about how to write a great song by working with her!
Q: What type of music do you usually work on?
A: Alt pop, synth pop, indie pop. Occasionally rnb-tinged music, but it will always have a soulful electronic edge.
Q: What's your strongest skill?
A: Communication! Don't get me wrong, I consider myself a very accomplished writer and producer, but all too often communication and transparency is what kills professional relationships - particularly when things are being done remotely!
Q: What do you bring to a song?
A: I bring style, authenticity, a wealth of musical knowledge, 10+ years experience (playing with big artists as a session musician). I also bring personality, a bit of 'quirkiness' (if that is a word..) and a very well-rounded and professional sound.
Q: What's your typical work process?
A: After having an initial zoom call with the client to get to know them and understand their vision as best as I can, I will begin a first draft (whether that is production/mixing etc). I then send the file to the client for feedback via Zoom (or a phone call if preferred). This repeats up to 3 times (3 revisions) when the project is then signed off or the next phase is initiated. Communication is key every step of the way.
Q: What other musicians or music production professionals inspire you?
A: Artists: James Blake, Lorde, Rina Sawayama, Frank Ocean, Christine & The Queens, The XX, St Vincent, Tom Waits Producers: Jack Antonoff, Malay, Kuk Harrell, Ian Kirkpatrick.
Q: Can you share one music production tip?
A: Always have a vision before doing ANYTHING.
Q: Tell us about your studio setup.
A: Full studio setup in Canning Town, East London for attended sessions. Remote setup for worldwide clients in Hornchurch, Essex.
Q: Describe the most common type of work you do for your clients.
A: Songwriting including (but not limited to) arrangement, toplining, lyrics and chords, as well as full production, and more often than not, a full mix and master.